instrument cluster lights

[DirtyMerk85]

Replaced all the bulbs (which were def blown) with 194 bulbs and 're-soldered connections and still nothing..

Checked the fuse under the hood and that's fine..is there another fuse for those lights somewhere or do I just have a faulty cluster?

[Ed Lijewski]

Check or replace the two bulbs in the digital clock. If either is defective the entire dash light circuit may nit work.

YMMV

[DirtyMerk85]

Check or replace the two bulbs in the digital clock. If either is defective the entire dash light circuit may nit work.

YMMV

Seriously? Wow lovely German electronics lol..those are def out as well so I will give that a shot, thanks!

[xr4man]

i don't see how that could be since i've not even had my clock in the car for almost 10 years.

[m7stic]

Is your dimmer switch bad?

[DirtyMerk85]

Dimmer switch..def possibility lol..any way of bypassing it or testing it to see? The bulbs were def blown so I just figured that was why but idk..these things are electrical nightmares!

[m7stic]

easy test is roll the dimmer back and forth a few times. If your cluster lights flash or come on, you know the issue. If nothing, try swapping in a different one.

Of course, you could always pull out a test light and start stabbing things. Then again, having the wiring diagrams make this method more effective.

Good luck.

[DirtyMerk85]

Actually it prob would have helped if I actually plugged the dimmer switch back in before I tested the lights lmao..nevermind guys ill try it again haha

[Ed Lijewski]

i don't see how that could be since i've not even had my clock in the car for almost 10 years.

Removing the clock doesn't replicate the [potential] problem. I've had two instances where blown bulbs in XR dash clocks caused the fuse to blow: one with the OEM digital and one with the Euro analog/digital. It seems it's possible for a bulb there to fail in such a way that the circuit is shorted (yes, I know; it doesn't seem logical). Many people pointed to the rheostat switch as the likely source of the problem but it wasn't in those instances for me (it could be in others...). I found the bulbs to be the problem by trial and error--testing every bulb for integrity and ultimately noting that when new clock bulbs were installed the dash lights operated as they should.

YMMV

[m7stic]

i don't see how that could be since i've not even had my clock in the car for almost 10 years.

Removing the clock doesn't replicate the [potential] problem. I've had two instances where blown bulbs in XR dash clocks caused the fuse to blow: one with the OEM digital and one with the Euro analog/digital. It seems it's possible for a bulb there to fail in such a way that the circuit is shorted (yes, I know; it doesn't seem logical). Many people pointed to the rheostat switch as the likely source of the problem but it wasn't in those instances for me (it could be in others...). I found the bulbs to be the problem by trial and error--testing every bulb for integrity and ultimately noting that when new clock bulbs were installed the dash lights operated as they should.

YMMV 8)

I actually had a bulb short out and (in turn) burn up about 6 feet of wiring harness. Really crappy experience.

[thebronze]

Thats Your problem.... lights won't work with out the dimmer plugged in....... D'oh

[Esteban]

Thats Your problem.... lights won't work with out the dimmer plugged in....... D'oh

+1

[DirtyMerk85]

Lights work much better when you actually connect the dimmer switch lol

Thanks guys

[f1rules]

Does anybody know the specs for the instrument cluster light bulbs?
Part number? etc.?
My son just bought an 88 XR4ti and half of the instrument cluster is lit and no back light for the digital clock.
Thanks in advance!

[BRYXR4TI]

Does anybody know the specs for the instrument cluster light bulbs?
Part number? etc.?
My son just bought an 88 XR4ti and half of the instrument cluster is lit and no back light for the digital clock.
Thanks in advance!

I would think it would be easier to get 194 or 158 bulbs and resolder them in