Intstrument Pane / Guage Lights do not work???

[TylerDurden]

The guage lights in the dash stopped working in my 92. The guages work, the high beam indicator works, all interior lights and radio lights work....just the ones that illuminate the dash so I can see how fast I am going at night. I guess it is finally time to ask since Officer Friendly was kind enough to let me know how fast I was going the other night about midnight as he ripped the ticket from the book.
What do I need to check? (it's all stock, nothing has been molested or tampered with.)

 

[RYC CUKR]

Most likely the dash dimmer is crapping out. You might be able to mess around with it and get the gauge lights working but at some point you are probably going to have to replace it. It is a pretty common occurance with the fox Mustangs. My 88's is really touchy. If you try to adjust it the lights go out and the dimmer isn't cheap either.

 

[TylerDurden]

the dimmer switch SEEMS to be working ok. that was the 1st thing I thought of too. I can get rough with it and it does not effect the lights either way. I can still push it far to the right and the dome light cuts on fine. Does the point that it conects to activate the dome light work seperately than the 1st 3/4's of motion (dimming the dash lights)?
I'll try a new dimmer, but I guess I was hoping it would be something more along thelines of a relay or whatnot.
Thanks for the reply!

 

[RYC CUKR]

I can't remember which way it turns but when you turn the dome light on you can here it click and the dome light comes on. When mine went out the dome light function still works since that is the switch. There are actually two different parts to the dimmer switch. The dimming function for the instrument cluster and then the dome light.

What you might want to do is pull the dimmer switch, unplug it, turn the headlights on and then with a wiring diagram jumper from the power coming from the headlight switch out to the instrument cluster lights. That would check the wiring and make sure that the switch is the problem.

 

[TylerDurden]

gotcha! kool. THANKS.