dash illumination not working

shadow5403 · May 21st, 2008, 09:33 AM

Ok, so im driving along last night, and my dash cluster lights start flickering on and off and then finally just stayed off. So my dash cluster and the fan/ac controls no longer light up. It doesnt sound like a fuse, because it was flickering for a minute......so i think it would have just died if a fuse blew.I heard that if your ignition is starting to go, that that can cause this to happen also. Anyone ever hear of that....or have any ideas BESIDES check fuses/connections. Id appreciate it if the post whores stay off this thread, and only people with constructive advice try and help. And if someone could post the fuse/wire diagram, that would help too.

ItaliStang · May 21st, 2008, 01:00 PM

can't help ya with a reason why, but I can tell you that all of the wiring diagrams can be found on that library site that HMUSN posted in the General Tech section...

Free Online Manuals

hope that helps a bit... and just wondering... is it just the lights on the dash that are out? or are the gauges not working either?

moond0ggie · May 21st, 2008, 01:37 PM

With the headlights on, Try wiggling & turning the dimmer control back & forth to see if the rheostat has a bad connection or dirty contacts.

shadow5403 · May 21st, 2008, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by ItaliStang

can't help ya with a reason why, but I can tell you that all of the wiring diagrams can be found on that library site that HMUSN posted in the General Tech section...

Free Online Manuals

hope that helps a bit... and just wondering... is it just the lights on the dash that are out? or are the gauges not working either?

No the gauges all work....they just dont illuminate.

Originally Posted by moond0ggie

With the headlights on, Try wiggling & turning the dimmer control back & forth to see if the rheostat has a bad connection or dirty contacts.

I tried that, and tapping on the gauge cluster itself.

stupid car

2002stang · May 21st, 2008, 09:11 PM

Hey man I have the exact same problem. I was able to fix mine for a short time by replacing both the fuse under the dash and under the hood. I think they have a short somewhere but not really sure. I cant go and look either for ya cause cars at the body shop getting new bodykit and paint but look in your manual and you should see what fuses they are. Try them and if they blow again then u have a short.

shadow5403 · May 22nd, 2008, 08:23 AM

^^^Hey thanks. Do you remember what fuses they were?

shadow5403 · May 24th, 2008, 10:42 PM

Ok, so i was able to fix this problem. Fuse number 37 was blown - the dash illumination one. So i pulled out the dash cluster to figure out what was causing the short. Turns out 2 of the wires had a tiny spot of the outer casing worn off. So once i put electrical tape on the wires, put a new 10A fuse in and it worked perfect.

Modified88Dreamer · May 24th, 2008, 10:45 PM

For future reference

Instrument Illumination
http://www.motoralldata.com/alldata/...25933/83256656

Instrument Cluster
http://www.motoralldata.com/alldata/...26117/83298591

shadow5403 · May 24th, 2008, 10:52 PM

i have a haynes manual....got all those diagrams. But thanks

May 21st, 2008, 09:33 AM	#1
shadow5403 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA Posts: 2,037 iTrader: 0 reviews	dash illumination not working Ok, so im driving along last night, and my dash cluster lights start flickering on and off and then finally just stayed off. So my dash cluster and the fan/ac controls no longer light up. It doesnt sound like a fuse, because it was flickering for a minute......so i think it would have just died if a fuse blew.I heard that if your ignition is starting to go, that that can cause this to happen also. Anyone ever hear of that....or have any ideas BESIDES check fuses/connections. Id appreciate it if the post whores stay off this thread, and only people with constructive advice try and help. And if someone could post the fuse/wire diagram, that would help too. __________________

May 21st, 2008, 01:37 PM	#3
moond0ggie Regular 1998 Mustang V6 5 spd. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Discovery Bay, Ca. Posts: 159 iTrader: 0 reviews	With the headlights on, Try wiggling & turning the dimmer control back & forth to see if the rheostat has a bad connection or dirty contacts. __________________

May 22nd, 2008, 08:23 AM	#6
shadow5403 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA Posts: 2,037 iTrader: 0 reviews	^^^Hey thanks. Do you remember what fuses they were? __________________

May 24th, 2008, 10:42 PM	#7
shadow5403 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA Posts: 2,037 iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok, so i was able to fix this problem. Fuse number 37 was blown - the dash illumination one. So i pulled out the dash cluster to figure out what was causing the short. Turns out 2 of the wires had a tiny spot of the outer casing worn off. So once i put electrical tape on the wires, put a new 10A fuse in and it worked perfect. __________________

May 24th, 2008, 10:45 PM	#8
Modified88Dreamer Enthusiast 1988 Mustang GT N/A Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 631 iTrader: 0 reviews	For future reference Instrument Illumination http://www.motoralldata.com/alldata/...25933/83256656 Instrument Cluster http://www.motoralldata.com/alldata/...26117/83298591 __________________ "I know that son-of-a-bitch is cheatin! Cause, I'm cheatin and he beat me"!

May 21st, 2008, 01:00 PM	#2
ItaliStang Hardcore Enthusiast 01 V6 convertible too slow to try Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toledo Posts: 1,464 iTrader: 1 reviews	can't help ya with a reason why, but I can tell you that all of the wiring diagrams can be found on that library site that HMUSN posted in the General Tech section... Free Online Manuals hope that helps a bit... and just wondering... is it just the lights on the dash that are out? or are the gauges not working either?

May 21st, 2008, 09:11 PM	#5
2002stang Regular 2002 Vert Warp speed Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dunkirk, Indiana Posts: 118 iTrader: 0 reviews	Hey man I have the exact same problem. I was able to fix mine for a short time by replacing both the fuse under the dash and under the hood. I think they have a short somewhere but not really sure. I cant go and look either for ya cause cars at the body shop getting new bodykit and paint but look in your manual and you should see what fuses they are. Try them and if they blow again then u have a short.

May 24th, 2008, 10:52 PM	#9
shadow5403 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: PA Posts: 2,037 iTrader: 0 reviews	i have a haynes manual....got all those diagrams. But thanks __________________

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