Gauge lights stopped working - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

kubus_stroinski · 01-25-2006, 08:17 PM

Hey,
I have a 1991 Camaro RS with the auto light sensing thing. My lights turn on automatically when it gets dark. A couple of months ago, my gauge lights just turned off while all of the other lights in the car stayed on (HVAC stuff and gear selector light). I could make them work by lightly hitting the side of the gauge cluster. This worked up until last weekend. Now driving at night is very difficult because i have no idea how fast im going and am afraid i might get pulled over by a cop. Im assuming that its just a poor electrical connection to the lights for the gauges. Can anyone tell me how i should fix this problem? what wire it could be? where the connection may have failed? thanks a lot!!!

Kubus

Al Hasse · 01-25-2006, 10:13 PM

Just a thought, it could be the dimmer control in your light switch.

kubus_stroinski · 01-25-2006, 10:16 PM

i dont think it would be though just because all of the other interior lights are working. the only ones that dont work are the actual gauges

Al Hasse · 01-25-2006, 10:29 PM

You're right, I read over the part that says the HVAC lights stay on.

Vader · 01-27-2006, 11:21 AM

You have a few options:

Hit the cluster harded. You'll either get lucky, or you'll completely break it, and have to remove it (whereupon you can repair the original problem while replacing the cluster);
Clench a small flashlight in your teeth while driving. At least they won't give you a ticket for talking on your celly along with the speeding citation;
Drive like a Florida voter so you never get a speeding ticket;
Don't drive at night (also see #3);
Remove the instrument cluster, repair the lamps, and repair the I/P connectors as necessary.

It's fairly easy to remove the panel, and the foil connections at the edges are easy to inspect once its removed:

kubus_stroinski · 01-27-2006, 11:13 PM

i took the cluster out and cleaned all connectors and also changed all bulbs while i was at it. works like a charm now. its even brighter than it was before. the only problem i had was my battery died while doing this so i had to recharge it. taking out that dimmer knob is a royal pain as well. thanks for all your help