After a long winter of not driving my Trans-Am, I suddenly remembered that the dash lights still don't work.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...sh-lights.html
Anyway, as I try to figure this out I would appreciate any suggestions, could it be that something has gone kaput in the clusters wiring? I did have it pulled "out" (still attached to speedo cable) at one point and maybe I scraped the back along the connector? Plausible? I'm going to pull the cluster tomorrow to see but would like some new input as well. BTW all of the guages still work, although the speedo and tach are off by a bit. Also, due to necessity, my ignition cylinder and turn signal switch, and cancel cam have been replaced, I clung on to some shred of hope that that would solve this problem as well as my turn signal issue but that was not the case.
Thanks

 

I replaced the cluster with the working one from my brother's old 84, The gauges work but the dash lights still do not. I am at a loss..

 

More than likely it is the dimmer switch or the headlight switch. My 88 GTA did the same thing to me and I picked one up from the local salvage yard and it fixed it.

 

I replaced all of those, the headlight switch is new, and I've put 3 used dimmer switches in there already. Should I try once more?

 

you might just have to have it looked at by a pro

 

If you close both doors and the dimmer is able to turn on the dome light on than I would say it is good. Also if you checked and double checked the fuses than i would say there is a short in the harness somewhere. Start tracing and look for burnt wires i guess.

 

My 86 Camaro had the same problem. On the back of your cluster is the printed circuit that gives power and ground to everything and my dash lights main ground had a very small crack going thrue it once I jumped a wire over the crack it worked great.

 

The dimmer does turn on the dome light still, so the search for burnt wires begins. I checked the cluster very carefully before install, having heard about that before and thinking that may be my problem. I hope I can figure this out, I have a hard time handing the keys over to anybody mostly because, If I've done everything to it up til now it sucks to have to give up over some stupid little lights, but I trust my mechanic well enough, it has to do with money too, it always does it seems...
I really appreciate your help, I'll update if I find anything.

 

*Blows dust off thread*

I'm resurrecting this thread as opposed to starting a new one. I'll be tearing into the car again in the next week, and I'm wondering if anyone has a suggestion as to what to start with when I look at this? I've replaced everything a few times over, so I have to assume it is some kind of wiring issue somewhere, is there any common point of failure maybe a fusible link or connector somewhere?