No dash lights 68 Lemans
 

Hi all. I’m puzzled. I just had my dash out because I changed the bezel with a re-chromed one. When I had the cluster out I checked the traces for the illumination and all worked fine. I put the dash back in and no dash lights.
I changed the headlight switch no difference.
Fuses all good.
Tail lights all work.
park and headlights work.
Rotating headlight knob no difference (interior lights on when rotated CCW)
Ground from cluster “straps” have continuity to body ground. In dash clock functions (so ground is good)
pulled out dash again to check illumination pin on trace plug. No voltage with headlight knob pulled out.
I assume 12v feed for the illumination circuit (gray wire) comes from HL switch?
Not sure what my next move is?
thanks

Did you check for 12v at the instrument panel fuse? Both sides.

Headlight switch needs to be on for instrument lamp fuse to be powered.

The shorty Gauges/Trans Fuse, or the light dimmer coil got zapped open.

We’ll good news is it’s working and the LED lights really brighten everything up. I thought I had continuity through that stubby fuse when I checked them all with negative battery terminal disconnected. I also later checked for voltage but might have forgotten to pull out headlamp knob. I incorrectly assumed it would show 12v not knowing it was fed FROM the headlamp switch and not TO the headlamp switch. I popped out fuse to check it as I couldn’t see filament and of course broke it. Stuck new one in, pulled H/L knob out and right then saw dash light up.
Thanks for the advice all.