Okay, I put in a new headlight switch awhile back and had already ck'd the bulbs etc on the cluster when I went through this the first time--hence I put in a new switch; and then another. Well, things were fine after the second replacement switch, then one day I turned on the lights and NO Instrument panel--again. All other systems are working, less the lic. plate light but I think thats something else. I ck'd the fuse and its still good too. Ideas? Do you think if the fuse shows circuit that I need to clean those to solve the problem? I know it can't hurt, but is that really the problem? Or do you think the new switches are just not very good as I had one from the beginning not work after I put it in--I got mad and bought another and thats how I got it to work again after the first try. Uuugh Im all ears as this is driving me nuts! AGAIN! Thanks all.
One thing I have found on our cars, is that the pins in the plugs push out! Make sure all your pins are pushed onto the switch when you put the plug on! I take a small pick and push each pin after I've put the plug on. All the plugs seem to be the same. The plastic ages and the little tabs that hold the terminal in the plug fail. I hope this does it for you! I know it drove me crazy!!!
I have had this problem an I agree with simple man also. If the license plate light is out, are the park lights out also? Its usually like simple man said the fuse is good but it can be lose or not all the way in. Try wiggleing it with the lights on, I guessing head lights are still on but park lights, license plate light, and insterment panel lights are out, if it is loose or backed out these will flicker on an off and the fuse block space the fuse sits in is the problem.
Another thing to consider is the ground for those lights, either at the cluster connection or where it grounds to the instrument panel.
Do the Heater-A/C panel lights work? They are fed by the same LtBlue-Red wire from the headlight switch. If they work, then the cluster is an isolated problem. If not, then move your diagnostics back to the headlight switch.
The lighting is gone from behind the Heater/fan panel as well. So Im thinking switch again. I looked at the harness connection before I stuck 'er in, and didn't seem to be nasty looking, and the wires going from all that seemed alright. Almost think there is a bare wire somewhere ( but I'd think that would give me an on off thing/ flicker) or like stated a ground somewhere that is not happening. Where is the ground up there?
It is not going to be the cluster ground, because the HVAC panel lights have their own ground, they do not share the cluster ground. When the instrument lights are not working, does the instrument lights fuse show 12V+ on both sides? I think it is the #3 (little short fuse).
K not an electric sort of guy, but if you mean when I touch the ends of the fuse with a test light does it come on? And yes I believe it is the #3 . . . If I recall yes, but maybe just one side? Not sure about the one-side thing, I would have to ck. If you mean another way of testing, please advise.
When the instrument lights are not working, does the instrument lights fuse show 12V+ on both sides? I think it is the #3 (little short fuse).[/QUOTE] So, tell me then if one side shows 12 and the other doesn't then where do I look or move to fix this very irritating problem! lol Craziest things are sometimes the smallest eh. Thanks in advance for your expertise.
Oh thats right isnt it. I knew that, guess I was thinking the volt statement was going somewhere else. Or at least I was thinking differently about it all.
Yep, make sure you have 12V+ on both sides. If not, the fuse is blown. If it is blown, let us know. So we can move on to the next step. Just take it one step at a time, we will help you figure this out. Oh, and make sure to keep checking the instrument panel lights. If they start working, we have to change our diagnostics. Welcome to the world of intermittent problems.
Oh my, thats a nightmare! lol I put a new fuse in and the darn thing sparked and blew as soon as I pulled the lights on. Suggestions. Sorry it took so long to get back to this problem. I needed a break and was working on some other things. Still looking to fix this issue. Thanks all.
