dim dash lights
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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From: Niceville, FL.
Mine are dim too ('83 F350). I have replaced the headlight switch (including dimmer rheostat), all the bulbs (some were dark on inside), added a separate ground for the cluster, and cleaned the cluster/wiring connectors. All this added about 10% to the brightness level. With the dimmer set to full brigth position and engine running I get about 12.8 Volts on the printed wiring for the instrument bulbs but you can hardly see the instruments especially the tach and ammeter. My friend Bobby who bought an '86 new said his weren't very bright when new and slowly got worse over the years. After his son got the truck he (the son) totally disassembled the cluster an sprayed the ivory colored plastic part of the cluster assembly with shiney aluminum paint. I haven't seen it at night but the son said it made a big difference in the brightness. I guess I'm just too old and lazy to go to that kind of effort especially since I rarely drive it at night and I can see the speedometer well enough to get by.
Last edited by Piffery1; Nov 22, 2005 at 08:43 PM. Reason: add word
New User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 17
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I have the same problem with my F100 truck and I have looked at ways to improve the quality.
And, yes I have turned up the dimmer to its furthest extent, but they are still not bright enough.
If you have push in type bulbs in a little round mounting gizmo you may be able to acquire other bulbs with a higher ampage giving a brighter light, but be careful, higher ampage may mean more heat and a melted dash interior or worse still an electrical fire.
I have noted in my truck spare parts supplier that LCD bulbs are now becoming available for most other exterior lights, that is rear tail, stop, number plate, indicator and clearance, perhaps they may be available as a substitute for the dash lights. If so they would be brighter and no heat.
Ask around someone may know.
Les Bryant, Brisbane, Australia.
And, yes I have turned up the dimmer to its furthest extent, but they are still not bright enough.
If you have push in type bulbs in a little round mounting gizmo you may be able to acquire other bulbs with a higher ampage giving a brighter light, but be careful, higher ampage may mean more heat and a melted dash interior or worse still an electrical fire.
I have noted in my truck spare parts supplier that LCD bulbs are now becoming available for most other exterior lights, that is rear tail, stop, number plate, indicator and clearance, perhaps they may be available as a substitute for the dash lights. If so they would be brighter and no heat.
Ask around someone may know.
Les Bryant, Brisbane, Australia.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,542
Likes: 22
From: Murphysboro, IL
My 83 they were bright as coudl be, the 84 they were so dim I had to use my mag light sometimes to read the odometer or some of the gauges in the lower half.
The 83 had ALL of the emissions stuff off of it, it never had A/C and was a very basic electrical system, alot of the BS had been taken off.
The 84 had A/C, had all the emissions stuff on it (probably didn't work at 200k but it was there) but it was mostly unhooked. Granted where it was unhooked the wires were capped or taped off. I think there were just way too may corroded connections or grouding issues with the truck that caused it.
The 83 had ALL of the emissions stuff off of it, it never had A/C and was a very basic electrical system, alot of the BS had been taken off.
The 84 had A/C, had all the emissions stuff on it (probably didn't work at 200k but it was there) but it was mostly unhooked. Granted where it was unhooked the wires were capped or taped off. I think there were just way too may corroded connections or grouding issues with the truck that caused it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Niceville, FL.
Someone took the covers off before I got the truck. I did however take off the one for the windshield wiper and light switches, which helped there. I have added transmission temperature and oil pressure gauges which have plenty of illumination (and did not affect the brightness of the factory gauges to any noticable degree) and they are wired in to the dimmer circuit too. I found some LED (light emmiting diode, not LCD) replacements for the bulbs but at about $7.00 each, I passed on that.
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New User
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The dimmer switch is all the way up.Since it is the holiday weekend I'll have time to try brighten them up, Thanks on all the replies
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 105
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From: Salem, Oregon
Check the big connection
behind the cluster. Corrosion could be giving you a voltage drop on the light circuit. Also twist in the ***** holding the bulbs. Corrosion there maybe. This seemed to work for me. 82 F-150 4x4 Mileage? To the moon and back! 
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