I didn't check the cigarette lighter, per se, but when I pushed my cell phone charger in the socket, the charge indicator didn't come on. I did try the dimmer switch (pre-bulb replacement) and it had no effect on the instrument cluster...but it DID turn on the dome light...
What are the lands on the printed circuit? Because I had one heck of a time (and ultimately failed ) in removing the wiring harness from the instrument cluster. I didn't want to force it, as I can see the brittle hairline (spiderweb?) cracks in that wafery white plastic backing. I KNOW what can potentially happen if I force it! I did notice that after I removed a couple of the bulb sockets (one at a time so I can keep better track) the printed circuit sheet in the area where I removed the sockets was not adhered to the plastic. Is that what you meant?
Huuuuuuunhhhh.
... looks like I'm going upside-down again... lol
Thank you guys for the suggestions. My '74 Ford Shop Manual isn't too helpful when I'm clueless about wiring and electrical stuff. About all I can do with some success is change out fuses and (maybe) splice wires. Speaking of which... right after I brought my wagon home I started doing the Getting To Know You stuff with the car... checking in nooks and crannies like the glovebox and the spare tire well in the back, etc. and noticed in looking at the fuse cube that a wire or two are (well, were- at least one of them) poked in a couple of the fuse spaces. In other words, the fuse was in the space and between the clamps on each end, and a wire was in between the end of the fuse and the clamp. I'm assuming this gives whatever wire is there power. The one I pulled off had a quick-coupler on it but I don't remember which wire it was. The other wire- the one I left still in between the fuse and the contact clamp- is the copper strands of wire. Kinda weird. Is this unusual?