Forgot to ask if the LCD for mileage is out as well? You said the lights in the radio do work and dim correctly? If the radio lights do work correctly (stock radio as well?) Trying to determine if the illumination circuit is working at all without needing to take a lot of things apart. However, as you know how to pull the cluster to change the bulbs, remove it and then look at the connector that comes from the car, unplug it, and plug it back in a couple times, check for the lights, if they are still out then the next thing will be to use a test light to check the light pads on the instrument cluster. You said you jumpered the rheostat before? In that case jump it again. Now take the test light and connect it to battery positive and with the dimmer/rheostat jumped check the two light contact pads for each lamp in the dash. One of the pads in each should make the lamp light if the ground path is good. If you get no light, then check the ground in the left side kick panel. If you do get a good light, then the ground is okay. Next connect the test light to a good ground, now touch the other pads in the bulb sockets with the lights on, if the power feed into the dash lights is good the light should light. Either the power or ground shouldn't work as the lights are out, testing should show which.
Wednesday, March 30th, 2022 AT 7:15 AM