Its been quite a while since I posted here but I ran into an issue that merits some input. Here is the situation: A 1991 with 87,500 original miles, mechanically and cosmetically very well cared for. The car has been sitting covered in the garage:confused2:. I've started it twice a month and put maybe twenty five miles on it at each startup. I've changed the oil and opened/closed all doors and hatches regularly. The battery has been on a float charger. The climate control has been run at each startup. Steering wheel rotated, car rocked back & forth in 1st/reverse if allowed to sit for more than two weeks. Fuel tank drained once and stabilizer installed afterwards. When it was parked and at each startup, every light/function & gauge was working and within the factory manual spec allowance. I.E. everything worked.
Some additional background info: I installed a new head unit (Alpine), amp (JL), speakers (Alpine) & SW (JL) 4 years ago. I ran a #4 positive cable directly from the battery through the front firewall and tunnel. The amp sits behind the driver's seat against the firewall. The amp remote turn on is wired into the head unit. The head unit is wired into the ignition ACC (same as factory radio). The head unit illumination wire is in parallel with the ACC power wire (The head unit is illuminated when the key is on and NOT dependent on the vehicle illumination control).
Upon starting it this past Saturday, the dash lights and the clock would not illuminate (although all the cluster lights functioned properly). The headlights work properly, interior courtesy lights function properly, all other lights and functions work properly. I checked each fuse under the hood and next to the drivers foot well: all fuses were good. I replaced the 7.5 amp clock fuse just to be sure but to no avail. I rotated the dimmer pot on the dash (left side of steering wheel) several times and sprayed it with deoxit (through the annular space around the knob), still to no avail. I checked the voltage across the 7.5 amp fuse holder terminals (13.8 volts when engine running). All other lights and functions work properly. I've glanced through the manual several times and searched several of the forums but have not come away with any insight as to what else to look for. Any suggestions?
Some additional background info: I installed a new head unit (Alpine), amp (JL), speakers (Alpine) & SW (JL) 4 years ago. I ran a #4 positive cable directly from the battery through the front firewall and tunnel. The amp sits behind the driver's seat against the firewall. The amp remote turn on is wired into the head unit. The head unit is wired into the ignition ACC (same as factory radio). The head unit illumination wire is in parallel with the ACC power wire (The head unit is illuminated when the key is on and NOT dependent on the vehicle illumination control).
Upon starting it this past Saturday, the dash lights and the clock would not illuminate (although all the cluster lights functioned properly). The headlights work properly, interior courtesy lights function properly, all other lights and functions work properly. I checked each fuse under the hood and next to the drivers foot well: all fuses were good. I replaced the 7.5 amp clock fuse just to be sure but to no avail. I rotated the dimmer pot on the dash (left side of steering wheel) several times and sprayed it with deoxit (through the annular space around the knob), still to no avail. I checked the voltage across the 7.5 amp fuse holder terminals (13.8 volts when engine running). All other lights and functions work properly. I've glanced through the manual several times and searched several of the forums but have not come away with any insight as to what else to look for. Any suggestions?
