Hi Beam dash indicator
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Fayetteville, AR
Hi Beam dash indicator
I'm replacing the bulbs in my gauge cluster and all looks well except light won't shine through the hi beam filter. Instead of having a red filter like the brake indicator has it seems to be completely opaque.
If i shine a flashlight through the cluster, the brake indicator is red, turn signals are green and hi beam is black.
It's like it just has black filter that say 'Hi Beams'
If i shine a flashlight through the cluster, the brake indicator is red, turn signals are green and hi beam is black.
It's like it just has black filter that say 'Hi Beams'
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Fayetteville, AR
I have the gauge cluster out of the truck and I cleaned all the filters, and shined an LED flashlight behind it in a dark roomand it doesn't even penetrate.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
The Brake warning lamp on the 1973-1974, some 1975s etc, is where the fasten belt light is on the later ones. The one's with the fasten belt lamp, had the high beam indicator moved to the Speedometer.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
EDIT: Saw your last post after typing the following....
Did you split the Front half of the cluster apart, from the back and see if there isn't something blocking it? Like a piece of black electrical tape perhaps? Seen stranger things... The Front and back are held together with 1/4 bolt headed screws.
Other than that, the only thing that would fix it would be a new lense, and the whole front half would have to be replaced to get it. And since that cluster front is only for a couple of years, replacements are going to be very hard to get, as they are not made aftermarket, and getting another used one is no guarentee.
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Pull the lens out. it should just be a thin translucent peice of plastic, i'll bet there is something blocking the light, like dirt or as said before electic tape. some times previous owners do stupid things...
NOTE TO ALL PREVIOUS OWNERS: STOP IT!!!
NOTE TO ALL PREVIOUS OWNERS: STOP IT!!!
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Fayetteville, AR
If I light the hi beam lens from behind with a flashlight, it still stays black.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
It's Red. But it's more opaque than the Brake light by design. The Brake warning lamp will blind you at night etc... The high beam lamp is about half as bright, but you should still see it Light up, especially as dark as that is...
I'm wondering if heat from the bulb and age hasn't caused this? The high beam lamp getting alot more use than any of the others.
I'm wondering if heat from the bulb and age hasn't caused this? The high beam lamp getting alot more use than any of the others.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
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From: Fayetteville, AR
That's what I'm starting to think. I shined my LED pocket Mag-light behind it (which would be way brighter than any dash bulb), and in a pitch black room, I can see a tiny bit of red from the other side of the lens. There is no way it would show up with a bulb in the dash though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
Just an Idea, may or may not work...
I wonder if you couldn't take some fine 1000 grit sandpaper or something and try removing some layers of plastic from behind the lense to make it thinner for more light to shine through it? This might also remove any oxidation the plastic lens may have.
Only other thing I can think of to try and fix it, without replacing the lens.
I wonder if you couldn't take some fine 1000 grit sandpaper or something and try removing some layers of plastic from behind the lense to make it thinner for more light to shine through it? This might also remove any oxidation the plastic lens may have.
Only other thing I can think of to try and fix it, without replacing the lens.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 152
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From: Fayetteville, AR
Just an Idea, may or may not work...
I wonder if you couldn't take some fine 1000 grit sandpaper or something and try removing some layers of plastic from behind the lense to make it thinner for more light to shine through it? This might also remove any oxidation the plastic lens may have.
Only other thing I can think of to try and fix it, without replacing the lens.
I wonder if you couldn't take some fine 1000 grit sandpaper or something and try removing some layers of plastic from behind the lense to make it thinner for more light to shine through it? This might also remove any oxidation the plastic lens may have.
Only other thing I can think of to try and fix it, without replacing the lens.