ok Im still havin problems with my gauge lights if anybody remembers my post from a little while ago. here is what i know now:

-The entire right side of the gauge cluster is out.

-I have replaced 2 bulbs on the left side, both working properly.

-Sometimes if I hit the top of the dash the right side will turn on (wont do it anymore though)

-Ive pulled the gauges out and checked the harnesses over and over again to make sure that they are in securely, the blue harnes (one on the left side if ur looking at the back) seems to work its way out very slightly on left side of the harness. However when I push it back in nothing happens. I would say it comes out about 1/8" if even that.

-At one point I unscrewed a bulb and when I screwed it back in it lit up for an instant and went back out. After that I couldnt get it to light up again

So this is where I am at right now. The fact that one of the bulbs lit up tells me there is power and that the circuit is ok. This also leads me to believe that the harness is not the problem, but for some reason I want to keep going back to it. Should that harness snap in at all, because its a ***** to get off and it doesnt snap at all it just slides back in and gets snug. This is driving me crazy so any help would be appreciated.

 

Check with a magnifying glass to see if the little filaments on those bulbs are broken. One side of the filament could be broke, and when you bang the dash it could re-touch causing it to light up again.. only to become un-attached again and look like its burnt out. So, first I would just replace the bulbs since they are cheap before I'd tackle the big stuff..

Next approach after checking the bulbs is to re-connect the little harnesses on the back of the gauge cluster. Make sure you are pushing on both sides of the IDE-like cable (hard drive cable in a computer), and not pushing from the middle. If you push hard from both sides of the connector, it will ensure all the pins are connected in properly. If you push from the middle, it could go in a hair crooked and the pins on the end wouldn't be touching.

If it isn't that, then I would try for a replacement cluster. They have them on ebay quite a bit or look/advertise in the wanted ads here. Most likely it isn't the harness unless you can see burnt wiring or a wire has been loosned up out of the back of the socket connector. The printed circuit board on the back of the cluster is pretty sensitive and if you give it a static shock from your finger, it could cause something as small as a needle to read improperly, to ruining the whole board. Static shocks off ur finger THAT YOU CAN FEEL are anywhere from 1000 volts to 15,000 volts. Be careful and ground youself before you touch them. Same applies to working with computers, cause it is essentially the same thing. They make anti-static wrist bands and mats for working on something like that.

 

If you want to swap needles I have a spare OZ gauge without them. It can be a pain, but you'd probably want to get the odometer reset at the dealership anyway. That is of course if you can't or don't want to fix your cluster as it is.

It's probably a loose or damaged wire/connection somewhere. Electricity is my worst enemy though, so I don't think I canoffer much help besides that.

 

thanks for the replies,

Wiretap

-I took out the bulbs and looked at them, but about half are different bulbs. This part confuses me a bit and I forgot to mention it earlier. The bulb I took out that lit back up and then off again right away, well when I pulled that out I was lookin to see if the filament was burnt out and it didn't have a center filament at all.

-I pushed on that harness from every angle and spot on that harness.

I didn't know that the board was so sensative so as much as I am hoping its not screwed that could be it. When I was changing the bulbs that burnt out I didnt really touch too much. Thanks for the help (again)

Hopie

I agree every symptom tells me a loose connection, but I cant find one. Ill get back to u on that cluster. Thanks

 

If you think it is the connections with the wiring, go thru and slowly inspect each wiring lead off of the socket plug to see if you see any crimps or severe bends. Give each wire a slight tug to make sure they aren't loose or coming out of the socket. Incase you don't know the bulb size, they are T1.5.

 

It's Hobie, damnit. >_< Good luck.

 

haha sry man I know, just tryin to type fast at work. havent gotten a chance to look at it yet. Thnx again guys

 

Unfortunately I've opened up my gauges about 8 times, and I still don't think I've seen any points particularly succeptable to failure. Electricity and I do NOT play well together. It always beats me.

 

look for corrosion where the bulb seats , my buddy had crap on his fingers messing with his and it corroded and did the same thing .... if that doesnt work try swapping bulbs to see if the problem stays in that socket or moves with the bulb..

 

oh yeah if i remember right i think there is only i power wire to the cluster so if half of it works the other half should have power .. at least coming throught the harness..