89 gauge lights problem (fixed; i'm an idiot)

[sho_bc]

Hey there, i've recently become an expert at removing and reinstalling the dash. I took out all the lights behind the gauges and replaced them all, but the gauge still isn't being backlit. I didn't disconnect the speedo cable, so i didn't get to see everything on the back of the pod to check for .... whatever i might have checked for. I can see most of it from either side if i need to check for something, but ...

any ideas about what might be wrong? YEARS ago, a garage replaced the lights back there as well, and my parents said that they screwed something up when they did it, but everything worked fine for a while, then lights started dying again. right now, i've got some lights working, and some that aren't (all bulbs are brand new). i've rigged some temporary lighting in the dash so i can see the speedo while driving at night, but i'd rather be able to see everything.

HELP PLS!

 

[SolidState]

pull the cluster.

Removing the speedo cable really isn't that hard after you do it once.

 

[sho_bc]

so i'm an idiot....
it was the dimmer switch that was out of place after removing everything. everything is working fine now.

 

[hawkeye18]

hahahahahhahahahahahhahahahah!!!!!!!1!!!11!!!one!!!

I'd like to pretend I've never pulled that one... but I have. So don't feel too bad!

 

[sho_bc]

what makes it worse, is that my beater is having the exact same problem, but there is no dimmer switch to have mistakenly not adjusted. =/

 

[baySHO_510]

The same thing happened to me in my 94 I couldn't figure out why my headunits display went black when I turned on my headlights. I found that the dimmer switch was all the way down AFTER removing my head unit and CD player. I pretty much took my entire audio system apart: amps, EQ, crossover and all... I wanted to kick myself in the ass! My brother got a good laugh at me though...

 

[TimboSHO]

I've done this as well. It really makes you feel dumb after you realize what you did..... Oh well, live and learn