fordork

I bought an 88 gt with the instrument lights not working. the idiot lights work, and so do the guages (execpt oil pressure) just not the illumination. this includes the heat *****...

I checked the fuse, and tried hitting the dash

Is this a common problem with these cars, any simple known fixes?

Thanks for all and any help...

droptop302

Dimmer switch... Try that[&:]

fordork

the 3 position light switch on the dash?

It turns on all other ext lights and head lights without problem, just nothin in the dash...

droptop302

The switch that turns on the interior lights also dims the dash lights and makes them bright. Its to the left and the bottom of the instrument cluster i think thats what you need to change.. It rolls to the left and to the right..

PUDman

i'd check the bulbs. chances of them all being burned out at the same time seems rare, but i guess it could happen. you'll have to pull the cluster out to get to them.

fordork

Oh that switch, hmm. good thinking
but i think that when i roll it untill it clicks it does turn on the dome light. if it does turn on the dome light does that mean that its good??? or could it still be bad? How hard is it to pull the cluster in an 88 gt?

Thanks guys..

redpony88

i had something like this happen, when you push the h/l switch in do the parking lamps and everything come on? mine had a wire that came out of the connector and the tail lights parking lights and dash lights were all out. the h/l would come on but thats a different position that ONLY turns the h/l on everything else goes from the previous position. i had to drive home like that one night and i was just happy i didnt get pulled over

redpony88

the cluster isnt a big deal, i pulled mine alot.... there's 3 philips head screws on top of the bezel, i used one of those rachets with the bit attachment. pull the lower dash panel i used the torx heads, dont know if they were stock like that or not. once thats off then you should see 2 more screws holding that actual bezel at the bottom. then tilt the steering wheel down to get a little more room and you should be able to wiggle the bezel out. after you disconnect the wires that is. which would be a good time to check if you hold all the wires in on the connector for the h/l switch if the panel lighs come on after all. or just a good time to see if there are any loose wires hanging about. to continue pulling the i/c pull out the 4 screws that hold it in, the fun part is getting your hand up behinde the dash, i went from underneath and found the speedo cable. then once thats off you'll have enough slack to pull the wire connectors off the cluster

fordork

yes the parking lamps all work when the switch is in the middle position. i wish is was that simple. who knows what it is. ill probably just buy a small light and mount it facing on the front of the guages...