All of my insturment cluster lights went out!!!

[biggs85]

The lights on my instrument cluster, the heater and air conditioning controls, and the 4x4 and low range lights went out all at once. They had been flickering on and off for a while and now they stopped working completly. I don't know if this has anything to do with it but I have a system with a 10" speaker with a 200 watt amp. It has fairly small wires. I took the speaker and amp out and put my friends 500 watt amp with 2 12" JL audios in with the same small wires. It's a very nice amp and it cost around $700. So I assume it draws a lot of power all the time. It's been in there for a few months now because my friend lost his driving priviledges (but that's a whole other story). Anyway after about a week we had it in there and that's when the lights started flickering. We had the system in there before and it didn't do it but now the lights are completely off. The turn signals still work and I checked all the fuses. So I'm assuming that there is a bad connection. I just need to know what the connections are in the cluster that light up the cluster so I know what the hell I'm looking at when I'm back there.
thanks

 

[heavymetal2]

wow old post and not one ford guy knows this answer?? i am at lost here too. it just happen to me. just wondering if this is a common thing it happens to any ford or mercury older model suvs?

 

[Blue91Ex]

my first assumption would be that it's the 500w amp's fault so swap the old one back in and see if it fixes anything, if that doesnt work, check the wiring (se if its burnt or anything like that) and the switches. other than that i have no clue.

 

[LONO100]

If you have a Gen 2 explorer, take a look at your headlight switch. If its bad you can get a new one at AutoZone for less than 20 bucks. Check any applicable fuses too. Good luck!

 

[IAmThor]

Since you're driving a 1st gen, you can adjust the light output of the gauge lights, ac/heater lights by rotating the headlight switch knob to the left. If it clicks, then you turned the dome lights on. I had that problem too, then my dad told me about it