Instruments panel dead on 88 TE

[ED C.]

Just heard from my better half. She heard a buzzing noise similiar to the seat belt buzzer and then noticed all the instruments were all reading 0. It did not affect the operation of the wagon. I will be pulling the cluster and checking it this evening. Any ideas ahead of time would be appreciated.

Ed

[ke6dcj]

Check the fuse in the back of the instrument cluster. It looks like a bulb-holder, but it is red in color.

Also, you can check the plastic-encased diode toward the rear of the fuse-box assembly (near all the relays). If you open it up, test the diode, and just replace the diode from your nearest electronics parts store (e.g., RadioShack).
If it is dead, be sure to replace in the correct orientation.

:-) neil

[ED C.]

OK I just checked the car and the buzzing noise my wife heard is coming from the smaller of the two large black relays behind the fuse box. Which relay is that and what would cause it to go bad (if it is)?

[ED C.]

The relay that is buzzing is the multi-function relay. My question is what would cause it to go bad and how would I test if the relay is bad or it is something else like the combination switch, which has been giving me minor problems lately (i.e. when switched to brights the headlights go out completely)?

ED

[AF300E]

Just today, My 300e has done the same thing. Bussing in the multifunction relay box, stops buzzing when the indicators are turned on, all instruments dead. Is it likely that the faulty relay has blown the cluster fuse? (all fuses in the plenum chanber fuse box are intact, perhaps one in the cluster has gone?)
Any ideas guys?