Driving Blind!
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Driving Blind!
I recently bought a 1986 F150, and I love it!! Problem is this, now that the daylight savings time is over, I am driving home after dark, and maybe the instrument panels on these older trucks were never too bright, but I am having one heck of a time reading the gauges! And yeah- I turned the headlight **** left and right to get the the panel lights to shine their brightest. There doesn't seem to be any obvious dark spots (like a individual bulb is out) it is just uniformly pretty dim, and everything else shines bright (headlights etc., so I don't think it is the battery). Any takers? 
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
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It's not you. The backlighting on that cluster is pretty dim. The light isn't very bright. It doesn't help that the background is black. I've been meaning to pull my cluster out and reverse the colors. White background and black numbers.
I drive alot at night, so this gets pretty annoying, especially when my eyes get used to the lights from oncoming traffic.
I drive alot at night, so this gets pretty annoying, especially when my eyes get used to the lights from oncoming traffic.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Hewitt, Minnesota
What I did was I put a little light bulb that shines into the dash. I then put it on a toggle. Of course you could pull the whole dash off and try new bulbs. Not sure if you could get at the bulbs from behind or not. I have an 83 F150 and IMO the dash lights leave alot to be desired. I wonder if there are replacements avialible that are brighter then the originals. I'll have to look into it.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Hewitt, Minnesota
Originally Posted by MarkoSephano
Wow! Thank Guys! I really appreciate your advice. I may have to do some sort of modification myself! Maybe strap a flashlight on my ballcap!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Niceville, FL.
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.
Elder User
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From: Hewitt, Minnesota
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Posting Guru
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From: Niceville, FL.
I got the long life ones at Walmart and the colored ones at Advance, I think (or vice versa). Colored ones are #194G for green, #194R for red, etc. Don't remember how the long life ones are numbered but it says on package "Long Life", "Extended Life" or something akin to that. There are also some high brightness white and amber LED's that are replacements for #194's which would may be good for turn indicators, etc. but not for instrument panel illumination (they probably won't dim properly). I've seen the amber LED's locally but the whites only on eBay. NAPA, AutoZone, & O'Reilly's may also have them. You can also paint the inside of the cluster with Aluminum or Chrome metallic paint for plastic models to increase the reflectivity for the indirect lighting. Just don't get any of the paint on the Cluster printed wiring.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Kuna ID
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.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
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From: Pittsburgh
The green dashlights are actually pretty bright if your electrical system is up to snuff. I kept trying things like auxilliary lights, but what finally solved the problem was when my alternator went out.
I replaced the alternator, voltage regulator, and redid the alternator to solenoid wiring harness. Now my dashlights are as bright as I'll ever need them to be, it charges more consistenly, the headlights are brighter, and it eased up the ford flickering headlight syndrome. (that finally got solved by a set of relays)
Justin
I replaced the alternator, voltage regulator, and redid the alternator to solenoid wiring harness. Now my dashlights are as bright as I'll ever need them to be, it charges more consistenly, the headlights are brighter, and it eased up the ford flickering headlight syndrome. (that finally got solved by a set of relays)
Justin
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How many bulbs illuminate the instruments, anyway? I would like to go ahead and buy the bulbs prior to tearing into the dash. It is my only transportation, and it would just go a little more smoothly if I had them on hand. Thanks Guys.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
This is what you get with all new bulbs, nice clean connections, and a good charging system:
I don't recall exactly how many bulbs are in the cluster... I'll have to dig up one of my spares.
I don't recall exactly how many bulbs are in the cluster... I'll have to dig up one of my spares.