300 E - Instrument Accessory Lighting OUT

Please someone HELP!!

Iwas doing a bulb change on the passenger side A/C vent as well as replacing a few others that were ready. When I was done I wanted to see the new bulbs in action, when I switched the park lights on there was no illumination anywhere, I went through the process of elimination and found the problem was on one of the new bulbs- the two contact wires coming out of the glass base were laying over each other therefore shorting the lights out. The thing I dont understand is why the fuse didnt blow under the hood ? (The one that says instrument illumination).
I would appreciate any one who knows these electrical systems to let me know where the problem could be, or even a wiring diagram that I could use to trace the problem.

Thank you for any info you can offer,

K.A.Smith

[J.HIDALGO]

There is a fuse behind the instrument control panel (depending what year your car is). It looks like a regular light bulb but it is red. The bad news is that the instrument panel has to come out.

Thanks Mr. Hidalgo,
To answer your question the car is a 1986 300e. I have already taken the dash apart including instrument cluster in a previous attempt , however I dont recall seeing the fuse in the back.
Could you tell me exactly the location? If I remember correctly I dont even recall seeing this.
Any more info you can tell me would be great!!

Thanks,
KSmith

[J.HIDALGO]

Our year model car DID NOT come with a red fuse. I think they started coming out in '87. I had the same problem which I ended up taking the cluster to Steve's shop in Gainesville. He soldered a couple of wires in the back of the cluster and probably that is what you are going to have to do...
Probably you already did but, did you check the rheostat or light dimmer? Sometimes they move when you are working with the cluster.
Good luck

[rich30769]

My instrument cluster lights are fine, my problem is the lights to the climate control and the light switches. One night turned the lights on and for some reason these lights no longer work. Checked ALL the fuses, they're fine still no lights at these locations..

Anyone have any suggestions?

[J.HIDALGO]

worth to check or check the grounds.

[rich30769]

I dont think it's the light bulbs. The lights to the switches on the doors are not coming on either.. The lights at these locations went out simultaneously.