I just bought a 86 RX7. The gauges work but the lights do not. I havent had a chance to check the bulbs or anything. Just wanting to know if there is anything I need to look out for if i take the cluster out? Im new to the RX7 and need some help.

Thanks Lance

 

I think it'd be unlikely that all the gauge bulbs would simultaneously die, so before removing the cluster you should check the fuses or the light switch.

If necessary, the cluster is pretty simple to remove- everything is electronic except the speedo, which has a cable. There isn't a lot of slack to the cable and space can be tight behind the cluster- I've found it easiest to disconnect the cable at the transmission so there is lots of slack but most folks probably don't do this.
Mostly depends on the size of your hands and how familiar you are with the cable connection (it's not an old fashioned screw/ferrule style).
Disconnecting at the tranny end takes an extra few minutes but makes removing/installing the cable totally painless.

 

Perhaps you should check the fuse box...

 

First, see if you tail lights/side lights work or not.

Two....turn the rheostat for the lights up/down to see what happens.

IF the tail lights/side lights don't work, then see if the ILLUMINATION FUSE is good or bad.

IF the fuse is good, then most likely the light switch plug needs to be taken off the cluster and you need to look for a chared condition on the White/Green wires pin/socket.

IF the tail lights and side lights do work, then the problem IS most likely the switch or the plug that goes to it is charred/busted and darn near not usable.

The attached jpgs self explain why you'd look at the tail/side markers for trouble shooting.

 

or it could be the switch its self that happened to me and it was the switch

 

The Headlights sidemarkers blinkers etc work. It is just the guage cluster lights that do not. I will check the fuses and check to see if they might also be unplugged.

 

Headlights are not an indicator at all. Different fuse.

If the Tail lights and the side markers work that is a sign the fuse HAS to be good.

Look at the jpg. See the G/W wire? Green wire with a white stripe. IT feeds power to two things. One of which is the tail and side marker lights.

The other thing it feeds, is the rheostat in the switch. You know, the **** you turn to make the dash light get brighter or dimmer. So you now realize the fuse must be good.

So your problem is a bad rheostat (panel light control).

You can PROVE that is the problem. Pull the plug off the switch. With a piece of wire bare at each end, put one end in the PLUG where the G/W wire is. Then put the other end in the socket where the Red/Green wire is. The instrument cluster lights should light up along with the cigar light, cruise light, hazard switch etc.

The headlights working have nothing to do with your problem and proves nothing. All that you do when you turn the headlights on, is put a GROUND on the HEADLIGHT relay, to pull it in. Not related to interior lights, side lighting, tail lights etc.

 

IF the light for the cigar lighter works, the light for the cruise switch works, the light for the turn and Hazard switch work, then it could just be a connector at the back of the instrument cluster.

Those other items mentioned above..........I'm NOT talking about if the cruise control works or not, just if the light in the switch lights up. That's all they're talking about. The lights in those switches not the functionality of the items.