Remove instrument cluster

Hi, it's possible the bulb is burned out or not making good contact with the circuit board. It should come on during the bulb check when you first turn the key on. Pull out the cluster and check the bulb. If it's good, see if you can clean the contact surfaces to get it working again. Or, move to another state where they don't worry about stupid things like a light bulb.

REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

See Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Fig. Fig. 1: To remove the instrument cluster, first remove the trim panel by removing the lower fascia panel

Fig. Fig. 2: With the lower fascia moved aside, remove the lower trim panel attaching screws ...

Fig. Fig. 3: ... as well as the upper attaching screws

Fig. Fig. 4: Then pull the entire instrument trim panel from the dash board

Fig. Fig. 5: Exploded view of the instrument cluster

Fig. Fig. 6: Rear view of the instrument cluster wire routing and connections

1. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
2. Remove the two steering column shroud-to-panel retaining screws and remove the shroud.
3. Remove the lower instrument panel trim.
4. Remove the cluster trim cover from the instrument panel by removing the eight screws.
5. Remove the four instrument cluster to panel retaining screws.
6. Position the cluster slightly away from the panel for access to the back of the cluster to disconnect the speedometer.

If there is not sufficient access to disengage the speedometer cable from the speedometer, it may be necessary to remove the speedometer cable at the transmission and pull cable through cowl, to allow room to reach the speedometer quick disconnect.

1. Disconnect the wiring harness connector from the printed circuit, and any bulb-and-socket assemblies from the wiring harness to the cluster assembly and remove the cluster assembly from the instrument panel.

To install:

1. Apply approximately 1 / 8 in. diameter ball of D7AZ-19A331-A Silicone Dielectric compound or equivalent in the drive hole of the speedometer head.
2. Position the cluster near its opening in the instrument panel.
3. Connect the wiring harness connector to the printed circuit, and any bulb-and-socket assemblies from the wiring harness to the cluster assembly.
4. Position the cluster to the instrument panel and install the four cluster to panel retaining screws.
5. Install the panel trim covers and the steering column shroud.
6. Connect the battery ground cable.
7. Check operation of all gauges, lamps and signals.

The bulbs for your instrument cluster are inserted into small sockets that push in and turn to lock. Over time the contacts get dirty and loose causing them to either work intermittently or not at all. A dirty or worn dimmer switch can cause this as well, but it would affect all bulbs in the circuit not just some of them. Remove the instrument cluster and gently clean the circuit board contacts for the bulbs with an eraser. Clean the contacts on the sockets and bend the contacts upward somewhat to give them some tension when installed.

Try to remove the instrument panel and disconnect the harness to see if doing that gets rid of the blown fuse when starting the car. If it does, then the instrument panel should be replaced with another. If the fuse still blows when starting, then there is a wire shorted to ground somewhere.
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Instruments and Switches Instrument Cluster Removal & Installation To Remove:

1. Remove the instrument cluster trim plate.
2. Remove the instrument cluster mounting screws.
3. Rotate the instrument cluster rearward and lift up on the top of the cluster in order to disengage the locating pins.
4. Disconnect the electrical connectors from the instrument cluster.
5. Remove the instrument cluster.

To Install:

1. Connect the electrical connectors to the instrument cluster.
2. Position the locating pins to the holes in the instrument panel.
3. Install the instrument cluster by rotating the top inward.
4. Install the mounting screws.
5. Install the trim plate.

Removal & Installation

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery.
   
2. Remove the lower steering column cover-to-instrument panel screws and the cover.
   
3. Remove the instrument cluster trim plate-to-instrument cluster screws and the panel, then allow the panel to hang to the left side by the wiring.
   
4. Disconnect the electrical connector from the rear of the headlight switch.
   
5. Disengage and remove the headlight switch from the instrument cluster trim plate.
   

To install:

1. Connect the electrical connector to the rear of the headlight switch.
   
2. Engage and install the headlight switch in the instrument cluster trim plate.
   
3. Install the instrument cluster trim plate-to-instrument cluster screws and the panel.
   
4. Install the lower steering column cover-to-instrument panel screws and the cover.
   
5. Connect the negative battery cable to the battery and check operation.
   

Check your fuses, there are fuses in your engine compartment by the battery and one under the dash on the drives side. If all fuses are good, give the top of the dash a thump with your fist and see if your instrument cluster reactivates. It's common for the instrument panel where the wire harness clips on to the back solder will crack and the connection fails. Simple fix if you know how to solder, remove the instrument panel. Un-clip the wire harness at the back of the panel, once panel is off. Re-solder the connection on the circuit board where the instrument wire harness was clipped on to. Reinstall everything and this should fix your instrument issue and smile for saving $450.00 for a new instrument cluster.

Thank you for using Fixya and good luck

To replace the burned out lamp in the odometer you must remove the entire instrument cluster assembly from the dash then on the backside of the cluster you will see the bulb sockets, turn the burned out socket counter clockwise to remove it, then install it clockwise after new bulb is installed.I'm here to help...

Hello, You can obtain a 2004 Ram Factory Service Manual with all of that information available from Promanuals.net. The reason why it may be so important is because right before the removal instructions the service manual has diagnostic instructions to try. There are numerous pages on removing the instrument cluster, and cluster bezel.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable. (For Airbag)

(2) Remove the cluster bezel from the instrument
panel. (Refer to 23 - BODY/INSTRUMENT PANEL/
CLUSTER BEZEL - REMOVAL).

(3) Remove the four screws that secure the instrument
cluster to the instrument panel structural support
(Fig. 5).

(4) Pull the instrument cluster rearward far
enough to access and disconnect the instrument
panel wire harness connectors for the cluster from
the connector receptacles on the back of the cluster
housing.

(5) Remove the instrument cluster from the instrument
panel.

http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c1528017ed40

The light behind myRemove the cluster bezel from the instrument panel. See Cluster Bezel in this group for the procedures.
Remove the four screws that secure the instrument cluster to the instrument panel Instrument Cluster Remove/Install
Pull the instrument cluster rearward to disengage the two self-docking wire harness connectors
NOTE: The instrument cluster has two self-docking wire harness connectors that will be automatically aligned with, and connected to the instrument panel wire harness when the cluster is installed in the instrument panel.
Remove the instrument cluster from the vehicle.
Reverse the removal procedures to install. Tighten the mounting screws to 2.2 N·m (20 in. lbs.)
when I turn my headlights on. All the other gauges are lit, but not the gas gauge. How do I get in there to replace the bulb and fix this? Or is it a fuse problem? I have a 1998 jeep scout Thanks