If it ain't totally broke, don't try fixing it!!!

[Damage82]

On my wife's echo, around the fuel gauge has always had a lighting issue, sometimes it's lit up, other times not, she's grown used to... I haven't. I finally got fed up and hauled the cluster out to check the bulbs.... I saw nothing wrong, I pulled each one out of the back and inspected them.... saw nothing wrong except the 2 blue ones that you couldn't tell if anything was wrong with them or not. I did spray a quick blast of compressed air(the ones for PCs... not the air compressor... possible issue?)

Here's my problem.... now she gets NO backlight at all! Not a good thing for driving at night. I don't know what I might have done to it? I either blew the bulbs (best scenario, cheap fix) or shorted something out (worst case). the rest of the heater/fan lights dim and come on as normal when turn the dim button, but no response on the speedo cluster. I'm hoping to hell I don't have to try and find a cluster in a junk yard(echos in a junk yard are hard to find).

Anyone got any suggestions??? could really use what you can think of... thanks!

[JNEG]

Check your fuses (if you have not already done so), and if that's not the issue, I would disconnect the wiring harness for the dash and re-connect it. Probably something simple...

[Damage82]

just 2 connectors that I saw. one small and a big bigger. my wife said she hit the top of where the gauges are and the backlight came on for a split second.... so now I know it is something loose, but is it the wires or the damn circuit board?

[ReTread]

Originally Posted by Damage82

just 2 connectors that I saw. one small and a big bigger. my wife said she hit the top of where the gauges are and the backlight came on for a split second.... so now I know it is something loose, but is it the wires or the damn circuit board?

-wiggle all connectors while powered to check if lights come on.
-use electrical 'cold spray' - @ Radio Shack or whatever it's called now - on circuit board to check for cracked solder connections etc. (cold spray will shrink the cracks to make contact.
-encouraging sign is that power does flow using the old 'technical tap'.

[Damage82]

A friend looked at this for me today, is 100% sure it is just the bulbs. Which makes sense, you bang the thing around, the filament (sp?) moves around. So I'm told that I can only get them from the dealer. Anyone know of an alternative, I hate the stealership lol.

[Damage82]

I ordered the bulbs today, 9.70 a piece... bit expensive in my mind, but what can you do. Should be on on Monday.