Hey everyone! These clusters are driving me crazy!! (no pun intended lol). To refresh, in my 86 firebird, i had a cluster with dummy lights. I took it out and replaced it with a gauge cluster. It was no good because it had a electronic speedo, while my car uses a mechanical speedo. So I sent that one back. Next up, I buy a gauge cluster with a mechanical speedo, I think it came from a 82 firebird, installed it, doesnt work. Its totally dead except the blue bullet light turns on. No other lights appear and the needles dont move. Is this a defective cluster or its just not compatible with my firebird? I thought I would ask you guys before I send it back. Thanks!

 

If you had dummy lights originally, the new cluster is not a direct swap in. The following link should provide the general idea:

https://www.thirdgen.org/gauges

JamesC

 

Thanks for the reply. I know that its not a direct swap, but shouldnt the cluster at least light up and should the tach. work? The electronic cluster I had lit up and the guages worked, except for the temp and oil (havent changed the sending units yet). I noticed the style of the guages from 82-84 looks different than the newer ones, could that be the reason? Thanks.