S13 Instrument panal - ALL DARK - Lights When ALARM is set!

[Peabody]

I hope someone can help me out.

1990 S-13 Original Owner

I had to replace my speedometer because it was always reading 45MPH. I bought a cluster replaced the speedo, no problems everything works great. I did notice that 2 bulbs in the dash were not working so I just lived with it. Today I decided to look into the blown bulbs. Took it apart and they were not turned all the way in not making a good connection, I fixed that and got every light working fine. I had the ignition on and also the headlights to test all bulbs, PERFECT. Well IDIOT me sat the cluster on the column (not covered) and I heard a bad low electrical sound and ALL the bulbs went off. The only working bulbs are the little red lights only on the right side of the cluster when the key is turned. The ones on the left side do not light up now. I WAS SO MAD AT MYSELF & wanted to throw the cluster in the air! It always happens to me because I am in a hurry & do not think!

I started to check all the fuses on the right bank of the fuse box and all good, it started to rain so I stopped because of rain and also because I was so mad.

Now when I turned off my alarm the instrument panel gauge lamps lit up 2 times with the sound of the alarm making 2 chirps and then goes dark, it blinks on and off when I set the alarm or turn it off. But when I turn on the ignition on and the lights on the left side small lights do not light up and all the dash lights do not light up with the headlights on. The AC Panel also does not light up now that I screwed it up!

I thought I blew the bulbs but now I now know the bulbs are good but have no Idea what to do. The dash will light up only when the alarm is turned on or off & the alarm works fine.

Did I mess up the Cluster when the back touched the metal on the column? The noise sounded like a fuse blowing but I did not see a bad fuse, I only checked the right side of the inside fuse box because it got dark

I can live without the red lights on the bottom left (low gas, windshield fluid,ETC) I just want my dash lights and AC panel to light up.

I do not remember if the Dash lights came on when I set my Alpine alarm before. I have had that alarm for 12 years and forgot. I do have the alarm set to make the driving lights flash if it goes off and those to go on and off when I set the alarm.

PLEASE ANY SUGGESTIONS

The dimmer was not connected when I messed up the cluster. None of the switches, buttons were plugged in at that time.
Maybe I can just run a 12 volt wire to the back of the cluster but I have no Idea where to connect it or if that is a good idea..

THANKS

[SirSilvia]

If the problem is also with the HVAC panel then it's almost definitely a fuse somewhere.
Next is a far cry but, you could've melted a wire somewhere and its now shorting out. But I seriously think you would've melted the back soft plastic/metal circuit before melting wires.

If you have a whole other cluster, swap it out real quick to see if it lights up the right way.

If it does you might have fried the original cluster. Don't really have to worry about the mileage on the odometer since I believe on 20+ year old cars its pretty much void anyways. At least here in PA that's what I was told by the Police and DMV.

[Peabody]

It was something with my Alpine alarm from 1993 relays. I had the horn also blow with the alarm and I was checking some wires around the alarm relays and the horn started blowing off and on so I removed that relay and now the lights to light up but I had to mess up something in the cluster. The left side small lights do not light up when I turn the key and the gas gauge reads way below E but starts to read only when the key is turned. I am not sure if it is working correctly because it has been sitting at 1/2 tank and I put 160 miles on that tank. I usually get about 200 from a tank.

I will have to get another cluster just to be safe. I also read something about a white box next to the fuse box that I did take apart and nothing was burned. Maybe when I disconnected it that fixed the lights and it
had nothing to do with the alarm.

THANKS,