Dashboard lights, speedometer, fuel gauge, tachometer lights suddenly go dark while driving. Rheostat dims/brightens OK.

Do you have a dimmer for interior lamps? Like a rheostat, a little wheel that you turn up or down to brighten or dim interior lamps. Usually the instrument cluster lamps brighten and dim the same way.
Can you brighten and dim the other interior lamps?

If you are talking about the instrument panel and radio lights, one possibility is a broken panel light dimmer rheostat (This is not the same as the headlight dimmer switch). Try turning it to full brightness. If at some point the lights suddenly come on, that's definitely your problem. If the lights don't come on, it could still be broken.

I have seen an older vehicle driven by a person who didn't notice the instrument panel lamps were burning out until the last one went - maybe all you have to do is replace all of the bulbs. :)

Also, check the instrument panel fuse. If it's blown, you'll have to track down the wiring problem that caused the fuse to blow. Merely replacing the fuse is just asking for the problem to happen again at the worst possible moment - such as on a dark road on a dark night where there is a known speed trap, when you're low on fuel, and suddenly you're unable to see either the speedometer or the fuel gauge.

there is a regulator for the display brightness, you may have it turn'd down or it has stopped working;. it controls the brightness at which the dash lights are. usually has a speedo sign on it. goes up and down. it works with the main light and is conecter to them on the same lighting board if it has gone then a new light swtch control switch will be needed.

I'd think maybe a failing rheostat in the instrument panel.


Engine Performance Products

sounds like the altenator is going bad

Hi I'm Rick! I'm afraid you have a cluster problem, the cluster houses the gauge package you see in front of you.. all your gauges operate from the printed circuit board to which they are attached and a portion of that board has failed.. The fix is to replace the cluster.

most dash lights you can brighten or dim by the light switch.

check for blown fuse for gauges,light is a pro blem code,thatll have to be scanned to point at problem area.

FROM ANOTHER POST:

the fuse is the #2 fuse in the underhood fuse box. that fusebox is on the passenger side of the engine compartment and it has a black cover on it that is approximately 6" x 3"

the fuse box lid should have a list under the cover of what fuses are what. the #2 fuse is a 15 amp fuse.

if the console lights work then the problem isn't the fuse.

check the rheostat that is used to dim the dash lights. that is the same button you use to reset the trip odometer at the base of the speedometer. that knob actually turns to brighten or dim the dash lights. it may have gotten turned inadvertantly

if the console lights work and turning the rheostat makes no difference then the rheostat switch in the dash is probably bad

hope that helps

check for loose connection at the instrument cluster.