Dash Lights

jimcope · #1 (**permalink**) 02-15-2004, 09:46 PM

OK, I have been reading the threads about dash lights and today I tried to get mine a little brighter but ended up with one side going dark all together. The back of the dash has a film like a printed circut board any ideas on how I get the lights working when they are out on only one side? Help

Txquadhunter24 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 12:56 AM

sounds like it's time for ya to hit the wrecking yard looking for a new gauge cluster

Torque1st · #3 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 01:05 AM

If the flex circuit is ok and the plastic is not crumbling then all you have to do is clean up all the contact points, contacts, bulb holders etc. Onece you have everything clean smear a little silicone dielectric compound on all of the contact points before you put it all back together. Use new TESTED bulbs when you assemble it also.

jimcope · #4 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 07:44 AM

Is the flex circut repairable? If so how do you do it? I think I may have a broken circut.

Torque1st · #5 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 08:01 AM

If you have a broken circuit it is repairable with special materials but it is easier to get a new flex circuit from the salvage yard. Those things are fairly tough tho. A problem is more likely in a bad contact either at the wire plug or at the bulb holder.

73Custom · #6 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 08:22 AM

My flex circuit had a crack through one of the 'wires'. So I cleaned it up good and soldered the crack closed, then painted over it with a plastic coating. It has worked for over 3 years and was an easy fix - but I solder every day, lots of practice.

Marty

19gator55 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-16-2004, 08:29 AM

Radio Shack has a silver solder pen that can sometimes be used to fix traces on circuit boards also. I believe it was 3 or 4 dollars. I have used them on regular PCB's with success. You might want to try that.

jimcope · #8 (**permalink**) 02-17-2004, 04:49 PM

Thanks for all the great ideas guys. I have not had time to try any of them but will let you know how it turns out

Mil1ion · #9 (**permalink**) 02-17-2004, 08:18 PM

There are also *printed circuit* boards available in the classifieds if you don't want to go through the repair thing.

bassdude · #10 (**permalink**) 02-18-2004, 12:37 AM

around here you can get a gage cluster from the pull it your self place for like $13. thats what i did for my 76. seems like the cheapest and easiest way to go. you can use ones out of vans all the way up to 86 i think. i got one out of an 85 van, it looks like brand new.

quadrazer · #11 (**permalink**) 02-18-2004, 10:47 AM

I had the same problem with my dash lights not working. It turned out it was only the contacts were dirty where the bulb turns in against the circuit board. While I was in there, I also pulled the blue/green covers off the bulbs and then reassemled everything. Wow, what a difference! Hope it works for you!

wezol5484 · #12 (**permalink**) 02-18-2004, 11:41 AM

What you can also try is on the black housing that holds the bulb, there are two copper arms that stick out and those are what touches the contact points on the circuit board when u twist them in. Mine were kinda flat and the connection was kinda loose so i just bent those arms out a little and it made the connection tighter. Hope that makes sense.

jimcope · #13 (**permalink**) 02-18-2004, 07:02 PM

OK, I tried a little of everybodys advice except I did not have to repair cracks in the circut. I have them working again. Thanks to everybody for all the help.