Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums  

Well, thunder chicken, he's got you there.

I still think we'd like to see a pic of the ignition switch connector.

try moving the rheostat wheel next to your headlight switch back & forth a few times. That sometimes gets bad contacts and causes no backlighting when the headlights are turned on.

Also make sure both plugs are attached securely to the dash.

You'll very soon see why so many of us are always talking about "slaving" circuits.

If you can barely see the dash display it means it's working, but the backlighting isn't. This is almost certainly a bad cluster illumination relay, which, IIRC, is in the area behind the radio toward the driver's side. It might also be the halogen bulbs burned out, but this is less likely as there are six of them and sudden failure of the lot of them is unlikely...

x2- Bad ignition switches are common on our cars. And when defective can catch fire all by themselves with nobody around.

The voltage is supposed to come from the IGNITION SWITCH and go through the alternator warning light on the dash, and then on the green wire to the Alt. regulator.

 You need to disconnect this jumper when the engine is turned off, or it will drain your battery.

 

 ??? Do you mean the starter relay? 

 Yes!! Replace the ignition switch before it catches on fire!!

You should really grab my 88 EVTM.  I personally think that it is a must have if you own one of these cars.  You can get it from the link in my signature, or from the link in Trinom's signature.  Good luck.

all the bulbs burnt out in the cluster?