led dash light mod

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Feb 10, 2014 | 12:30 PM

Kingkoopa

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From: Odessa

led dash light mod

So i just changed out some of my lights in the dash and wanted to know anyones input on how to get some of the harder to get lights? short of breaking the bulb and pulling what is left out with some needle nose.

Feb 10, 2014 | 06:12 PM

stainlessstroker95

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From: Monroe City in

Are you having trouble getting the bulbs out of the dash? They should all pop out in the little socket. I know oriley auto sells the sockets if you need those.

Feb 10, 2014 | 07:19 PM

444dieselrod

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From: Braham MN

Easiest way is to pull the whole cluster and pop them out the back.

Diesel Rod

Feb 10, 2014 | 11:18 PM

madpogue

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From: Madison, WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by 444dieselrod

RIGHT way is to pull the whole cluster and pop them out the back.

Fixed. Removing the bulbs while the sockets are in the cluster is asking for trouble.

Feb 11, 2014 | 12:01 AM

Kingkoopa

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From: Odessa

I changed out the five main dash lights. I am having problems with the other ones.

Feb 11, 2014 | 07:26 AM

1994F2507.3L

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From: Higginsville, MO

so they make LED replacement bulbs for those now? are they much brighter than the standard bulbs?

Feb 11, 2014 | 08:03 AM

redman84

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Joined: Feb 2010

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From: College Station, TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1994F2507.3L

so they make LED replacement bulbs for those now? are they much brighter than the standard bulbs?

It's just a 168/194 bulb. There's are millions of LEDs w that base out there. Some are bright and some are not. I haven't used a led in my dash that didn't create hot spots. Swapped back to incandescent.

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Feb 11, 2014 | 10:43 AM

stainlessstroker95

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From: Monroe City in

These are the ones I used.194 LED Bulb - 5 SMD LED Wide Angle Wedge Base | Miniature Wedge Base LEDs | LED Car Bulbs | Super Bright LEDs
They work really good.

Feb 11, 2014 | 12:32 PM

#10

444dieselrod

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From: Braham MN

My crew cab came with LEDs in the dash. I hate them, way to bright, its like a flashlight shining in my face while driving. I want to be able to see what's in front of the truck, not how fast I'm going to hit it.....

I put blue 194's in my other trucks and loved them, everything was a shade of green then, needles and numbers all matched.

Diesel Rod

Feb 11, 2014 | 01:02 PM

#11

mjunk1

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 1,739

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From: Vale, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by 444dieselrod

I think people underestimate the importance of this when driving. If you turn down your dash dimmer, your eyes can dialate and you can see more of what is in front of you at night. Having someone in the front seat on their cellphone (my wife!) really impacts your ability to see. I'm always asking her to turn it away from me so I don't have that blinding light in my eyes while driving. From my view, dimmer is better, but I'm getting older so the eyes need all the help they can get.

Feb 11, 2014 | 02:56 PM

#12

madpogue

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 8,476

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From: Madison, WI

^^^^ That's what the dimmer is for. If the too-bright LEDs in your dash aren't dimmable, they're the wrong kind.

Feb 11, 2014 | 04:11 PM

#13

444dieselrod

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Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 2,417

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From: Braham MN

What's the point of dimming an led to an output that's no brighter then the stock 194 bulb?

The LEDs in my dash are the cheap ones that flicker too...so annoying. If anyone wants some free 194 LEDs let me know I'm gunna pull em out this weekend if its not 30 below.....

Diesel Rod