Problem: Dash lights are really dim
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Problem: Dash lights are really dim
I just got an 86 F150 and the dash lights are all really dim.
They are all the same so I would be surprised if it was just old bulbs. Is there something else that could affect them?
Thanks,
Don
Falls Church, VA
They are all the same so I would be surprised if it was just old bulbs. Is there something else that could affect them?
Thanks,
Don
Falls Church, VA
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Northern New Jersey
I have the same problem with my 1986 F150 and with other older cars as well. One of the solutions put forth by someone on another forum suggested that I change the headlight switch because the rheostat that controls the dimness of the dash lights might be disfunctional. Sounded reasonable to me. But I just went out and bought some cheap LED lights and placed them on the dash in front of the gauges and the effect is quite good. They are blue in color and light up the gauges nicely and look good too. Just a suggestion.
More Turbo
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Pictures Please
Originally Posted by geleonardjr
One of the solutions put forth by someone on another forum suggested that I change the headlight switch because the rheostat that controls the dimness of the dash lights might be disfunctional.
I went out and bought some cheap LED lights and placed them on the dash in front of the gauges and the effect is quite good. They are blue in color and light up the gauges nicely and look good too.
Could you post links to where you got yours, please??
Also, some pictures of what/where you done would be beneficial.
Thanks.
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You can get them here but they DON'T/Won't dim any.
They glow quite bright.
http://autolumination.com/194.htm
They glow quite bright.
http://autolumination.com/194.htm
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From: Northern Colorado
<TABLE class=tborder cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR title="Post 4603694" vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 align=middle width=125>Sycostang67</TD><TD class=alt2>
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This is the best and most cost effective way to go, its free and very simple to do. A handfull of screws and a couple of hours if I remember correctly. Those factory blue covers over the bulbs kills the light output. If you do a search in this forum, on this topic, this is what most have done, including myself. It also gives you a good reason to take the dash off and clean/check things out under there. While you're at it, if you don't have a factory tach but have the other guages, it would also be a good time to install a tach because you can access the tach signal wire thats back there. This is, of course, only if your headlight switch is still good, it probably is. Some may think its the switch but you'll be amazed at how much light those blue covers take away.
Removing the blue covers from the inside of the cluster will help too.
This is the best and most cost effective way to go, its free and very simple to do. A handfull of screws and a couple of hours if I remember correctly. Those factory blue covers over the bulbs kills the light output. If you do a search in this forum, on this topic, this is what most have done, including myself. It also gives you a good reason to take the dash off and clean/check things out under there. While you're at it, if you don't have a factory tach but have the other guages, it would also be a good time to install a tach because you can access the tach signal wire thats back there. This is, of course, only if your headlight switch is still good, it probably is. Some may think its the switch but you'll be amazed at how much light those blue covers take away.
Last edited by TrucksNamed"PHIL"; Apr 5, 2007 at 09:48 AM.
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Rheostat adjusts brightness, but lights are still dim.
Sorry, I should have been clearer in my description.
The rheostat is working (at least somewhat) as I can dim them by turning the headlight switch. The problem is that when turned all the way up they are still really dim.
Does the rheostat wear out causing the lights to be dim.
Thanks,
Don
The rheostat is working (at least somewhat) as I can dim them by turning the headlight switch. The problem is that when turned all the way up they are still really dim.
Does the rheostat wear out causing the lights to be dim.
Thanks,
Don
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From: Northern Colorado
Originally Posted by Sycostang67
Removing the blue covers from the inside of the cluster will help too.
Last edited by TrucksNamed"PHIL"; Apr 5, 2007 at 12:04 PM.
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From: Virginia
I took the covers out of my cluster, and it does really help. It gives you a bare bulb yellow glow though, which I don't mind, but some people replace the regular bulbs with ones that have colored lenses.
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Originally Posted by nova_mxer
Does the rheostat wear out causing the lights to be dim.
Thanks,
Don
Thanks,
Don
No matter how much power is sent thru the wire if it can't be used to its greatest potential then they will be dim.But because electrical components fail with age switches can go bas as well as do the bulbs themselves.
Last edited by Mil1ion; Apr 5, 2007 at 04:07 PM.
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Awesome...
Thanks Everyone.
I have to pull the dash top off to change the stereo and equalizer anyway, so I'll take a look at cleaning the circuit board and possibly removing the covers and swapping colored bulbs.
BTW, You guys ROCK!!!
I have to pull the dash top off to change the stereo and equalizer anyway, so I'll take a look at cleaning the circuit board and possibly removing the covers and swapping colored bulbs.
BTW, You guys ROCK!!!
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,711
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From: Pittsburgh
I had the issue of dim dash lights until i cleaned all of the connections (specifically the ground) for the voltage regualtor.
I also ran an auxillary ground wire from the alternator directly to the battery.
These two things helped ALOT. These fixes are nearly free and i like them alot more than taking the gels off of the dashlights. I like the green glow.
Justin
I also ran an auxillary ground wire from the alternator directly to the battery.
These two things helped ALOT. These fixes are nearly free and i like them alot more than taking the gels off of the dashlights. I like the green glow.
Justin
More Turbo
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Originally Posted by hoxiii
I had the issue of dim dash lights until i cleaned all of the connections (specifically the ground) for the voltage regualtor.
I also ran an auxillary ground wire from the alternator directly to the battery.
I like the green glow.
Justin
If I go as far as tearing into the cluster, I will trash that silly printed circuit and solder in real wires, and maybe add a bunch more bulbs.