Sounds like you have a power drain (small-amperage short) in the wiring going to your instrument cluster. The short has disabled some of your instrument cluster lights, but, since is has high resistance, it has not blown a fuse (since it draws to few amps). Once the current drain has wasted enough amperage, there's not enough left in the battery to start the car.
Phase 1: Interim solution: (1) charge the battery with your battery charger (if you don't have a battery charger, attach the battery with jumper cables to the battery in a running car - its alternator will charge your battery).
(2) pull the fuse(s) to the instrument cluster, thus killing power to the short.
(3) start and use you car without instrument cluster lights until you can move
to phase 2 of your repair. If you're not sure that you've killed power to the short, disconect the battery each time you stop the engine.
Phase 2:
(1) isolate the problem (the short) to one specific fuse, meaning one specific branch circuit in the car.
(2) trace the wiring from the fuse block to the instrument cluster, looking for
burn marks, bare wires (all wires should be insulated), or anything touching
a frame ground. Also look for moisture iintrusion - water can cause these types of high resistance "shorts" - with the symptom that the problem disappears after the water dries up.
(3) correct wiring problem found in step 2, plug in fuse. done
(4) if replacing instrument cluster, use instructions below.
1995-99 Models
See Figure 4
Fig. 4: Common instrument cluster found in 1995-97 "S" series Pick-ups.
(see illustration at end of message)
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the sound insulators/trim panels.
3. If necessary for access, unfasten the steering column nuts and if necessary, the bolts at the lower flange, then lower the column for access.
4. Unfasten the instrument cluster bezel screws located at the lower edge of the bezel. If no screws are present, then remove the bezel by pulling it straight out.
5. Unfasten the four screws retaining the instrument cluster to the instrument panel, unplug any necessary cluster electrical connections, then remove the cluster.
To install.
6. Install the cluster to the instrument panel making sure the cluster is firmly seated onto the connector, attach any necessary electrical connections and tighten the cluster fasteners to 17 inch. lbs. (1.9 Nm).
7. Install the instrument cluster panel bezel by snapping it into position, then if equipped, install the screws along the bottom of the bezel.
8. If lowered, re-position the steering column and tighten retaining nuts to 22 ft. lbs. (30 Nm) on 1995 models. On 1996-99 models tighten the nuts to 20 ft. lbs. (27 Nm). If removed, tighten lower flange bolts to 120 inch lbs. (13 Nm).
9. Install the sound insulators/trim panels.
10. Connect the negative battery cable.
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