Replaced cluster lights, lost my gauges...

[wheels23]

Yesterday I finally got around to replacing the burnt out 194 bulbs in the instrument clusterof my 97 Mountaineer, per this nice write up here. I used Sylvania 194LL bulbs.

I turned on the car, and the lights were nice and bright and I was very happy, until I realized that none of the gauges were working (with the exception of the gas gauge), and only the high beam, seat belt, battery, and theft indicator lights seem to be working.

I went back today and repeated the process, made sure that all three of the plug connections to the instrument cluster was solid (unplugged and replugged), made sure all the bulbs were screwed in tight, etc.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Jstcruz]

If that printed circuit paper (whatever you wanna call it ) gets twisted or ripped it can cut the connection to where it needs to go. As much as its gonna suck to do it, pull the cluster out again and make sure all of those paths in the harness plug in area are straight and free of cracks. Check that where the bulbs screw in is nice and flat and look for any damaged paths along the board. Hope this helps, good luck with it.

 

[wheels23]

Thanks for the advice. I took things apart yesterday and replugged everything back in. No difference. I will look again at the paper when I can. Is there any way to fix the paper if it is damaged?

Any chance this is a fuse issue?

 

[Jstcruz]

If there is a break in the circuit path you can bridge it with solder. Im not sure about any fuses being involved right on the cluster

 

[wheels23]

Thanks, will take a look. It is a strange feeling to drive with no spedometer.

 

[wheels23]

Well, it turns out that all of my gauge problems were due to a blown fuse. Number 11 blew and caused all the problems. Got it changed out and all the gauges and emergency indicator lights are now working. The new bulbs in the cluster look great too. Oh, and the radio backlighting also works now, too.