Ok, ive read alot of posts on this. Here's the thing, i bought a chrome overlay for my wife's 2002 Z24 and went to install it today. I removed the dash no problem, got to the cluster, removed it. Took the clear plastic off the front to put the chrome overlay on, the trip button falls off, no problem, get it put it back on. I put everything back together, proceed to put everything back in. I turn the car on to check the gauges and such, no Odometer lit, and no gauge lights. Hmmm. So i figure it was just as a simple thing as plugging the dimmer switch back in, Nope. So i do a search on here and find other posts similar. I proceeded to do the "ol smak trick". Nothing, no dash lights, no odometer lights. I figured, reading the posts on here, the easiest fix was just to replace the cluster. My question is, can anyone point me to a decent priced cluster or know anyone selling one for this '02 Z?

my guess, double check the connector and make sure it is plugged un right and that nothing is best or broken, I have not had that problem yet, but that would be my guess

that should have been bent, not best

yea i checked all that too, nothing was bent, everything looked fine.

Ebay, any cluster w/tach for 00+ will work in your application.
Edit: 00+ Sunfire cluster will work too, and illuminates red. Not my style personally, but lots of folks do that swap.


Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, December 31, 2007 12:32 AM

Well db check your dimmer panel and make sure it is not turned all the way down, and also make sure it is plugged in. If your HVAC panel is still lighting up you have something wrong. I think something is just not plugged in really. I've done this a few times will all of my J's. It just has to be something you are missing that is simple.

ok. checked everything, the plug is in, i turn the lights on and checked the dimmer. The Hvac lights are on and dim, as well as the stereo. I can barely see the LCD on the Odometer, but has to be in the right light tho. It still wont light up. This makes me mad knowing that all the lights worked that morning she came home from work, makes no sense cuz i didnt do anything but put an overlay in it. Grrrrrrrr

it does sound like something to do with the dimmer, if other things are on but really dim, that would be the likely thing

Sounds like one of the wires to the dimmer switch is now pinched or something. Unplug the switch and plug it back in. Make sure to turn it all the way up and down, then back up just to make sure you know...

sorry, what i meant to say is that ive checked all that, the HVAC lights and radio lights work, they adjust and everything. I just dont have lights on the dash or the lcd on the odometer wont light up, When i first plugged everything back in, i didnt have the left side and middle lights on the dash, or the odometer. I then tried the smak trick and then the light on the left came on and the one on the right went off, i tried it again, and now they are all out and wont come back on.

Well it is time for a new cluster then... I'm guessing it was cold when you did this. The bulbs in the cluster just went out, and there is no way to replace them unless you can undo the needles without braking the motors under them to replace them. You have to solder new bulbs in, but I would do LED's. I would check out my thing going for the GP for Black Cat Customs LED upgraded 140 clusters. You can find some more info out on the feeler post in interior...