Well....
Ouch
Big problem with the lighting in the instrument cluster. I've been having problems with the lights on my instrument cluster since the purchase of this car. Finally I've fixed all the broken black bulb holders and replaced all the lightbulbs. Started her up... All the lights worked! Dropped it off to get a new windshield/gasket and *poof* no more turn signal lights working in the cluster. I reached under the dash and removed the bulb holder to check the bulb. The bulb is good. The contacts to the circuit board are also good. All lighting on the outside of the car is in working order. Hazards, turn signals, markers, and headlights all working. Also, the turn signal relay is recently replaced and upgraded to a solid state relay.
Can't figure out the problem with the instrument cluster turn signal lights?
Any help or experience would be appreciated...
Thanks
-chris

have you checked the fuses and turn signal bulbs?

you might want to PM slant six dan.

Interesting. Try swapping a known good bulb with holder out of one of the cluster illumination holes and into one of the turn indicator holes.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Tried swapping out bulb and holder. Light bulbs are good. Tried them in other places on the car. All exterior lights and fuses are good.
Any more advice ? Strugging over here...

Well, get out your voltmeter and start diagnosing! Ground the - probe, and put the + probe in the socket for the relevant pin on the rear of the instrument cluster. If you see +12v pulsed in time with the turn signal flasher, then the problem is with the circuit board, the bulb holder(s), or the connection between the socket sleeves and the mating pins. If no pulsed +12v, then move upstream and check at the relevant connection where the main wiring harness connects to the turn signal switch, at the base of the steering column.

_________________
一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Sadly the late A-bodies are notorious for a couple of bad things...leaky old windshield gaskets that let some water in on the instrument panel, and lack of QA/QC on instrument clusters...

Depending on how things go, you might take the time to pull the whole cluster out so you can visually inspect the circuit board itself... all it takes is a little corrosion spot on the back to really mess up a few of the gauges or lights on the late boards... (I should know I have several of these in a bin for "spare parts" to make good ones for later projects, and quite a few of the have one problem or another....)


-D.Idiot

I'll be trying out the test light... However there is no corrosion. I just took the whole cluster out and cleaned all the connections and replaced all the bulbs/holders and no luck. I was just hoping there might be a quick fix I didn't know about. Well here it goes! Thanks

Ive had really good luck on circuit boards by "painting the foil side" with Krylon Crystal clear. As long as the circuit board is cleaned of corrosion
this will leave a thin coat on the board for years and keep any corrosion from ever forming.
If you have any questions about this PM or ask.
Thanks
Frank

_________________
Scrapple: Because a mind is a terrible thing to waste.
73 Duster - Race Car
66 Dart Wagon - DD
178" FED
82 D150
All Slant powered

Well let me correct myself...
I was trying to check the lights without pulling the cluster back out. After getting frustrated with the lights, I dropped the column and pulled it out. All of my black bulb retainers are broken. I had attempted to fix them with a dab of hot glue. My thinking being, the soft glue would hold the bulbs in without damaging anything or being permanent.
This fix didn't seem to work. The bulbs backed off the circuit board just a millimeter or so.

So my next question is...
Anyone know a good place to pick up new bulb retainers?

You can get the bulb holders at Napa. I've also seen them at other parts stores in the electrical section with other connecters and sockets.