Almost all gage lights not working
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Teching In
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 4
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Almost all gage lights not working 95 formula. The only dash light that will turn on is the seatbelt light. The car does start. I bypassed VATS by taping the two orange wires to the resistor on the key, and starting it with a spare.
I started it for the first time a couple weeks ago before doing some mechanical work on it (putting exhaust manifolds and spark plugs on) The gage cluster, and security light worked as intended. Had to bypass VATS as the wire broke in the column.
At some point, (when trying to get to the ignition lock to replace it with one that had the VATS wires) there was some smoke near the steering column when I left it unattended and then the ignition cylinder had difficulty turning and the security light did not turn on. Not entirely sure why. I swapped in the steering column and ignition switch from a different car, and now I have no gage lights. At some point when screwing around with the connectors I saw the lights on the dash turn on & flicker. But right now there are no lights except for the seatbelt light when the car is running. Moving the connectors didnt do anything. Interior lights work and dimmer works. Dash has lights when the headlights are on, but still no CEL or ABS light or anything.
The one blue connector on the ignition switch had one slightly burn wire. I pushed it farther in the connector, and it had continuity across the switch so I believe it is fine now.
If I remember correctly the power accesory fuse blew, but I replaced it and cleaned the fusebox. After starting it today all of the fuses are still intact. I just dont have any gage lights. The gage fuse never blew.
Any ideas or where should I look?
I started it for the first time a couple weeks ago before doing some mechanical work on it (putting exhaust manifolds and spark plugs on) The gage cluster, and security light worked as intended. Had to bypass VATS as the wire broke in the column.
At some point, (when trying to get to the ignition lock to replace it with one that had the VATS wires) there was some smoke near the steering column when I left it unattended and then the ignition cylinder had difficulty turning and the security light did not turn on. Not entirely sure why. I swapped in the steering column and ignition switch from a different car, and now I have no gage lights. At some point when screwing around with the connectors I saw the lights on the dash turn on & flicker. But right now there are no lights except for the seatbelt light when the car is running. Moving the connectors didnt do anything. Interior lights work and dimmer works. Dash has lights when the headlights are on, but still no CEL or ABS light or anything.
The one blue connector on the ignition switch had one slightly burn wire. I pushed it farther in the connector, and it had continuity across the switch so I believe it is fine now.
If I remember correctly the power accesory fuse blew, but I replaced it and cleaned the fusebox. After starting it today all of the fuses are still intact. I just dont have any gage lights. The gage fuse never blew.
Any ideas or where should I look?
