Chevy & GMC Vans

I've continually had issues with both my 93 and 95 vans having non-working gauge lights (analog dashes, all 3). I have tried resolving the problem by re-fastening the gauge cluster to the mounts. This worked for about 6 months the first time, 4 months the second, and a couple weeks the third. Since it's a PITA and I have little spare time anymore, I can't spend time for a short-term fix considering the work involved. It feels like the 93 and 95 are a different setup altogether from the 89, I would assume so since the 89 has a speedo cable, and the 93 and 95 are done by sensor.

Anyway, has anyone found an actual fix for these gauges? The lights are functional when the cluster is pressed backward into the dash, but without pressure, they don't work.

The 89 just had this problem start today. I was driving home from work, and after having sat at a light, I set it in neutral, since I've had odd idling issues with the van. Essentially, I was just testing it. Shifted it back to drive, and it died. So I tried to restart it, and the van wouldn't start. Weak crank. I let it sit for a minute, and it started. After this, I turned the lights back on, and no gauge lights. No dash lights (A/C, etc) either. Radio still works, all fuses are good. The dimmer switch will still turn on the overhead lights. Is it still possibly the dimmer switch?

As for the 93 and 95, has anyone had any success repairing these issues? Has anyone else had these issues? I've never successfully gotten an answer, and even after searching, can't come up with any sort of solution. I believe I have a spare dimmer switch to try and swap with tomorrow.

All the driving with the overhead map light on is starting to drive me nuts. I miss having gauge lights, and now with all three vans without having no lights, it's beginning to get old.

Thanks for any and all help.

And a final update for the 89...

Last night, took it for a short drive, mostly to fill it up and stretch its legs. Plus that problem of no gauge lights was bugging me, and I FINALLY had a little spare time to look into it more.

Noticed at a stop light in the reflection of the vehicle ahead of me that I did not have any running lights on the front end. The turn signals and headlights worked perfectly, but no running lights. So when i stopped for gas, I left the lights on for a second, and noticed no running lights on the back either. No license plate lights, no rear driving lights.

After filling up, I decided I needed to fix that problem quickly, since my sister uses the van weekly for work.

I re-checked all the fuses again, and all fuses were good.

I had checked the dimmer switch before, but did not think to check the headlight switch, since the headlights worked just fine before.

I didn't consider the gauge lights and running lights linked until I noted them both occuring at the same time. The headlight switch made perfect sense.

I found the spare parts that came with the 89, and sure enough, there was a spare headlight switch attached to the extra gauge cluster cover that I had.

Hooked it up, and it worked perfectly!

Swapped them out, and now have gauge lights and running lights all back on my 89. Either strange coincidence that the switch went out right as the problem with the battery arose, or does it seem likely it shorted it out? Just wondering for future reference.