Dash lights went out- suggestions?

[mike79]

Started the car up a few days ago, and noticed my gauges are pitch black. Only the instrumentation cluster, not the fog lights, radio, ac, etc.

I read a bunch of threads on here regarding this, and it seems that the gauge has to be replaced. Has anyone found a cheaper alternative to this? To pay $600 for a new gauge and to have it reprogrammed is damn assinine.

Here is the really weird part- I thought I noticed a few weeks ago the dash lights would flash a bit, off and on. I thought I was seeing things, but it did it again a few days later. Now its just totally dead. The light did seem to slowly become more dimmer and darker over the last 7 years but I would assume thats to be expected. I do not know which wires I should be checking to see if something is loose- does anyone know where the power is fed into the cluster?

Any suggestions?

 

[cobracide]

fuse #5

 

[mike79]

fuse #5

Thanks buddy...:dw:
I thought #37 was the cluster :shrug:- which I checked.

 

[ram360]

could be a faulty headlight switch too.

 

[mike79]

could be a faulty headlight switch too.

Headlight switch still dims all other areas of the dash

 

[hand-to-ball]

Had this same thing happen to me, dealer diagnosed it as a burnt illumination module and would replace the entire cluster. By some strange occurance, just days before I was to take it in, the illumination worked again and has ever since (touch wood).

Mine was/is under warranty so it would have only been my $100 deductible but they priced it out at $850 to replace.

 

[mike79]

Had this same thing happen to me, dealer diagnosed it as a burnt illumination module and would replace the entire cluster. By some strange occurance, just days before I was to take it in, the illumination worked again and has ever since (touch wood).

Mine was/is under warranty so it would have only been my $100 deductible but they priced it out at $850 to replace.

Thats insane, and i'm happy to hear it was of little cost for you to fix it.

Anyone have any other alternatives?

 

[mike79]

ttt

 

[Fastlane Cobra]

http://www.svtperformance.com/forum...luster-not-lighting-up-night.html#post8742622

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