1996 Ford Ranger XLT 5 Speed 2.3L RWD
Ok So I took my Whole gauge cluster apart down to the miles Counter. Ones put back together and back on the truck connected, turned the lights on and none of the lights turned on, it was all off. The gauges still worked but the lights that are supposed to turn on with the headlights didn't. It doesn't make sense to me because I never touched the flimsy circuit board. Besides when I twisted off/on the lights on the back. To my knowledge just doing tht shouldn't of caused the whole thing not to light up. So does anyone have any idea what could have happened??
The below picture is the cluster

 

Have you verified that none of the connectors have come loose?

 

Since all of the lights are out then you need sa common problem.
There are two connectors on my 2003 Dash, they were hard to press back into place.

If the connectors are in place, check for loose pins in the connectors.

After that the next common point Is the switch.

Just thinking out loud.

 

That's exactly where I was heading. I can't think of any other causes beyond that unless a wire somehow got frayed or a fuse blew. Those would be a long shot to happen if all he did was pull the cluster and reinstall it though.

 

Alright thnx you guys im going to go install it and see if the wires and connectors are ok and see if it works. Get back at cha.

 

But I think he took the cluster apart.
Which would mean the flexible PCB on the back too and that would mean electrical connections...

 

Since they all went out at once, it's likely a bad connection with one of the multi wire plugs.
Wiggle 'em around a bit & make sure they're all the way in, wouldn't hurt to clean the contacts with some contact cleaner for good measure.

If you removed every bulb holder from the flimsy plastic pcb on the cluster, re-check each bulb holder to make sure it's getting good connection to the cluster pcb, even a hair thick gap can cause a bulb to go out. Not likely the issue but it doesn't hurt to check while you have it all apart to rule it out too.

Are your other dash lights like the hvac panel, headlight switch, 4x4 & fog switch lights out too?
If so you could have blown a fuse because I believe they're all on the same circuit.

 

Also check the dimmer switch. If this is unplugged, the dash lights will not work. Could the slider of this dimmer switch be all the way to its dimmest point?

 

Alright everyone I got. It was weird all I did is unplug the cluster and plug it back in and it started to work. Only like 3 lights didn't work, so I just removed them and swapped 2 into different sockets and put them back in and it worked!