posted a forum on here about why is my instrument cluster lights not working, i replaced the headlight and dimmer switch, checked fuses and bulbs, check wires and still could not figure out the problem.

well today me and my dad were looking at it and decided to hook up a volt meter to the socket of the bulb and we found the problem. the socket is not receiving the continuous voltage. i thought i would just post this so otheres might figure out there problem too

 

I removed my cluster so I could replace a bulb that was out (my needle for the speedometer was dark).. when I put it all back together, everything was like before except the dash lights didn't come ON. I didn't have any problem removing the headlight switch. I checked the 5 amp fuse that says "Instr" and it was good. The blue light for the high beams and the turn indicators work as well as the warning lights (service engine soon, Inflt etc), but no dash background lights.. When you say "socket", which socket do you mean..? 91 RS 305

stone

 

i mean the lamp socket that your bulb goes in. the one that you twist and pull out

 

Cluster bulb sockets have a way of aquiring crud over time & the bulb will not light up as a result. A lot of times simply unscrewing and re-screwing the socket into place will provide better contact and get the bulb working agin.

More serious Cluster backlighting problems are often traced back to a failing/failed Printed circuit.

Be sure to look over the printed circuit closely ( on the back of the cluster ) before installing or swapping a cluster. Most of the time a bad pot on the printed circuit it easy to see with the naked eye. Better to look at it closely BEFORE getting the thing installed and then finding a problem !

 

We checked the connection on the printed circuit and it was working with a little bit of wear and tear ( I originally thought this to be the problem) but we figured might as well replace the lamp sockets and bulbs with red leds(color of the body) and see if that works. If not well then there isn't too much left for it to be lol. Also the lamp socket and bulb route is cheaper

 

Ok, just noticed something. My headlights work. My high beams work.. but my tail lights don't come on at all. Everything was working fine before I began this process. To remove the stem from the light switch you have to push up on the button to release the stem then pull the stem out. i remember doing this, but I also remember getting frustrated and pulling on it hard (but it didn't come out), then taking a break and trying it again and was able to remove it and the stem came out easily. I wonder if I damaged the light switch...??? Stone

 

It's possible, remove the switch and fool around with a volt meter. If you can't figure it out mine was $20 at advanced and it solved my headlights problem. Other than that I just have been messing around and trying different things. So basically you started this and then your lights just stopped working?

 

Yes. Originally my needle wasn't lighting up. So I removed the stem from the headlight switch, removed the instrument cluster, replaced a missing bulb, put the cluster back in and couldn't get the cluster to light up. Replaced it with another cluster I had laying around, still couldn't get it to work, replaced it with the original cluster. Then noticed i had no parking lights.. front or rear. I had headlights, and brake lights.. and thats where I stand right now.
frustrated.. stone

 

Found it... it was the freaking "tail lamp" fuse. Fuse was blown. I checked the "Instr' fuse thinking it stood for "instrument" as in instrument lights.. well, live and learn. Thanks guys for your help. Maybe someone will read this and it will help them.. Stone