Dash lights out

[Skunksmash]

Hi all. Got a light behind the gauges that has always been out, and it's not a problem with the bulb. After testing the socket with a couple working bulbs (i know cause the lit up in the other socket) it was easy to see that the socket is bad. This is kind of a problem for me cause I sometimes have trouble telling what speed I am doing at night. I would rather spend time watching the road rather than waiting for my eyes to adjust and looking at the gauges.

So my question is this: How hard could this be to fix? I have had all the gauges themselves out before, but that's as far as I have been into it. Anyone had any experience with what typically goes wrong with the sockets?

[zieg85]

Remove the speedometer cluster and clean the contact points on the plastic circuit board with a pencil eraser.  Always has worked for me in the past.  If that doesn't light them up then you may have a bad board.  I had to replace the one in my 85 when I first got it.  I actually found this great site while googling my problem and haven't looked back. 

[Skunksmash]

Well I tore into it, and I am wondering how you get that part out that holds all the lights and gauges in place. It's like a very light blue color, like swimming pool paint. It's a solid plastic piece that holds everything together behind the bezel. I got all the gauges out, even got the speedometer's face off. I also got the odometer out. But that metal piece that is behind the odometer... how do you get that out? It's the only thing that is holding the plastic piece in. Anyone know how you go about getting it out?

[Captkaos]

Are you talking about the plastic cluster?  You remove it all together.
You have to be careful not to break the tabs, but it generally is required to push down on it and pull it out sideways.

[Skunksmash]

Thanks, got that out. Also wanted to ask what is the best way to get the headlight knob off? And how can I peel back the fuse box without actually having to take it all out and apart? Trying to get the sound deadening materiel back behind it, without actually removing it all. Can't afford that kind of down time right now.

[Captkaos]

pull out the knob, reach on the body and push the pin in.  Push the knob in a little and pull it out...

[Skunksmash]

So the pin is actually back, and inside of the knob?

Also, What is the best way to peel the fuse panel back away from the firewall?

[Irish_Alley]

the pin is on the housing of the switch behind the dash

[Skunksmash]

the pin is on the housing of the switch behind the dash

Ahh, thank you sir. Now anyone know the best way to peel back the fuse panel? Looks like there is just one big bolt that holds it to the firewall. I have no intention of trying to unhook all those wires, and then have to wire it all back up. There must be some way I can peel the whole fuse box assembly back enough to lay the sound deadening stuff behind it.

[Captkaos]

The bolt is on the outside and you have to disconnect the harness to get it loose.

[Skunksmash]

Cool. Anyone know how much I should pay on a new printed circuit for the rear of the gauges? I fixed that one light that was out, but the reason it was out just leads me to believe that I'd be better off if I just went ahead and replaced the printed circuit.

[GoatBeard]

It's been my experience that you can just wiggle those bulbs a little and they will come back on.  I think you could squeeze the connectors together a little and make them stay put.