Dimmer would be my first target. Radio Shack sells a rheostat spray for cleaning off the contacts on that type of switch. Was originally marketed for the volume, balance and fader controls for console stereos way back when but I use it for anything that rotates. If that doesn't work, replace it.

 

Thank you Lgbpop, I'll try that.

 

Historically, when dash lights cease to function, this may be a sign that one or more of your tail lights is blown, and/ or the wiring to those lights are fused. I once drove a '77 Catalina for months not knowing this. The dash was out and I had no idea they are, by design, hooked into the tail light system. I had a flash light as an expedient for night time driving. My BIL clued me in on this after seeing my tail lights not working. Sure enough aluminum wiring in the trunk had become corroded due to the insulation being shoddy. Moisture had migrated into the plastic conduit which held a bundle of aluminum wiring which came from the front portion of the car. The thinly insulated aluminum wires had been laying in water for years, I suspect. Time, moisture, aluminum.... it ain't pretty. Easy fix though. Cut the conduit back so it didn't hold water, trimmed the Al wires back to good metal then spliced them. Luckily, there was at least 12" of excess wire to work with. * CAUTION * DO NOT twist aluminum and copper wires together. They will corrode each other within months. Might even start a fire.

You can check the dimmer switch by removing it, then jumpering across the contacts so as to by-pass the rheostat (dimmer switch) If the switch is bad, full voltage should make the dash lights burn brightly. (make sure headlight switch is "ON") If full voltage doesn't light the lights, then look elsewhere.

 

Thank you TommyK.

 

I'm with LGBPOP i actually had a 93 back in the day and this was a common issue with it what i would do is go to a junk yard and get 2 or 3 and take them back to your car and test them its vey easy the pull out and plug in easy **PARTS +** 1995 Ford Taurus DIMMER SWITCH grey trim light 92 93 94 3.8 Sable | eBay

this is what you need

 

I had to pull the instrument cluster on my 2002 Taurus the circuit board (soft plastic) just friction fits to main contact bend it back straight use tape on back side if necessary to stiffen it. This may not be your problem, it could be the lights as mentioned already, but throwing this out there just in case.

All my lights went out (2 years ago) with the exception of turn and hazard signal and cruise, couldn't see **** at night. Had to hold my cell phone up to check speed then clicked cruise, so I could see the dash to drive at night.

Here's a great link Bull Geek posted, I followed the instructions, worked beautifully

http://www.taurusclub.com/forum/116...rum/116-aesthetics-interior-wheels-tires/134095-gen-4-dash-cluster-removal.html

 

^ Seems to occur more frequently during cold weather (shrinkage, lol).

 

no kidding

 

^ Lol! That's exactly the Seinfeld episode I was thinking about!