Gauge Lights (Speedo/Fuel) problem

[nucknoel89]

So my speedo and fuel gauges won't light up any more.  I know the fuse and bulbs are fine, because once in a blue moon if I smack the dash or whatever they will come on, and I recently pulled out the cluster to see if there was a problem with the printed circuit.  Maybe there is, but I didn't know what to look for.  I used a test light on the pins of the plug that connects, but again, I didn't know what to look for.  After I put everything back together the lights worked, but then the next day they stoped working again.  What wire(s) on that plug do the lights get their power from? If I can follow that maybe I can trace the problem...

[Irish_Alley]

it could also be the headlight/dimmer switch but once you pull the plug off the cluster switch the head light switch on with the key off and the only think i can think of to get power should be the lights

[nucknoel89]

it could also be the headlight/dimmer switch but once you pull the plug off the cluster switch the head light switch on with the key off and the only think i can think of to get power should be the lights

I know the dimmer switch works fine because when I pulled all this apart I had some aftermarket oil, water, and volt gauges that I tapped into the dimmer switch for and the lights on those turn off/dim just fine.  The day I did all this, everything worked perfect.

[Irish_Alley]

yeah i would think so. check  the cluster like i said and see what shows up

[VileZambonie]

Remove the bulb sockets and bend the terminals so they make firmer contact with the printed circuit. Also take a pencil eraser to clean the contact points. While you have it out put some metal reflective tape inside and new bulbs. It brightens it up quite a bit.

[nucknoel89]

Thanks for the tips guys, next time I pull the cluster out I'll try it!

[YotaMan]

I just got an 87, which is doing the exact same thing.  Speedo and Fuel gauges don't lite up until they are jolted by bumps in the road or a quick tap to the dash.  Did you find the problem?

[Captkaos]

The sockets on the bulbs are most likely the culprit as Vile stated.  If you pull the cluster out, check all the contact and the "tightness" of the sockets to the printed circuit.