The_Remora

Think I may have figured at least part of it out: the wiring connector for the main headlight **** had pulled off the pod when I maneuvered it out of the way to get the instrument cluster in and out... reattaching now. hard to get at that sucker.

The_Remora

Damn i think i shorted something... Does the cluster need to be secured into the pod before ignition is turned? I tried to test the dash lights with it loose, the four lights described above were lighting up, i turned ignition all the way and heard a click and now nothing in the dash works... checked instrument fuse and its not blown... I'm about to pull the instrument cluster back out and to check the connections and see if i can find any shorts on the cluster and test it outside the car. I also did not have the 'U' shaped spring on the ignition when i turned it but I think everything else was on there. Trying to see if I missed any grounds or caused a short somewhere. New ignition switch just put in. Any insight on this?

syoo8

When I pulled the pod and cluster I tested the cluster without the pod and it worked fine.

There is a lot of conductive material in the area (read: metal) that can short something out if the cluster is touching something it shouldn't be. Did you double check to make sure you didn't short something on the circuit board?

The_Remora

Thanks Scott.

I have the cluster out again now and don't see any evidence of a short on the board. will test the circuits and bulbs again while i have it out. wish my camera was working i'd post a pic. I'm gonna take the ignition out again and see if anything looks burned out inside. what a pain in the ***...

I didnt see anything that looked vulnerable to short on the various metal surfaces when I tried it, but somethings obviously going on thats not right.

jthwan22

I just did this job. If you are looking for the back light from the Jager LED kit you will need to make sure the polarity is correct on the 3 LEDs. Left and middle bulb is one way the right is opposite. Apply 9v to pin 17 +, pin 16 - on the bottom left connectors. When test fitting to the car without the pod, jump the wires on the left where the dimmer wheel sits. Turn on head light to check back light on instrument cluster.

The_Remora

Pretty sure I have the polarities for the Jager bulbs right, its that the whole dash no longer works. I have it all apart again and will try this test sequence as I put it back together. I didn't jump the pod near the dimmer light, I'll look for that jump spot. Thanks for the advice on this!

I'm pretty discouraged about the project right now... I did so many WYIT things in the cluster it will be hard to trouble shoot. However it looks like the cluster so far is okay (I have it out on the work bench again) and the problem lies in the ignition I replaced. The fact that NONE of the lights on the cluster go on now while its in the car (initial test show they work out of the car again) points to something that shorted between the new ignition switch and the cluster but I haven't found anything so far.

I think I'll post a separate thread that references this one because I doubt many people will read through to here unless they're interested in LED dash replacement, where I have a whole new set of ignition related electrical problems on my hands unfortunately.