Chrysler Repair: Hello, I have a 1994 Plymouth..., professional mechanic, fuse box

Question
Hello,

I have a 1994 Plymouth Acclaim.  I just can't get the dash board lights to
work. So far I have done the following: Changed all of the bulbs in the
instrument panel even those that tested good; replaced the headlight
switch, checked all the fuses; checked for power at the switch; checked
for power at the fuse box, checked for power out of the fuse box;
checked for power out of the switch.  

Please help! As an ex professional mechanic I know how hard it is to
diagnose these things but I usually can get to the bottom of them sooner
or later. This time later hasn't shown up yet.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,
All the interior knobs that have illumination are on the same circuit as the dash lights (transmission range lamp, cigar lighter lamp, radio lamp, air conditioner/heater controls, etc.)  
If those are working and variable in intensity then that means that current destined for the dash lamps is being generated and passed out to the splices that also provide power to the dash lamps. All that current is carried on orange wires from fuse #5. So if you have that voltage present on fuse #5 downstream then the lights on the dash should light unless the orange wire to the dash has an open in it at either of two splices in the under dash harness (they are on the left and right sides of the dash and the route to the dash goes thru both splices in a somewhat circuitous route). If you are not getting voltage at pin E of the Black plug of the cluster then that orange wire path is open. Also be sure that the ground pin H is actually grounded. If it is open you might find it easier to just splice in a jumper from fuse 5 to pin E.
If all those other lamps are not working then you would look at fuse #5 and the wire from that to the first splice.
Another possibility: Have you actually jumped 12V to the socket of pin E and grounded the socket of pin H? It would test whether you have a break in the dash printed circuit board if that doesn't turn on the lamps.
Those are my suggestions, based on the '94 diagrams for the A body cars.
Let me know when you get the solution, please.
Roland