Instrument panel lights?

[Bluemill]

I recently had to acquire a used instrument cluster because I messed up a guage face gluing on the foolish aluminum rings, which by the way aren't worth the risk or the work, due to the fact that they just don't look that good with them on. The used cluster looks perfect in every way, including the proper set mileage, BUT there is a problem. The night ilumination, via some small bulbs on either side of the dash do not light up.

I threw my old cluster in to check, and it still lights with the headlights on, etc. I have tried the light reostadt (sic) with no luck. Is there a magic program here that I don't know about? Or, should I try to transfer the bulbs from my old cluster?

Any other ideas?

[c4c5specialist]

Hi there,
This is a vacuum fluorescent display.
The ballast may NOT be working in the unit you purchased.
Taking that cluster apart is a very dicey proposition.
Personally, you could try to remove the plastics and change the ballast, but its not easy.
Allthebest, c4c5

[Bluemill]

Thanks Paul,

I am kinda thrilled because I guessed that was the possible fix because the lights on either side looked like flourescent bulbs and it looked pretty easy just to swap the "ballast like" looking thing in the middle of the back, in an easily accessible spot. It's not often that a shade tree mechanic can come up with something like this. The fact that BOTH lights were off was the hint that I needed. Swapped the ballast, and bingo, it worked. Having you confirm my diagnosis was a huge help.

As they say on the PGA Tour, "You da MAN!