Hey does anyone know y my dash {gauge cluster} does light up? I check the dimmer switch but still nothing also when I trun the dimmer all the way it blew my fuse?Y? Also what tell the cluster to light up when u turn on the light? I know it's getting ground and power according to the shop manual but it's still won't lit up? Help 1st gen god. Thanks khris

 

This is a common problem.

Pull the shifter surround up. (Remove two screws, unscrew the shift ****, grab the surround at the change holder and pull it up and off) There are two wires with bullet connectors down there, I think they're on the left and are red with a green stripe. Anyway, I bet you that they are connected together. Disconnect them, put a new fuse in, and turn your dash lights on.

Those connectors, by the way, are for the automatic's shifter light. Mazda made one wiring harness for manual and automatic, and the wires for the shifter light just dangle there on manual trans cars. People see the two wires there and think "Oh, something's unplugged" and plug 'em together.... which sends power from the dimer switch directly to ground, blowing fuses and eventually burning out the dimmer switch...

 

Mine does the same thing about once a month. If the other method doesnt work, try punching the dash just above the gauge cluster and slightly off to the right, thats what makes mine come back on

 

Hey Thanks peejay, Khris