instrument panel fuse

the smallest fuse is for the instrument panel right? and if i turn the lights on and put a test light to that fuse should it work?

 

Smallest fuse on the bottom left. Doesn't matter if you turn the lights on or not the fuse doesn't care if the switch is off or on. The test light should light on both ends of the fuse if the fuse is good. If the test light lights up on only one end then the fuse is blown

 

ok thanks!

 

ok the old fuse didn't light up so i put in a new fuse. still no light. does this affect everything on the instrument panel like the oil/alt/ high beam indicator ect. or just the dash lights? because all of my other lights work except my dash lights

 

This fuse goes to the Instruments, Cluster lights, Transmission Quadrant Illum., Radio Pilot, Heater and A/C Illum., Windshield Wiper Control, Ash Tray and Clock Illum.

Have you tried turning the knob on the light switch?

 

yeah im guessing that means bulbs then?

 

Either the bulbs or loose connection where the harness plugs into the cluster.

 

ok ill check those next.. thanks

 

pull one of the bulbs out and check if you got juice to contact inside where bulb end meets

 

Lets regroup here,
was there any difference in car when you put new fuse in?
Did you check for power in new fuse when you replaced it? Fuse clips may need cleaned for good contact to fuse.
Does it look like someone rewired behind dash?

 

no difference when i put a new one in, i checked it with a test light, and i dont think anyone has messed with the wiring im just gonna pull out a bulb and see if the bulb itself works

 

could there be a break/tear in the...circuit board?

 

you mean the part on the cluster itself? with all of the brass colored strips going to the bulbs?

 

That fuse gets it's feed from the dimmer rheostat on the light switch. Check the "hot" side of the fuse and be sure voltage is getting there (from the switch). You could also jump 12V to the output side of the fuse and see if your dash lights start working.

 

i put the tester to both parts of the fuse and neither one of them did anything, but since everything except the actual ilumination lights work what does that mean?