1985 s10 instrument cluster lights don't work after changing bulb

You probably need to pull the instrument cluster out and replace the illumination bulbs from the backside of the instrument cluster. All the bulbs back there are likely all the same ( your illumination and warning bulbs), so change them all. Happy motoring!
How to get the cluster out? Look for screws to remove. Get any bezel or trim plates out of the way. Check for screws again, cluster should pull out a few inches, then reach behind and unclip the speedo cable from back of cluster, then pull off the electrical plug from back of cluster. Now should be able to remove the cluster. Hopefully your steering wheel will allow cluster to be removed, but if not, take off the steering wheel's center nut, the pull off the steering wheel-sometimes a steering wheel puller is required-an inexpensive tool available at parts store.

Of course, before doing all this, check for a blown instrument panel fuse-something like instr. lmps, or instr pnl designation.
Good luck.

Cluster lights are soldered into the pc board, You need to remove the trim around the cluster, then the cluster itself. Find out what lights are out when the cluster is still in place, This is quite difficult because you have to remove the gauge needle(s) gas speedometer and tach, then the cluster can be separeted from the glass part. I ordered the lights from ebay, I hear that radio shack has some lightbulbs that might work as well. Don't forget that they are soldered in place they are not light bulbs that can be twisted or pulled off, good luck if you attemp to do this.

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.

FUSE

Take out the screws holding the instrument panel in, pull it gently away from the dash being careful not to unplug or pull out any wires. there should be a plastic retainer that you and pull off to get at the bulbs.replace the blown bulbs and reinstall the panel..

It's the bulb. You have to pull the instrument panel cluster to get at it. The following directions are from Haynes 829 for the 1982 through 1990 Buick Century, but are probably applicable to your vehicle as well.

1. Disconnect the negative cable at the battery.
2. Remove the left side dashboard trim panels.
3. Remove the cluster retaining screws.
4. Disconnect the speedometer cable.
5. Pull the cluster out, disconnect the wiring and remove it from the instrument panel.
6. Installation is the reverse of removal.

The bulb is most likely in a socket set into the flexible circuit panel, and is removed by twisting the socket 1/4 turn counter-clockwise. The bulb is probably a wedge-base type that pulls straight out of the socket.

check the fuses and make sure the bulbs are not blown,if not only other part is the instrument cluster itself..









TIM...........

If you can remove the cluster ... light bulbs are fitted to sockets that rotate out of the cluster. A blown bulb usually has smoked glass from the blowout depositing metal on the inside of the bulb.

Try moving a working bulb to the speedo and tachometer, and of course replacing any blown bulbs with the same from a parts store.

If using a new bulb does not work in the speedo/tach, look for a blown fuse in the fuse panel. Look at the two(?) female cluster connectors on the back: remove any green corrosion/dirt with WD40.

If you have a multimeter, trace the speedo/tach circuits from the cluster connectors to the bulbs and hence to ground. There could be a crack in the flex circuit.

If the problem persists, there's a more problematic issue in the wiring harness.

you have to take out the instrument cluster and then twist the hold down a half turn and pull to remove bulb and hold down from cluster then remove bulb from hold down replace with working bulb and reverse to install working bulb then reinstall instrument cluster.

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