Dim instrument lights....
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Beaverton, Oregon
Dim instrument lights....
Hey there,
Anyone out there have instrument lights that are...well, dimmer than you'd like? Even with the light switch cranked over all the way, I still don't think they are bright enough.
I've checked and all of the bulbs are working.
I've noticed that the warning lights, hi-beam, and turn signal lights are all quite bright....but the intsrument cluster is just awful.
I'm thinking that the bulbs are not getting full voltage from the dimmer adjuster...but not sure.
I really don't want to have to spend money on LED replacement bulbs (direct plugins for the 194s already in there) as they cost about $3 each.
Suggestions anyone?
Dan Martin
86 F350 Crew Cab Dually
Anyone out there have instrument lights that are...well, dimmer than you'd like? Even with the light switch cranked over all the way, I still don't think they are bright enough.
I've checked and all of the bulbs are working.
I've noticed that the warning lights, hi-beam, and turn signal lights are all quite bright....but the intsrument cluster is just awful.
I'm thinking that the bulbs are not getting full voltage from the dimmer adjuster...but not sure.
I really don't want to have to spend money on LED replacement bulbs (direct plugins for the 194s already in there) as they cost about $3 each.
Suggestions anyone?
Dan Martin
86 F350 Crew Cab Dually
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Check your headlight switch. Take it out and look at the resistor in the switch. A lot of times they will come apart or be burnt up. Ihave had this in my Aerostar and my dad's F-250. Get a new one from a junk yard.
-Matt
-Matt
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From: Virginia
I just fixed my truck of this problem. Mine have been dim ever since I got it about 10 years ago. When the highbeam light went out the other day, I decided to investigate.
All the lights where working. I noticed that all the instrument lighting bulbs had a blue cover where they fit into the panel. I messed with one of them, and it just crumbled. So I took a pencil and broke them all out. Wow! what a difference. I can actually see how fast I am going at night now.
The only thing I will warn you is now the instrument panel will have a yellowish glow to it, not the greenish glow it used to have.
All the lights where working. I noticed that all the instrument lighting bulbs had a blue cover where they fit into the panel. I messed with one of them, and it just crumbled. So I took a pencil and broke them all out. Wow! what a difference. I can actually see how fast I am going at night now.
The only thing I will warn you is now the instrument panel will have a yellowish glow to it, not the greenish glow it used to have.
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From: Beaverton, Oregon
Franklin2 ,
Thanks for the reply...
I know the ones in my cluster are just the white bulbs with no covers (they just twist out the back). I have the cluster with the tach, so maybe it's different than yours?
I'll also check the dimmer switch though...just to be super-safe.
I think I'm going to investigate your solution a bit more though (the green tint it has now is coming from somewhere), and also replace the existing bulbs with LED models ($3 each). You can get them in several colors...I'm going with Red I think (the best color for night-viewing as it won't mess with your night vision) if I can get rid of the green tinting. If not I'll go with white.
Those LED replacements are super-bright and actually use less power. I'm pretty sure this will cure the problem, albiet a bit pricey.
Dan
Thanks for the reply...
I know the ones in my cluster are just the white bulbs with no covers (they just twist out the back). I have the cluster with the tach, so maybe it's different than yours?
I'll also check the dimmer switch though...just to be super-safe.
I think I'm going to investigate your solution a bit more though (the green tint it has now is coming from somewhere), and also replace the existing bulbs with LED models ($3 each). You can get them in several colors...I'm going with Red I think (the best color for night-viewing as it won't mess with your night vision) if I can get rid of the green tinting. If not I'll go with white.
Those LED replacements are super-bright and actually use less power. I'm pretty sure this will cure the problem, albiet a bit pricey.
Dan
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From: Right Next to U
Light switch is old and the tiny spings act as a reostat.....when they wear the lights get dimmer,,,,an dimmer.....till there isn't any glow left.remove an replace with new and your life will be much brighter.
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From: Weston, Nebraska
Where do you get those red LED's from? I've got everything red inside my truck that lights up except the dash. My dash is dim to but it's really bad on the speedometer side. I've had it apart before and I've seen the little blue covers and lost hope, but if I can get red bulbs and bust these off then all will be well (and red) except for my custom guages. My RPM I picked up at a sale on a pallet w/ all new chevy parts for $5 only I don't have a chevy, but I got what I wanted along w/ about $700 in parts (rods, cam, valves, mains, bearings galore, and some pistons all in original boxs and plastic). Anyway the guage is clear/yellow and so is my oil pres. but the water temp is green and it's green lensed. These I installed in my dash where a expensive model of an 86 F-150 4x4 w/ a 300 should have vents, but it didn't so I took advantage. So I'll have to go and get a 3 colored set of guages from O'reilly's someday and redo it.
Redneck-Cowboy
Redneck-Cowboy
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From: Beaverton, Oregon
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Thread Starter
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From: Beaverton, Oregon
The instrument cluster and indicator lights use the 194 type bulb....the ones on that page. I'm going to see if the 4-LED ones will fit...super damn bright! :-)
Othe bulbs are also used in the truck for the domes and the map lights, but I don't have that info right now.
Note that you can also replace the turn signal lights and others with brigher LED lights, but you'll need one of those resistors for the turn signals, as the LED lights don't draw enough current to make the turn signal blinker work in most older cars. They sell those too.
Dan
Othe bulbs are also used in the truck for the domes and the map lights, but I don't have that info right now.
Note that you can also replace the turn signal lights and others with brigher LED lights, but you'll need one of those resistors for the turn signals, as the LED lights don't draw enough current to make the turn signal blinker work in most older cars. They sell those too.
Dan
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From: Beaverton, Oregon
Well, my problem (and yours apparently) is also that they (the incandecent bulbs) are dim for that dash. If you put the red ones in, I bet it would be even dimmer (as you are filtering out all but the red light). My thinking is that if I replace the bulbs with LEDs, I'll probably go red for the night-vision, but I'm still deciding that.
I'll probably make a decision this weekend...if I go with the LEDs, I'll be sure to let you all know how it turns out.
Dan
I'll probably make a decision this weekend...if I go with the LEDs, I'll be sure to let you all know how it turns out.
Dan
