Dim instrument lighting
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 570
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas (area)
Dim instrument lighting
'81 F100. All the bulbs for the instrument panel light ok, but are very dim. Reostat control works ok, so I'm stumped. Can not find any troubleshooter for this, so I'm hoping for some suggestions. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 5,330
Likes: 17
From: Dryden, ON, Canada
You will get suggestions to remove the bulb covers, and possibly a few other things, but, what has always has worked to me is to put in all fresh bulbs, and then clean all of the connections to the printed circuit, including the main cluster connector. I usually do this with all of the bulbs and guages, and everything works as it should.
That's what the dash should look like with the lights cranked all the way up.
Personally, I run them very nearly turned off, as having them cranked up takes away considerably from your night vision in conditions such as I drive in, where there are no street lights to be found for hundreds of miles...
That's what the dash should look like with the lights cranked all the way up.
Personally, I run them very nearly turned off, as having them cranked up takes away considerably from your night vision in conditions such as I drive in, where there are no street lights to be found for hundreds of miles...
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 570
Likes: 1
From: Austin Texas (area)
82F100swb....I appreciate your thoughts. Changing the bulbs doesn't make sense, because they illuminate now. Cleaning all contacts makes sense. I bought this truck new and electrical contacts have probably accumulated 'dirt/scum' over the 27yrs. I intend to check the rheostat voltage In/Out before I proceed with removing the panel. I also intend to check the Ground connection.
Your picture is what I know they should illuminate to....I remember when it used to.
Your speedometer goes much faster than mine! 120+!! Best mine can do is 85+.....
Your picture is what I know they should illuminate to....I remember when it used to.
Your speedometer goes much faster than mine! 120+!! Best mine can do is 85+.....
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Kingston, Pa.
Originally Posted by starmilt
If 120 is kilometers then what is the numbers where kilometers is on every other rig.
Would you mind explaining just what you mean?
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Pittsburgh
it's KM/H on teh outside and MPH on the inside.
Pencil erasers work if the gunk isn't too thick. if it is, use some electrical contact cleaner and a pencil eraser.
Changing the bulbs does help sinc ethey do dim over their lifespan.
Check the rheostat, it can go up in resistance over the years.
Check the wiring from you alternator to the main harness. Cleaning all of this did the most for my dash lighting.
I also don't like taking teh green film off of the bulbs, the unfiltered light is just too harsh IMO.
Justin
Pencil erasers work if the gunk isn't too thick. if it is, use some electrical contact cleaner and a pencil eraser.
Changing the bulbs does help sinc ethey do dim over their lifespan.
Check the rheostat, it can go up in resistance over the years.
Check the wiring from you alternator to the main harness. Cleaning all of this did the most for my dash lighting.
I also don't like taking teh green film off of the bulbs, the unfiltered light is just too harsh IMO.
Justin
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Get the pen that increases conductivity and cleans contacts from radio shack, It is
a good cantact cleaner easy to apply and really works and it leaves a protective coating. You could go and put LEDs in there and have it as bright as can be just put
a resistor on to dim to what you want the brightest setting to be and go from there.
Radio shack also has a pen that lays down a coating of gold to keep the contacts
protected for along time!!
a good cantact cleaner easy to apply and really works and it leaves a protective coating. You could go and put LEDs in there and have it as bright as can be just put
a resistor on to dim to what you want the brightest setting to be and go from there.
Radio shack also has a pen that lays down a coating of gold to keep the contacts
protected for along time!!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Originally Posted by blue beast
Get the pen that increases conductivity and cleans contacts from radio shack, It is
a good cantact cleaner easy to apply and really works and it leaves a protective coating. You could go and put LEDs in there and have it as bright as can be just put
a resistor on to dim to what you want the brightest setting to be and go from there.
Radio shack also has a pen that lays down a coating of gold to keep the contacts
protected for along time!!
a good cantact cleaner easy to apply and really works and it leaves a protective coating. You could go and put LEDs in there and have it as bright as can be just put
a resistor on to dim to what you want the brightest setting to be and go from there.
Radio shack also has a pen that lays down a coating of gold to keep the contacts
protected for along time!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,155
Likes: 1
From: sunny fla sometimes windy
Yeah me neither I don't buy anything from them but those pens. I go here and if you
are ever down in Florida doing the theme park thing head over to skycraft the mans
themepark!! Take a look at their pictures of inside the store!!
http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/index...S&Category=248
are ever down in Florida doing the theme park thing head over to skycraft the mans
themepark!! Take a look at their pictures of inside the store!!
http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/index...S&Category=248
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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From: Niceville, FL.
The white plastic part of the cluster gets yellow with age and loses reflectivity. You can pull it out and remove every thing and spray the inside with chrome or aluminum spray paint (Testors brand I think) for plastic models. You can remove the blue plastic bulb covers and replace the bulbs with colored replacement bulbs available at most auto parts. I.e. #194G for green.
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