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Author
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Topic: electrical experts--need help with '73 dash lights
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71RESTO
Gearhead Posts: 868
From: Oregon, USA
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-27-2002 09:52 PM
   
I have been trying to figure out why the dash lights (instrument cluster)on my '73 Mach don't work and frankly I am lost. This problem has happened on my '71 also, so any insight would be apreciated.
I have replaced the fuses with no luck. Then thought perhaps it was the headlight switch and changed that as well, still no luck.
So what else might the problem be?? I thought it might be the circuit panel on the back of the cluster, but don't want to replace that only to find this isn't the problem either.
Is there anything else to check or test before replacing the circuit panel?------------------
Duane
71 Fastback (his) under resto (351C-4V C6 auto)
73 Mach 1 (hers) (351CJ 4 speed)
66 289/2V coupe (daughter Ashley's)
89 LX 2.3 convertible (daughter Amanda's)
M & M Member #730
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 23085
From: Saco, Maine USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-27-2002 10:48 PM
First verify there is power at the cluster plug-in, then check for continuity from the socket for the plug-in and the bulb sockets. Check the continuity to ground, too. There's an open circuit somewhere, the fun is finding it.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 M code 351C 4V/FMX/3.25 open
'72 Mustang Sprint Coupe 351C 4V/FMX/4.30 Trac Lok
'94 F-150 XL 5.8L/E4OD/3.55 Limited Slip
MCA Member # 47773 "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."
- Voltaire
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Dave Witthoeft
Gearhead Posts: 1622
From: IL.
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-28-2002 05:50 AM
quote:
Originally posted by SteveLaRiviere:
First verify there is power at the cluster plug-in, then check for continuity from the socket for the plug-in and the bulb sockets. Check the continuity to ground, too. There's an open circuit somewhere, the fun is finding it.
Fun??!!  ------------------
MCA# 48755
71 Mach 1
69 Fastback
92 F-150
M&M#884
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 104
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-28-2002 06:17 PM
Pull the dashpad if none of the above works. You can get a good look at the the dash printed circuit from there. It is notorious for burning through in places, and causing this problem. An inspection mirror may help. If it has a broken circuit, you can use a light gauge wire and solder it with low-temp solder, but be very careful!!!
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 23085
From: Saco, Maine USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-28-2002 06:32 PM
The whole cluster is easy to remove. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 ~ '72 Mustang Sprint ~ '94 F-150
MCA Member # 47773 "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."
- Voltaire
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Dave Witthoeft
Gearhead Posts: 1622
From: IL.
Registered: Dec 2000
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posted 05-29-2002 04:16 AM
Duane, You could pull the inst. pod and bench test it. I took a twelve volt power suply and some aligator clips to check all my dash lights. Look were the lights go on the back to see were to put the clips. I'm at work now and not looking at the back of my dash so it's a little hard to explain. Hope this helps a bit. 
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71RESTO
Gearhead Posts: 868
From: Oregon, USA
Registered: Oct 2000
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posted 05-29-2002 09:25 PM
Thanks for the help guys!!
Steve, as far as power to the switch, everything else that goes thru the switch works (including headlights), so i'm not sure the plug-in circuit is the problem. I will probably just go ahead and pull the instrument panel and (Like Dave said) bench test the circuit board to see if there are problems there. I was hoping it might be something simpler than that, but I'm not in any hurry.
Also, I'm not the most knowledgeable (you can read that as ignorant) when it comes to electrical problems. Mechanical problems and causes = NO Problem!! Electrical problems, and I am in over my head!!!
Wish me luck, because this is driving me nuts!!------------------
Duane
71 Fastback (his) under resto (351C-4V C6 auto)
73 Mach 1 (hers) (351CJ 4 speed)
66 289/2V coupe (daughter Ashley's)
89 LX 2.3 convertible (daughter Amanda's)
M & M Member #730
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 23085
From: Saco, Maine USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-30-2002 06:24 PM
I wasn't talking about the plug-in to the switch, I was saying to test the plug-in at the cluster to verify there was power for the instrument light circuit. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 ~ '72 Mustang Sprint ~ '94 F-150
MCA Member # 47773 "Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd."
- Voltaire
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