needing help with gauge lights issue

[kleenf4i]

ok, so I have read SEVERAL posts.The only lights that do NOT work are the gauge cluster lights and hvac lights. Everything else works. all fuses are good, tail lights headlights work and all. my case is a bit different and heres why. I tried to jump the dimmer switch (rheostat) and (yes i jumped the correct wires) but the gauge and hvac light only barely came on, but yes the did come on. however my jumper got extremely hot and I had to disconnect the jumper.. Any help is appreciated. thanks

 

[spadepro22]

I had a problem with some of my gage cluster lights not working and all the fuses checked out good. The problem was one of the fuses wasn't making good contact in the fuse box under the driver side dash. I'd bend them a little to make sure they are making contact.

 

[undefined0000]

Whenever a wire gets hot, that means there is a short somewhere, so I assume that there is probably a short between the rheostat and the lights, and probably in the gauge cluster because they got no power, while the hvac got a little.

 

[kleenf4i]

I had a problem with some of my gage cluster lights not working and all the fuses checked out good. The problem was one of the fuses wasn't making good contact in the fuse box under the driver side dash. I'd bend them a little to make sure they are making contact.

do you remeber which fuse???? i looked at them all .. and the only one i seen that would be related to the cluster is the radio... and that fuse is fine

 

[eclipsyco]

Dude is a 2g or a 1g? Just a suggestion try to push the cluster in!! Just push it and see if that works definitely sounds like a short and if the cluster is loose or the plugs behind them, can cause this.

 

[kleenf4i]

Whenever a wire gets hot, that means there is a short somewhere, so I assume that there is probably a short between the rheostat and the lights, and probably in the gauge cluster because they got no power, while the hvac got a little.

my hvac does not have any lights at all..... and only when i jump it does the lights for the hvac and cluster light up a little.

also ....would the short on the power wires or the ground.... theres 3 wires going to the dimmer 2 power. 1 ground. the problem is when I ground the ground, it heats up... I couldnt think it would be the cluster that is shorted out.

thanks

Dude is a 2g or a 1g? Just a suggestion try to push the cluster in!! Just push it and see if that works definitely sounds like a short and if the cluster is loose or the plugs behind them, can cause this.

sorry about that 2g
beating the cluster is a no go..., that would be good if it did work though

 

[eclipsyco]

sorry about that 2g
beating the cluster is a no go..., that would be good if it did work though

No dude I didn't say to beat the crap out of it just gently push it in the 2g cluster it has 3 plugs behind it if the brackets holding the plugs in place come loose it will cause a short if a + side touch the ground (if that happen it would blow a fuse tho).
Even better remove the cluster and check behind it if everything is fine there are 4 bolts holding it in place.

 

[kleenf4i]

No dude I didn't say to beat the crap out of it just gently push it in the 2g cluster it has 3 plugs behind it if the brackets holding the plugs in place come loose it will cause a short if a + side touch the ground (if that happen it would blow a fuse tho).
Even better remove the cluster and check behind it if everything is fine there are 4 bolts holding it in place.

going to ctake out the cluster right now. just got off work. thanks for your help. Yeah, I tried to push it in but it would not go. So i just hit the dash a couple time for good luck, but it was a no go.
Ill report back shortly.

Ok, so i went and took the cluster out, put it back in and forgot i left my jumper in it for tthe rheostat(dimmer) and noticed there was smole from behind the radio. So I shut the lights off pulled the radio and seen that the guy I bought the car from tapped the dimmer + and - together. Those wires were starting to melt so obviously there was my short. I cut them, tapped them up(indivisdually) and now I HAVE LIGHTS gauge and hvac... Thanks to evewryone who chimmed in and got my to the source of the issue. Ive only had the car two days and this was driving me crazy. THANKS EVERYONE!

 

[eclipsyco]

See thats the reason I hate previous owners for some reason they are all douches and complete morons when I bought mine over a year ago I had lots of easy fix issues and i was wondering why the hell the PO didn't do anything about it

 

[kleenf4i]

See thats the reason I hate previous owners for some reason they are all douches and complete morons when I bought mine over a year ago I had lots of easy fix issues and i was wondering why the hell the PO didn't do anything about it

Yeah, I know what you mean. I have a punch list of things to. Mainly small stuff, but its really annoying when people who have no clue at alll how to do something, do it, mess it up, never fix it then leave it for the next person to fix. I actually never would have bought this one if it wasnt a good deal. I like stock and then Ill do the mods correctly and if I dont know how to do it ill find out before I do it.

Thanks for your help man!