Dash light bulbs
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 139
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i got some led ones from auto zone and i installed them and they didnt turn on but the stock ones work the package says 12 v so im curious what the stock light reads not sure why they wont turn on or work
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 924
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From: Johns Creek GA
I did this just a couple of weeks ago. I replaced my standard bulbs with green 194 LEDs, and removed the blue filters from the instrument cluster. A lot of people have been very happy doing this, but I was disappointed; my cluster is still quite dim.
Last edited by Dorsai; Feb 7, 2012 at 09:46 PM. Reason: speeling & grammer
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
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You got the green ones? Did the bulb look like the shape of the original bulb or does it have like 4 separate led s on it? I replaces mine with clear led s that looked like te original bulb but it didn't light up at all
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 924
Likes: 4
From: Johns Creek GA
They're each a single bulb, but are flat on the top where the original bulbs are rounded. I had no problem getting them to light up - I just pushed them into the sockets with no problem.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: North Carolina
As you probably know, LEDs aren't designed to be dimmable like an incadescent bulb. They are more of an "all on" or "all off" type deal.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 924
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From: Johns Creek GA
Apparently the rheostat in the headlight switch that controls light intensity when you rotate the **** can gradually go bad. The worse it gets, the dimmer your lights and it isn't the bulbs fault. So that could be a possibility.
As you probably know, LEDs aren't designed to be dimmable like an incadescent bulb. They are more of an "all on" or "all off" type deal.
As you probably know, LEDs aren't designed to be dimmable like an incadescent bulb. They are more of an "all on" or "all off" type deal.
It should be reasonably easy to test whether the headlight switch is at fault...do you (or anyone?) know what the resistance range should be for the rheostat?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,251
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From: North Carolina
You can also clean corrosion off of the little brass contacts that the bi-pin cluster bulbs slide into, with emory paper or just a coarse pencil eraser. That can potentially brighten the bulbs.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Coastal-SC
Guys
Remember that there is a voltage regulator attached to the dash circuit board, these have been known to go bad-this could be adding to the problem. I really don't know how to test it. Good luck with your project
Remember that there is a voltage regulator attached to the dash circuit board, these have been known to go bad-this could be adding to the problem. I really don't know how to test it. Good luck with your project
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Senior User
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i installed the led i got from the auto store it changes 7 different colors...not what i wanted so i got another led that had 4 bulbs of leds on it and tried that but the light is very yellow especially under the greenish cover that is behind the dash doesnt lite it up as well as id like.. im lost not sure what to do
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Matt Garrett - 1984 Ford F250
scroll down on his pictures and look at how lit up his gauges are how? and the truck is beautiful!!
scroll down on his pictures and look at how lit up his gauges are how? and the truck is beautiful!!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 924
Likes: 4
From: Johns Creek GA
i installed the led i got from the auto store it changes 7 different colors...not what i wanted so i got another led that had 4 bulbs of leds on it and tried that but the light is very yellow especially under the greenish cover that is behind the dash doesnt lite it up as well as id like.. im lost not sure what to do
1. Remove the covers, install green 194 LEDs. This is what I did.
2. Leave the covers in place, install white 194 LEDs.
3. Remove the covers, install white 194 LEDs.
The third option will give you white lighting that may be too bright for you. If you still want to be able to dim the lights, you'll need regular incandescent 194s, as the LED bulbs aren't dimmable.
If you want to go any of the LED routes, hit the link I provided earlier...the service was good, and the bulbs were reasonably priced. And Bill can talk you through ordering the right bulbs for what you want to do.