gauges have no light, fixed problem Options

[toyota123]

So after a few months of browsing through this wonderful forum, while searching for my car, I got a 97 GT Hatch. So I have been getting it back on the road. New struts and brakes all the way around and was installing a new set of reverse glow gauges. Anyway I got the new gauges working correctly but now I have no lights for the needles. After searching I found that all the other lights work door adjar seatbelt etc but no needles even after installing some LEDs that I got from AutoZone. Am I up a creek? Do I need to go to a junk yard and get a new cluster than switch over the Speedo so mileage is still accurate. Any help will greatly appreciated also.I checked all fuses and everything else appears to be functioning correctly

This post has been edited by toyota123: Jul 20, 2012 - 8:05 AM

[Nihil]

Needles an gauge cluster lights have the same source of light. There are three T10 (W5W, 194) light bulbs, along with ten or so smaller light bulbs (T5). If you replaced or just checked them, you should mind the polarity. Also, if you did this without cutting the battery off, there is possibility that you short-circuited something. If I remember correctly, these light bulbs have fusees in that paper circuit board. Fuses are made as a narrowed (depleted) copper channel that runs from light bulb to the connector pins.

So I suggest you this: carefully take out instrument panel, do not unplug it, but make sure you do not short circuit anything. Then just take out the big (T10) light bulb holders, and put them back in the other way. Check, by turning on the lights, and repeat with other light bulbs.
If this doesn't work, then unplug the instrument panel and see if any of the copper channels are blown, you can bypass/bridge this by soldering a short wire to the gap, or you can simply get another circuit board from the junk yard... Just make sure you get the correct circuit board, as they can differ EU/US/JAP or ST/GT4.