Weird issue with instrument cluster lights

[fastivaca]

I have a troublesome problem with the lights in my instrument cluster... they seem to have a mind of their own and don't want to come on most of the time when I turn on the headlights. Here's what I do know:

• the bulbs are good because they do come on occasionally
• the headlight buzzer works (the one that lets you know you've left your lights on) so I know there's power getting to that circuit even when the cluster lights don't come on
• all other parts of the cluster are working as they should
• when they do come on it seems to be on hotter days

Any ideas? I'm going to pull the cluster and check for tight connections to see if that's an issue. Will also check for cracks in the circuit board.

Thanks

[Team Lightning]

Strange thing is, mines not coming on at night, they work great during the daytime. This started Sunday evening on my way home from out of town. The heater control lights work, as do the high beam, and turn signals. I haven't had time to pull the cluster and investigate.

[WmWatt]

Moisture? If so WD-40 will cure.

[ryanprins13]

On my red festiva it was loose connections. I could never seem to keep them all working.
On my blue festiva they all have stayed working except the high beam indicator which sometimes works and sometimes doesnt. I have a feeling its a loose connection as well.
I cant remember why but i tried several times to make the connections better on the red festiva and was unsucsessful. Perhaps worn out wires or bad connections in the wiring itself. The lights would work with the cluster out of the dash and some would go out as i shoved it in or the next day.
Maybe try dielectric grease?

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[Studebaker]

Could be a bad cluster dimmer

[drddan]

Is this a Tach cluster? My white tach clusters do this in both of mine. Recently swapped one I got at FM10, is working well ... so far.
I think the white tachs have been known to have this issue

[Team Lightning]

Mine is a white tach cluster. I've never heard there was an issue with the lights on them.

[fastivaca]

Well I have some good news.... I found the issue and fixed it.

Turns out that one of the pins on the back of the cluster, yes it's a tach cluster, was very slightly loose.

Here's what I did:

• Removed the cluster from the car
• Removed the circuit board from the back of the cluster,
• Removed all the bulbs,
• Checked for continuity on all the lighting circuits,
• Discovered that there was a break in the circuit that disappeared when I pressed the probe down on one of the pins for the light circuit,
• Put a dab of solder at the base of the loose pin,
• Checked for continuity and all was good,
• Checked lighting by plugging in the black plug before reinstallng the cluster,
• While checking the lights in the bar across the top I discovered that one of the four was burnt out. Luckily I had some bulbs and found one that wasn't also burned out.

Screwdriver is pointing at the loose pin. You can see the dab of solder at the base of it. (Sorry for the fuzzy photo)

Hopefully this helps others with a similar issue.

Cheers

Ian

[Team Lightning]

Thank you. I was planning to pull mine tomorrow for something else. I'll look at that while it's out.
Thank you again.