Did you guys ever fix your lighting problem, I had the same problem last year and EvoVIII808 helped me with mine.

 

Maybe its just the bulbs are old and got too weak and about to blow so when you turn on other lights, they go dark. Try changing out your HVAC bulbs first (which are #74 wedge bulbs that you can get at any auto store and see if it corrects that part of the problem. If so, the cluster lights would be next.

 

Mine turned out to be the a/c control unit which had burnt out. Mitsu replaced it under warranty.
All fixed now and well lit.

 

Good to hear, I went with LED's since the factory incandescent bulbs go out a lot. Never have to replace bulbs again.

 

what about those tiny light bulbs?

 

Are you asking about the warning lights in the dash cluster? or the smaller ones that illuminate the ACD, fog, highlight level, and dimmer switches?

 

I havnt been on here in awhile.. my evo was stolen but from what I last remember Fuse # and #20 control the lighting.
My problem was a lose wire on the Rear Passenger Side Tail light. It was causing a short, and thats what made my dash lighting go out.
The Orange wire for the radio could also be a problem. The voltage for the auto dimming feature on the radios is not supported by our cars. So this could also cause the lighting to act up.
Good Luck.

 

Hey what's up man, yeah you helped me with my problem before. If there's a short or loose wire it always blows out the #20 fuse. I blew a couple fuses out last night trying to see if LED's would fit in my cigarette and ashtray light sockets and they did. I haven't located another short or tried yet, but I blew out 2 7.5 amp fuses last night. Sucks that your Evo got stolen, was this recently? Hope law enforcement finds it or you get a check from insurance.

 

the ones that light up the speedo, tacho and the other gauges

 

1. Make sure your dimmer knob isn't turned all the way down.
2. Check your fuses in the engine compartment and drivers side dash.
3. If fuses are good, check the two harnesses that power the cluster, maybe a loose harness.

Are all the lights not working or just some working some not?

 

just some, it started with the speedo first and now the tach is not as bright, and the speedo doesnt light up at all. all fuses are good, and the dimmer switch is up all the way, but it doesnt control those gauge faces for some reason.

a while back i blew the fuse for the gauges illumination, and then replaced it. im wondering if some of the bulbs shorted. anyway, what size are those?

 

Remove your cluster, it's pretty easy to do. After removing the black bezel trim housing using two screws remove the left side dash trim which holds the side view mirror controls. It's held in by clips and makes removing the cluster a little easier, then there's two wiring harnesses on both sides of the cluster. I'm almost %99 sure you blew out one of your 2 main bulbs that light up the speedo and tach. I'm also sure a few other smaller bulbs are blown out. I know the two main wedge bulbs are #74.
MR444536 - Clear bulb for warning light (SES, SRS, FUEL, DOOR)
MN134600 - Bulb with blue condom for lcd odometer
8180A001 - Bulb with white condom for speedomter and Tachometer(There are two of those so if one goes out, half of the cluster goes out.

Some bulbs are $2 each, some are $3. I would order the MN134600 in white or red LED from superbrightleds they're cheap will last you a lifetime. I'm just not sure if you would need a #74 120 degree or 360 degree beam.

 

I'm sure those are all blown out or something shorted them, I would pull them out and check the bulbs. I have a 9 MR and my ACD, dimmer, fog light, headlight level, emergency, cig lighter, and ashtray lights were all burnt out. The factory bulbs don't last long, so I replaced them all with white LED's so they'll never go out.