Gauge Cluster Lights Are Out..., Any suggestions? Options

[Celiquick]

Now before I begin, let me state that the bulbs I am currently using are still intact. In fact, the bulbs I am using are those 5-angled refraction white LED bulbs in replacement of the stock ones (the ones with yellowish-green bulb condoms).

So here's a play-by-play of my situation:

1. Fuse goes out for my interior lights that power the night-effect lights behind the AC Controls, as well as behind gauge cluster, located in the fuse panel by the steering wheel - no big
2. Replaced the fuse. Said interior lights for the AC Controls light back up, but to no avail with the gauge cluster lights
3. I checked LED bulbs, thinking that maybe they just blew - again, no big
4. I replaced the LED bulbs with replacements to see how'd they fair - nothing happens
5. Replaced refraction bulbs with white Pilot LED bulbs - nothing happens
6. Resorted to reinserting stock bulbs - once again, nothing happens

I'm not sure what to make of the situation. Has something occurred within the bulb port that runs to the circuitry lines on the back of the cluster, is there another fuse that powers the lights behind the gauge cluster, or could it be something else entirely that I have overlooked?

I have indiglo gauges, but I highly doubt that those would affect the bulbs anyway. Long story short, these bulbs light up my needles, and thus somewhat leaves me running blind at night.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Celiquick]

bump*

[Celiquick]

bump*

[garin]

shorted out?..., check the grounds...?

[Celiquick]

shorted out?..., check the grounds...?

The grounds for the gauge cluster?

[GriffGirl]

Man... it does sound like you burnt something out. So I know you're not supposed to do this, but have you tried replacing the fuse that blew with a bigger fuse? Like, up it 5 amps, and see if it works then? I wish I knew more about electrical stuff, because then I could probably guide you as to what to do to fix this not lighting up issue, but I have no idea. I'd stick a bigger amp fuse in there and see if it works then, at least it might help narrow it down some.

BTW - yes, hook up the indiglo to the orange wire, it doesn't matter that your stereo doesn't dim when you turn on the lights. Neither does mine. That's a matter of what's hooked up to the stereo (I think the orange wire connects to the dimmer to achieve the face plate dimming action upon parking lights turning on). But if you hook up that wire to the orange wire, the gauge face will work.

Now, back to those bulbs...

[ajmorris1977]

i'm no electrician but are you sure the led's are compatible with the dimmer, i know when you unplug that knob behind the steering wheel the lights will not work, just a thought.

[thajackster]

simalar thing just happened to me?

guage lights are out everything else goes though?

[solidxsnake]

My gauge lights were flickering like crazy the other day. I pulled it out and tested everything, and it all works fine. Works fine in the car with the engine off as well..

I'd bet something is wrong with the circuitry, but the problem I see with that is that there is no circuitry between the fuse block and the light-sockets on the gauge cluster. There are two traces that run from the blue connector at the back of the cluster to each light socket, to supply it with 12 volts.

Test all your bulbs/LEDs with a stable 12vDC source.

Sorry, not much help, but it can't hurt to be safe and check everything