I am hoping someone else has had this same problem as it is driving me nuts!

This winter, I have been having issues with the instrument cluster lights going out at random times, usually while driving. It has only been happening when the temperature drops below freezing. The lights on the cluster will go out, but the lights in the console and gear selector will remain lit and I can control these with the rheostat. I also noted last night that when the cluster lights die, the tach drops to zero, but when I turn the headlamp switch off (no cluster illumination), the tach works again. The temp gauge and the fuel gauge are not affected. The dash lights will return, but I can never predict when.

I have checked both bulbs in the cluster and both are fine. The bulb holders seem to be making good contact and are not loose in the cluster. I would think if the rheostat was to blame, the console lights would go out. The same for if I had a bad ground: all the lights would go out.

Has anyone run into this same problem? Does anyhave any suggestions?

Thanks,
Nick