ok so a while ago for some reason my instrument cluster wont light up anymore....so i took the cluster out and everything is hooked up and all the lights are good, what else could it be....has anybody else had this problem or is it just me????

 

Check the dimmer and fuse.

 

Check the fuse. Also, if your fuse is blown then your tail lights won't work either, just your brake lights will light up and your headlamps won't go back down. (At least that is how it was on my '83 and my '84). If this is the case, search for lose wires that are grounding themselves out in the engine bay, and if it isn't a case dealing with the fuse, I don't know what it is.

 

ok not the fuse, taken the cluster part and tested the wires that control the lights and they stay at ground all the time.... thinking if the lights are 12v i can just rewire them and see what happens

 

Did you check the dimmer switch. This is a very common cause of dash lights either failing to light, or stay on bright full time. If the roller **** rolls more than 180* or you cannot feel the stops, the **** has been over rotated. When that happens, it shears the fine wires in the dimmer and it no longer fuctions.