Like the title says the backlightning of my instrument cluster does not work. None of the 11 bulbs light up. I have checked the "INSTR" fuse and it's ok. I have replaced about half of the 11 bulbs (the ones I could get to without removing the speedo). But still none of the bulbs light up.

The lower indication lights, such as the SES light works just fine. So does the blinkers and other interior lights.

Any ideas? Because I don't know what to do anymore...

 

Though you're no doubt aware, the headlight switch, twisted left/right, turns them on off.

JamesC

 

To say I feel like an idiot is a major understatement, because that was it

I had no idea that thing also acted as a dimmer for the instrument lights and apparently I had dimmed them all the way down to zero...

Oh well, at least ripping out both the top and bottom panels of my dashboard have given me some new insight into what my car looks like in there and how that is done, so a good thing in the end

Thanks a lot for stating the "obvious"!

 

JamesC

 

My firebird has the same problem as described above. My dimmer is all the way up and I have actually replaced it with a known working one just to check. I'm positive this is a wiring issue for me as this happened when I removed an aftermarket alarm system from my car. Does anyone have the wiring diagram for the instrument illumination?

 

Can't remember but there may be something useful in the following link:

http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=19

JamesC

 

I replaced all of mine with red led's and found out that mine had to be in a certain way. I think they work like a Christmas light. If one does not work than three won't work. It was tedious for me but I finally got all of mine to work after about five times of taking out the cluster, switching a bulb and replacing it.