I don't drive at night very often but a friend asked if I could drive his daughter to a restaurant for her birthday as a surprise. When i turned my lights on, the instrument cluster backlights and the light in the handbrake lever did not iluminate. The headlights, indicators etc all worked just no dash backlighting. I have owned the car for 10 years and never had any electrical issues. There are no blown fuses and I have'nt yet removed the dash to inspect. I don't have birdmans fuse blocks but i have checked the circuit for continuity at across the fuse for the instrument lighting and it was fine. This fuse also controls one of the park lights and both park lights were working fine. Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks.
Did you try giving the dimmer rheostat some twists back-and-forth to rewipe the contacts? Are the oil temp and clock lights not working too, or just the lights in the main instrument panel?
Thanks Steve, Yes I did try the dimmer but it didn't help, perhaps i could remove the dash and try to clean the contacts. I'm not able to check this at the moment but I am quite sure the oil temp and clock lights are not working also.
Might be easier to make some voltage measurements at the oil temp and clock gauge wiring, before deciding if you need to get into the dimmer rheostat (but it is a prime suspect).
Haven't looked at the fuses yet, but no - never blown a fuse thus far & have had it 6 years. I guess I will take it in and have a look on Friday.
This type of stuff happens. If it's not the fuses or rheostat, it's invariably a relay or two. They age and die.
I had similar problem in my 98 F355. Turned out to be the fuse box in the luggage compartment. Had to replace the whole thing. Good luck.
Hi I was searching for this subject because my dash lights along with my op gauge doesn't work. It has a short because I used to be able to hit the cluster and they would blink on. Then I pulled the cluster today and wiggled the wires a bit and could actually hear the lights energize. And now it won't even respond no matter how much I wiggle or what/where. Any idea where or how to trouble shot this if my fuses are good? Thanks 97 f355 spider 6speed
My bet is on the bus bar in back of the fuse box. although you get contact across the fuse holders the bus bar must make contact with the first three upper contacts in the back.