Gage cluster dim
#1
Gage cluster dim
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
#4
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
#5
didn’t know that (new to these trucks, if it was a mustang now!). But will have to look at night but it was turned all the way left
#6
the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
#7
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#8
On the back of the cluster you will see all the little white bulb housings. They just twist out. The housings do not get changed thrown out, you just pull the old bulbs out and plug the leds in. Let me see if I can find it, but if you find the bulb style, (ie 1157 or whatever) they will work.
#9
I posted this earlier but failed. Check the paper tubes around the t.s. bulbs. They are there to keep the dash lights from bleeding over into them.
#10
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the gages in my 1970 are hard to see at night due to the bulb being extremely dim, wouldn’t surprise me if it’s not the original. Can I just replace the bulb? Or is the a better bulb or some other “trick” to make this brighter? Additionally any special tricks I need to know before attempting to remove the cluster to get at the bulb?
To change the bulbs:
Pull the screws and move the Instrument Cluster a little bit forward.
Disconnect the Turn Signal Flasher by twisting it 90 degrees, it will come away from the back of the cluster. Don't disconnect the connector that hooks to the flasher unit (you might spill the blinker fluid all over everything).
Unscrew the coupling for the speedometer cable, disconnect the cable from the speedometer.
Disconnect the Instrument Cluster Connector and the cluster should lift out.
five bulbs to swap. Turn the cap, pull the bulb from the cap, replace the bulb, put the caps back.
Re-installation of the cluster is the reverse of removal.
#12
#13
Check for the correct dimmer operation first - rotate the headlight switch **** to see if the lights are set correctly. This part of the headlight switch is known to fail.
To change the bulbs:
Pull the screws and move the Instrument Cluster a little bit forward.
Disconnect the Turn Signal Flasher by twisting it 90 degrees, it will come away from the back of the cluster. Don't disconnect the connector that hooks to the flasher unit (you might spill the blinker fluid all over everything).
Unscrew the coupling for the speedometer cable, disconnect the cable from the speedometer.
Disconnect the Instrument Cluster Connector and the cluster should lift out.
five bulbs to swap. Turn the cap, pull the bulb from the cap, replace the bulb, put the caps back.
Re-installation of the cluster is the reverse of removal.
To change the bulbs:
Pull the screws and move the Instrument Cluster a little bit forward.
Disconnect the Turn Signal Flasher by twisting it 90 degrees, it will come away from the back of the cluster. Don't disconnect the connector that hooks to the flasher unit (you might spill the blinker fluid all over everything).
Unscrew the coupling for the speedometer cable, disconnect the cable from the speedometer.
Disconnect the Instrument Cluster Connector and the cluster should lift out.
five bulbs to swap. Turn the cap, pull the bulb from the cap, replace the bulb, put the caps back.
Re-installation of the cluster is the reverse of removal.
#14
#15
I pulled the bulbs on my '68 F250 yesterday. 3 of the 5 bulbs were completely broken. Bulbs are GE 1895. Pretty easy to find LED 1895 replacements online. I went to superbrightleds.com for the replacements because it was challenging to find LEDs that are dimmable on amazon and this site clearly identified those that are dimmable. For about $15 (inc shipping) I got 4 white and 2 green (wanted a few extra white as backups). See pics for product codes. Also attaching pics of my instrument cluster and the disassemble. FYI when removing the bulbs, you must push them in and turn left; opposite to install.
Are there only 5 bulbs? Let me know if/where there are more. Thanks!
Are there only 5 bulbs? Let me know if/where there are more. Thanks!
Last edited by arapf; 02-27-2018 at 03:46 PM. Reason: edit words