How come my odometer isn't lighting up?
This is a common problem on 2000-2005 J-cars, especially after having the top of the dash apart.
Assuming that the dash, radio, HVAC panel, etc all still light up, and the only thing that isn't illuminated now is your odometer (even if you push the trip button).. then the problem is the bulb behind the LCD display.
Most of the time, all that's required is to give the top of the dash a nice hard smack with your open hand, and it will come back on.
The bulb itself is part of the cluster - it's soldered to the board inside the cluster assembly, and isn't easily replaced. Plus, opening a 2000+ cluster can break the needles on the gauges rendering one or more of the dials useless.
If the "smack the dash" trick doesn't work (it usually does, so hopefully you're not still reading this), you may have to bite the bullet and buy a replacement cluster. They can be found relatively inexpensive on Ebay and at wrecking yards. Any cluster from either Cavalier or Sunfire may be used, as long as it is the 00-05 kind. Mileage is stored in the body control module, so that is not an issue. (Although until you start the car, the cluster will display the mileage of the car it was removed from, if you push the trip meter button). Older clusters are not compatible.
