Instrument Cluster test bench?

[jamesmauler1]

Can anyone help in creating a "test" bench for an instrument cluster. I want to remove my cluster, replace bulbs and such and test in a dark room before reinstalling. I want all lights to light up not just the gauges. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

[Fx4wannabe01]

You're making it too hard on yourself and over complicating it...

There is plenty of clearance to plug the cluster back into the dash wiring and testing in-truck like for say LED replacements where they are polar specific and ones not lighting up need flipped 180. There's plenty of pivot movement and give in the wiring. I actually lean mine on the padded dash pad and the 4 way flasher switch.

When you turn your ignition from off to on, the cluster does an idiot light/indicator light check minus I think the turn signal indicators and high beam indicator.

If you had the wiring diagram book with the connector pinout diagram, theoretically you could make a bench testing jig....but it's alot of wires and I imagine it'll be junkyard 98-03 cluster pigtails and all lighting hots wired to one single hot feed and an automotive 12v battery. But for what it sounds like you're wanting to do, gross overkill.