Driving Blind!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
Likes: 28
From: Northern California
Yes, there are 5 instrument illumination bulbs.
There are a potential of 7 other bulbs in the instrument cluster for, Emissions, Left turn, Fasten Belts, Hi Beam, Brake Warning, Right Turn, 4X4 etc... Most use only five or six.
I would also like to add to the others suggestions, to check the instrument cluster ground connection. A poor ground there can cause dim Cluster lights, and the annoying gauge pegging syndrome.
You can run another ground wire from the instrument cluster voltage regulator hold down screw, to the dash metal for a better ground.
Check the state of the cluster plastic. Is it still bright white, or has it browned with age? You can get newer plastic clusters out of the 1980 to 1999 F-600 or better trucks, that has lots of interchangeable parts that will work with our pickups.
And as others have said, clean up the printed circut boards, and remove the blue light filters from the cluster. Use Green GE:194-G bulbs for a factory look.
Hope this helps.
There are a potential of 7 other bulbs in the instrument cluster for, Emissions, Left turn, Fasten Belts, Hi Beam, Brake Warning, Right Turn, 4X4 etc... Most use only five or six.
I would also like to add to the others suggestions, to check the instrument cluster ground connection. A poor ground there can cause dim Cluster lights, and the annoying gauge pegging syndrome.
You can run another ground wire from the instrument cluster voltage regulator hold down screw, to the dash metal for a better ground.
Check the state of the cluster plastic. Is it still bright white, or has it browned with age? You can get newer plastic clusters out of the 1980 to 1999 F-600 or better trucks, that has lots of interchangeable parts that will work with our pickups.
And as others have said, clean up the printed circut boards, and remove the blue light filters from the cluster. Use Green GE:194-G bulbs for a factory look.
Hope this helps.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,739
Likes: 3
From: GANS
Originally Posted by Piffery1
Pull the cluster, remove the gauges, remove the little blue plastic covers over the bulbs, replace the existing clear bulbs with blue or green versions then reassemble everything. While you're at it replace the turn and high beam bulbs with new clear long life bulbs.
The dimmer on the head light switch could also be worn. I've had that problem before as well.
Taking out the plastic will help a lot. I've been planning on replacing mine with 194 LED bulbs...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 0
From: Niceville, FL.
I don't think the LED's will dim very well. Usually they are "off" until their threshold voltage is reached, then they turn "on". Once "on" increasing the voltage to them will only marginally increase their intensity.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 116
Likes: 2
From: Harrisburg, Oregon
Most old cars get dimmer as their grounds oxidize. It's a pretty common problem. Some cars are harder hit than others. The Fiero forum has just had a huge thread about the benefits to the reliability of the engine management system of running an extra ground wire from the engine to the battery's ground post, and others have discovered increases in the brightness of their lights and gauges when they ran an extra ground from the body to the battery's ground post.
My BMW has suffered from a series of electrical issues, and each was solved in turn by cleaning electrical connections and spraying each with silicon spray. I'm beginning to think that my Ford will benefit from a general electrical connection clean-up that same way. I think I'll do that tomorrow when change the leaking heater core, since I'll be disconnecting lots of dashboard electrical connections anyway.
Scott
My BMW has suffered from a series of electrical issues, and each was solved in turn by cleaning electrical connections and spraying each with silicon spray. I'm beginning to think that my Ford will benefit from a general electrical connection clean-up that same way. I think I'll do that tomorrow when change the leaking heater core, since I'll be disconnecting lots of dashboard electrical connections anyway.
Scott
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tjbeggs
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