Botched Gauge Cluster LED Upgrade; Now Gauges Don't Work!

[lhommec13]

...Except for the Gas gauge. Strangely (and thankfully), that one does still work, but pretty much all the rest don't, including speedometer, tachometer, odometer. Not only that, but many of the dash lights went out too, including the backlighting altogether. :whoops:

To make a long story short, I took out the cluster to put in the LED's like anthonycds had two years ago, but the bulbs I received were too thin and wouldn't fit tightly in the bulb sockets. So I kept the original bulbs in and put the cluster back. HOWEVER, I initially forgot to screw the rear plastic cover back onto the cluster to protect the electricals, which means some of the wires, transistors, resistors MAY have gotten knocked around when sliding the cluster back into place.

After realizing many of the gauges didn't work, I took the cluster out again to examine for damage but couldn't tell any obvious signs of it. If anything, I guess my question is whether my gauge cluster is fried, or if maybe it's a loose connection with the two seated wiring harnesses that connect into the back of the cluster. One positive sign was when I tried pushing the cluster back into the dash to make connection with the harness and it did show signs of life, but as soon as I took my hand away, it went limp again. Has anyone had a similar experience when taking their gauge cluster out? If it is a loose connection (which I'm leaning towards), how do I fix that? The juxtaposition of the cluster and the wiring harnesses makes it difficult to do or even see what you're doing.

Thanks in advance, Mudders

 

[Mxndrnks]

My guess is something is just disconnected. It happened on mine a few years ago. I just had my shop fix it while they were doing something else for me. So, I cant be much help here....

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Also, don't the bulbs only work in one orientation? You might have to take the bulbs out, turn them 180 degrees and put them back in. I hope it works out. I'm about to do this to mine too.

 

[1loudLX]

your plugs arent plugged in all the way on each side of the cluster. Make a better attempt at securing them and post back that you fixed it

 

[Trunk Monkey]

X2^. I replaced my D bulb, had the same thing. Getting the two eletrical sockets to mate up takes some finesse and bolt tightening.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

I'm having the same problem but I fixed it. Except now all of the LEDs I put in are you not working

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

OH **** me. It's because it doesn't work if you don't have the dimmer dial plugged in. The LEDs do work.

 

[pfran42]

Just so everyone knows, SuperbrightLEDs has the thicker style LED bulbs. I purchased those as well as some samples from eBay and Amazon and both were the thin type.

 

[bamabrock]

Pics?

 

[pfran42]

Pics?

Pics are in the LED Instrument Gauge Cluster/WMDs thread.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Pics?

I only have 1 led bulb in the cluster and you can def tell the difference. I'll take a pic tonight before I install the rest of them.

 

[lhommec13]

Deleted because same message posted twice accidentally.

 

[lhommec13]

Thanks for the suggestions and support, everyone. Along with problems at work, I have been a little stressed out lately! Funny thing is that I came home from a rough day at work with the intention of making this little "upgrade" a stress-relieving activity. Instead, the exact opposite occurred! However, I do believe that it's simply a loose connection causing the gauges to not work. I will tackle the project again this weekend and report back with good news

One small question though...do the bulb sockets only work in one direction regardless of the bulb type? Remember that the LED bulbs I got were too small and I wound up putting the original bulbs back in, but I didn't think the orientation had any effect since the bulbs aren't LED. I guess I'll find out this weekend, but I am a little curious...

 

[pfran42]

LED bulbs are polarity sensitive. Most incandescent bulbs are not.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

LED bulbs are polarity sensitive. Most incandescent bulbs are not.

ugh. I got all of them right except for the two that light up the tach.

In this picture the voltage gauge is lighted with the new LED and the others are still conventional bulbs. It's noticeably white and brighter.

 

[lhommec13]

ugh. I got all of them right except for the two that light up the tach.

In this picture the voltage gauge is lighted with the new LED and the others are still conventional bulbs. It's noticeably white and brighter.

Why did you leave in the old bulbs for the tach instead of just reversing the LED's? I received the right (thicker) batch of LED bulbs this time and went in for the second time and now all the gauges work, as well as the new LED's. Like everyone said, there was a loose connection to the cluster that was causing some gauges to work and others not to. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the upgrade.

 

[KlausVanWinkle]

Why did you leave in the old bulbs for the tach instead of just reversing the LED's? I received the right (thicker) batch of LED bulbs this time and went in for the second time and now all the gauges work, as well as the new LED's. Like everyone said, there was a loose connection to the cluster that was causing some gauges to work and others not to. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with the upgrade.

I didn't. It's all led now. Just the tach ones need to be flipped around. Sick if the hour it takes to take the cluster apart and reassemble.