Dash won't light up

[Zeeknof]

For whatever reason my Gauge cluster won't light up. The seat belt light, oil light, engine light, all that works, the speedo/tack won't light up though...any idea's? I checked all the fuses and they are good. I even tried another Gauge out of one of my other Festiva's and it does the same exact thing....any help would be appreciated. thanks!

Shaun

[gomer]

check your running lights ,,, this occurred with my 93 about a year ago and it turned out that the taillights were affected also ,,, had to replace a wire that had an internal break under the dash... I no longer have the car so I can't check to see which wire it was but if it isn't a fuse that is where I'd start looking.. get out your multi-meter.... (or go to an auto electric shop ,,, this is a cheap fix; they should be able to isolate and repair the problem in 30-60 minutes..)

[2foci1festy]

Any luck on this? My instrument cluster lights went out this morning on my way to work. The warning lights (belts, check engine, etc.) worked and all other lights in the interior worked(radio, heater, etc.) but no glow from the cluster. I don't know if it affected my taillights. I'm going to check after it gets dark. Oddly enough, they came back on after about 30 miles so it's gotta be a short or a grounding problem somewhere.

[2foci1festy]

el bumpo! I checked and it does not affect my tail lights. I'm thinking the problem may be the dimmer. Even when the instrument cluster lights work, the dimmer does not and the lights are on bright all the time. Would there be any adverse effect from removing the dimmer and patching the two wires together?

[bassman]

this may sound dumb but there are 4 lights and mine never worked from when i got the car till i changed them.
they were all burnt out.
maybe try and see if they work .
now if they are good i would mess with the dimmer switch.
good luck


shayne

[gomer]

You can always bypass the dimmer switch ... it is just a variable resistor to dim your dash panel ... it's rare to see a dash that isn't running undimmed... I bypassed mine and used that dash switch location for a fog light switch.

[Kindred]

Yeah, chances are someone accidentally hit the dimmer switch. Had the same thing happen a couple of weeks ago. Took me a minute or two before I'd realized what happened.

[Marc's fesDiva]

Yeah, chances are someone accidentally hit the dimmer switch. Had the same thing happen a couple of weeks ago. Took me a minute or two before I'd realized what happened.

Same thing happened to me, took me a week or two to figure this one out, but they weren't off, just really dim.

Marc

[gdawgs]

Yeah, the dimmer switches are pretty chintzy and have a tendency to flake out from time to time.

[FRANTIK]

mine hardly works. I had , and still have the same problem with my dash, since i bought it. so for 2.5 years I have been givving it a good whack on the top of the cluster and it comes back on lol. I dont really care anymore about it, its embarassing, but worked for me

[austyfrosty]

my dash lights don't come on sometimes also but i have found out to hit the dash a few times and they usually come on. i don't know if it helps but that what my car does.

[takeone51]

there is a relay that is hidden under the air filter box that my be your problem , i had that problem none of my dash lights worked or the park lights but the head lights and the brake lights worked..

[rain406]

hidden relay under air filter box? I assume I have to take the air filter off? my headlight and corner light are taken off, and I looked in the hood..and that relay sure must be hidden

[rain406]

Ah, nevermind! Got it fixed

[kzbill]

what was the fix?