ok, i tried changing the instrument cluster bulbs that light in the gas gauge, clock, speedo, tach, and gas gauge. i did this just now...at night with a flashlight (i know, not the brightest idea, but i wanted it to be nice for the commute tomorow morning).
so everything went fine until i had to put the cluster back into its place. the top rear of the cluster touched something, the upperpartof the das, i think, and i smelt smoke.....now the cluster does not light up at all, and when i turn on the parking lights, i get the highbeam, rear fog lamp, and the left blinker lighting up in the cluster.

i feel like a moron!
thanks in advance