Custom Dash Cluster

[Ivan141]

I stripped a couple of clusters and they are really low-tech. Nothing complicated enough
to warrant such drastic measures as replacing the whole unit.

Basically it goes like this (from lightbulb back to power and ground):
-Lightbulb
->Bulb holders with contact 'wings'
->Flexible circuit board
->Connector
->Switched 12V (from tail relay and tail fuse)
->Rheostat -> Ground

-You can visually check the circuit board, you can measure the resistance from bulbholder to connector.
-You can check 12v at the connector
-You can check if there is continuity to chassis ground from the connector
-You can check if 12V reaches the PCB.

That is really all there is to it. If the flexiPCB isnt borked and you have power + ground then the illumination should work.
I've had a rheostat go bad once which I fixed by bypassing it to a chassis ground, I suspect that whatever is wrong with
your cluster (if it's the cluster and not the in-car wiring) can be fixed with an equally simple measure.