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Hi, I have an issue I noticed on my '85 F250 that has me a bit stumped, the lights on the instrument cluster are extremely dim, at night you almost can't even tell the lights are on the cluster gauges, turning the dimmer switch doesn't really brighten things up. I had the instrument cluster to see maybe some bulbs were burned out. It turned out just one was bad but I went ahead and replaced all of them, including 2 on the speedo with led bulbs and it made no difference whatsoever.
Also another problem that might be related is that when using the turn signals, left or right, there is no clicking sound. The turn signal light flashes on the dash cluster but no clicking sound. I compared this to my dad's '84 F250, and his turn signal makes an audible clicking when used just like any other car. Also the lights on his dash are way brighter when turned on.
Could this be an issue with the printed circuit on the back of the cluster, or maybe the fuse on the back of the cluster?
Welcome to the dim-lights club! That is typical of these trucks. And, there are two solutions. One is to take out the blue filters that cover the bulbs, as these tend to get opaque and dim the light significantly. That will help, but it doesn't usually make the light bright. So, while doing the above install LED's. I'm using
on Big Blue, although I don't have them in yet so can't report how well they do. But, there are any number of threads on here about folks doing that, so do some searching.
As for the clicking sound, that comes from the flasher itself. The old ones had a mechanical contact in them that made noise. But some new ones, especially those for trailer use, are much quieter. I'll bet you have one of those.
The only problem with recommending that approach is that we don't know the opacity of the filters. I've seen some that look new and some that almost won't pass light. So the user has to ascertain what approach he needs to take.
In this case one truck, his father's, would lend itself nicely to that approach. But, in V8SHO's case that might not work given the lack of light he's getting.
Sorry. Not knocking your approach. Was thinking "While you are in there make sure you don't have to come back." However, my view is surely tainted by my very recent experience of pulling the instrument cluster in Big Blue. That wasn't easy due to the aftermarket gauges being hardwired such that the bezel really doesn't come all the way off. Given that I'm making SURE that everything that needs to be done while in there is done.
Hmmm, having said that, do I need to make an ICVR?
Welcome to the dim-lights club! That is typical of these trucks. And, there are two solutions. One is to take out the blue filters that cover the bulbs, as these tend to get opaque and dim the light significantly. That will help, but it doesn't usually make the light bright.
A bit of trivia: Most of the blue filters that I have seen are opaque. I pulled an instrument cluster out of a F800 [F600?] which was a 1992 and it has perfectly clear green filters?
Poke the filters out with a pencil. Move the bulbs in and out of the sockets a couple of times to clean the contacts, and twist them around a few times on the circuit board. That's all you need. I don't mind the yellowish light of the stock bulbs, and it's nice and bright. Just got done doing my 86 ranger which had the same problem.
Glad to know at least the dim lighting is normal among these trucks. I'll post a picture when it gets dark out to show how they are currently after replacing all the bulbs+ 2 new ones with led's. So just to confirm, I found this picture on the internet, the dash on top, that's the brightness that it should be right? The lights on mine are WAY dimmer. How does the top compare to your truck?
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