My dash lights wont work but the odometer and the lights that tell me what gear im in work fine, what could be the problem?????

 

Did you check for a blown fuse?

 

yeah i checked them and they were fine, the panel was going dim in the center could the bulb have gone out?

 

There's more than one bulb.

Have you tried rotating the switch? Does the radio dim?

 

Welcomoe to the forum..Sorry to hear about this problem.

There are only 4 bulbs for the whole instrument cluster. It's possible you had a bad bulb for the center, then the others failed soon after the center bulb. It's also possible the cluster has a bad solder joint or an open circuit somewhere internally. The bulbs can be replaced separately, you just have to remove the cluster to do it. They twist into the back of the cluster housing. You have to buy the new ones from the Dodge dealer. There are aftermarket LED bulbs but I know nothing about those. You can buy new bulbs probably pretty cheap for a few bucks each at the dealer, and try replacing all 4 bulbs and see if the cluster lights up again.

I have a hunch here that you have a bad cluster. It doesn't make 100% sense to me that all the bulbs would all go out at the same time. It's possible, but I personally don't think it's very likely. I think you have an open circuit some where in the cluster itself.

The displays for the odometer and gear selector still work because they have separate illumination circuits called Vaccum Flourescent Displays, or VFD's. There is one VFD for the gear indicator and one for the odometer. From what I can read in the Dodge Service Manual the VFD's are separate from the instrument cluster illumination circuits.

If you can check the sticky topics at the top of the 2nd Gen page and download the Service Manual for the 2001 Dakota's, read the cluster section starting on page 418 thru about page 430. I know you have an 04 but the info should be the same. There is info in the manual on an actuator test you can do yourself to check your instrument cluster's operation and how it communicates with the other modules in the truck. I tried to cut and paste it here but it didn't come out very legible. There is also some info on testing the wiring for the dash lights and dimmer circuits behind the cluster but it is pretty lame and doesn't really tell me very much.

Try the cheapest remedy first and replace the bulbs. There are different bulb values for the individual bulb locations in the back of the cluster (according to the Service Manual) so pay attention to which bulb went where. The parts guy at the dealer can probably print out a blown-up picture to help you with that, or each bulb may only fit into its respective socket anyway, so it may be impossible to put the wrong bulb in the socket.

If you still have no lights after replacing the bulbs, you may need either a new cluster or you can try to have your cluster repaired. Years ago there were automotive electronics shops that repaired speedometers, tachs, instrument clusters and they rebuilt starters and alternators too. There may be one of those shops where you live. If not, depending on the price of a new cluster, maybe check with a good local junk yard. At the very least, trying a junk yard cluster first would cost a lot less to find out if that is what's wrong.

Just from what you descibed here, it sounds like a bad cluster to me. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Jimmy

 

i have and aftermarket radio so it wont dim, but the signal lights work. when i do the dim the odometer dims. but the speedometer and rpm guages wont light up

 

Just ran into something similiar with a trailer I was hauling - apparently it had a bad ground and it blew fuse 5 or 14, don't remember which one, in the kick panel just inside the door. Mine's a '99 so maybe that doesn't help, and you mentioned you checked fuses, but initially I overlooked that fuse panel myself and thought all mine were good.. Good luck getting it fixed!

 

I have an '04 as well. Same thing here, no lights. The burnt out one by one. Once they were all out, I tried unsuccessfully to take the dash off to access the bulbs. I did research, but no luck.

It was easier, as well as more $$ to have the dealership replace the lights. It wasn't my first option, but certain things you just have to do. Got my bulbs, and no dash sqeaks.

 

I had the same thing happen as mentioned by a few people and eventually all cluster was dark. Was able to pull apart the dash and get the cluster to pop out (pulls out towards driver). If I remember correct the lights are 1/4 turn and was able to take to NAPA and get new ones (6) i believe. I think each one was less than $1 and biggest headache was figuring out how to remove cluster panel.