My instrument panel cluster doesn't work

Check 20Amp LP Park Fuse in Underhood Fuse Block (mounted to right strut tower) Check 15Amp Tail Lic. Lamp Fuse In IP Fuse Block.

You either have a Loose Electrical Connection

or

Your Cluster is failing

Since you have an '87, you most likely don't have one if you have never seen it on. Pull the instrument cover panel, then the three hex screws that hold the idiot light panel on the instrument cluster. The 1987 had a check engine graphics gel, but the instrument cluster did not have the check engine function on the printed circuit board. There is no such light included on that year model, I am not sure what month between the 1987 and 1988 model years introduced it.

A mechanic would test the power and ground circuits at the cluster plug, but it may be tough to fix if you can't make the problem happen on demand.

10 amp fuse labeled instrument cluster also protects idle sensor on diesel models

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.

Hi, it's possible the bulb is burned out or not making good contact with the circuit board. It should come on during the bulb check when you first turn the key on. Pull out the cluster and check the bulb. If it's good, see if you can clean the contact surfaces to get it working again. Or, move to another state where they don't worry about stupid things like a light bulb.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Fig. Fig. 1: To remove the instrument cluster, first remove the trim panel by removing the lower fascia panel

Fig. Fig. 2: With the lower fascia moved aside, remove the lower trim panel attaching screws ...

Fig. Fig. 3: ... as well as the upper attaching screws

Fig. Fig. 4: Then pull the entire instrument trim panel from the dash board

Fig. Fig. 5: Exploded view of the instrument cluster

Fig. Fig. 6: Rear view of the instrument cluster wire routing and connections

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
2. Remove the two steering column shroud-to-panel retaining screws and remove the shroud.
3. Remove the lower instrument panel trim.
4. Remove the cluster trim cover from the instrument panel by removing the eight screws.
5. Remove the four instrument cluster to panel retaining screws.
6. Position the cluster slightly away from the panel for access to the back of the cluster to disconnect the speedometer.

If there is not sufficient access to disengage the speedometer cable from the speedometer, it may be necessary to remove the speedometer cable at the transmission and pull cable through cowl, to allow room to reach the speedometer quick disconnect.

1. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the printed circuit, and any bulb-and-socket assemblies from the wiring harness to the cluster assembly and remove the cluster assembly from the instrument panel.

To install:

1. Apply approximately 1 / 8 in. diameter ball of D7AZ-19A331-A Silicone Dielectric compound or equivalent in the drive hole of the speedometer head.
2. Position the cluster near its opening in the instrument panel.
3. Connect the wiring harness connector to the printed circuit, and any bulb-and-socket assemblies from the wiring harness to the cluster assembly.
4. Position the cluster to the instrument panel and install the four cluster to panel retaining screws.
5. Install the panel trim covers and the steering column shroud.
6. Connect the battery ground cable.
7. Check operation of all gauges, lamps and signals.

Check your fuses - do your other interior lights work okay? Look at your fuses first - then start checking wiring behind the instrument cluster. Is anything loose or hanging down?

Probably too late but I had the same problem yesterday. Try changing your battery. It sounds crazy but it worked for me.