Dash Lights Too Dim Help Please
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 40
Dash Lights Too Dim Help Please
I rebuilt my gauge cluster with a new backing plate, circuit board, voltage regulator, and LED lights. Reinstalled everything today. Turned on the lights tonight and the dash lights are very dim. Turn the headlight **** and it goes from off (all the way left) to dim, then off then dim then off then dim again as you turn the **** to the right. Never getting bright enough to see safely driving at night. Video attached was at the gas station with overhead lights. You can see the light turn on and off at the odometer.
Is it a bad headlight switch? Is there a way to test voltage to make sure it goes from 0V to 12V? Maybe at the headlight switch or a specific wire going into the gauge cluster? There are no issues with other lights, just the cluster lights are very dim. Thanks for your help!
Is it a bad headlight switch? Is there a way to test voltage to make sure it goes from 0V to 12V? Maybe at the headlight switch or a specific wire going into the gauge cluster? There are no issues with other lights, just the cluster lights are very dim. Thanks for your help!
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,095
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Some people remove the blue covers to help with the light being to dim, even when on full bright.
As far as the the headlight switch being bad, your description of it's operation sounds like a bad switch to me. It should go from all off, to brighter and brighter then full bright right before the "dome light on with the doors closed bump".
As far as the the headlight switch being bad, your description of it's operation sounds like a bad switch to me. It should go from all off, to brighter and brighter then full bright right before the "dome light on with the doors closed bump".
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 87
Likes: 4
I rebuilt my gauge cluster with a new backing plate, circuit board, voltage regulator, and LED lights. Reinstalled everything today. Turned on the lights tonight and the dash lights are very dim. Turn the headlight **** and it goes from off (all the way left) to dim, then off then dim then off then dim again as you turn the **** to the right. Never getting bright enough to see safely driving at night. Video attached was at the gas station with overhead lights. You can see the light turn on and off at the odometer.
Is it a bad headlight switch? Is there a way to test voltage to make sure it goes from 0V to 12V? Maybe at the headlight switch or a specific wire going into the gauge cluster? There are no issues with other lights, just the cluster lights are very dim. Thanks for your help!
Is it a bad headlight switch? Is there a way to test voltage to make sure it goes from 0V to 12V? Maybe at the headlight switch or a specific wire going into the gauge cluster? There are no issues with other lights, just the cluster lights are very dim. Thanks for your help!
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 40
yes I bought them from a guy that rebuilds clusters as a hobby. They are superbrite
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 40
yes I did that on the 3rd and 4th time removing and reinstalling it but didn’t work so I am onto asking for help
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2016
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From: Albuquerque and Colorado
Did you test the lights to see if they all work? I just went through this when I replaced all the bulbs with LED but one side didn’t work.
Turns out some of these LED bulbs are sensitive to which side is positive and which side is ground. When I had the cluster out I used a jumper wire from a battery and turned off the lights in my garage. Sure enough two bulbs just needed to be turned around.
Turns out some of these LED bulbs are sensitive to which side is positive and which side is ground. When I had the cluster out I used a jumper wire from a battery and turned off the lights in my garage. Sure enough two bulbs just needed to be turned around.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 40
Did you test the lights to see if they all work? I just went through this when I replaced all the bulbs with LED but one side didn’t work.
Turns out some of these LED bulbs are sensitive to which side is positive and which side is ground. When I had the cluster out I used a jumper wire from a battery and turned off the lights in my garage. Sure enough two bulbs just needed to be turned around.
Turns out some of these LED bulbs are sensitive to which side is positive and which side is ground. When I had the cluster out I used a jumper wire from a battery and turned off the lights in my garage. Sure enough two bulbs just needed to be turned around.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 40
The truck is in the shop having the AC looked at. I went ahead and bought a new headlight switch for $30. I’ll test the voltage at the cluster wires. It should go from 0V with the **** turned all the way to the left and 12V all the way on the right correct?
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
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More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 549
Likes: 240
From: Anacortes
Would you be able to provide the make and model of the LEDS so I can take a look? Mine weren't polarity sensitive but I know some are. I also had a problem with the new cluster backing plate where if I install them and turned them tight they would not make contact with the board so I have them slightly backed off which means they are loose and will fall out if I hit a good bump.
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 286
Likes: 40
Would you be able to provide the make and model of the LEDS so I can take a look? Mine weren't polarity sensitive but I know some are. I also had a problem with the new cluster backing plate where if I install them and turned them tight they would not make contact with the board so I have them slightly backed off which means they are loose and will fall out if I hit a good bump.