Dim gauge cluster light fix?

[Blue Ox]

Is there a common solution for dim gauge cluster lights?

I have a 78 FJ40 that is essentially stock and we use it to wheel around the mountains and deserts in Southern California. When driving home after dark, the instruments are so dark that I can barely read them. The dimmer on the headlight switch works and the lamps inside the cluster change from off to brighter, but the lights are so dim at full turn that the instruments can't be read.

Poor ground? Bad dimmer? Is there a modification that improves this?

Thanks in advance for ideas.

Blue Ox

 

[handcannon]

There are some shields around the lights inside the cluster. I removed them and got much better lighting. I found this mod somewhere here on Mud, don't remember where. Try search to see if you can find the pics. Others may know where to find the pics.

Don

 

[myquestoyota]

Read the led light thread. I replaced mine with bulbs from superbrightleds and it works great

 

[Blue Ox]

Cannon,

Thanks for the reply and suggestion.

I have done a few searches and most solutions discuss installing LED bulbs or cutting away the hoods or shields in the cluster. I haven't found the post that details how to do this, and I don't want to start cutting the original cluster and use trial and error if another Mudder has posted a detailed solution.

I figure that the post is in here somewhere and I'll keep looking...

Blue Ox

 

[myquestoyota]

I didn't cut anything, I just replaced the bulbs using trollhole's list. I tried the bulbs from CCOT first and didn't see much improvement. The leds work great, just plug and play.

 

[Blue Ox]

Thanks,

I'll find the list and take a look,

Blue Ox

 

[bsevans]

I removed both the shields and the hoods on the panel light circuit board. It only requires drilling the head of the rivits off and they pop right off. Just do not drill the board itself. I also added the LED lights and my instrument panel has come to life. Heck, I bet the car next to me can see the turn signal by the green flashes on my teeth as I smile everytime I look at the panel and remember how it used to be.

 

[lcwizard]

This also happens when the ground is getting bad. An easy check is strip the ends of a wire, turn the lights on (when it's dark) and reach under the dash and press one end of the wire to the instrument housing
and one to a good ground. I had to string an extra ground to mine

 

[twoturtlesracing]

There is the thread on here about cutting the light gaurds off. I can't find it at the moment however...(If you just take your cluster out, Ithink you'll see what needs to be done, it's pretty self-explanatory)

I put new bulbs in my '75 and then took the guard off on the passenger side. However, instead of taking the drivers side guard clear off, I just made the hole for the light to shine through a little bigger. (otherwise it will bother you're passenger. A dremel tool is your friend here...)

HTH!

 

[twoturtlesracing]

btw, if you search under dim instrument cluster you'll probably find the results you are looking for...

 

[Blue Ox]

Thanks again for all of the suggestions. Once again, the collective wealth of experience on this forum and owners who are willing to share their knowledge makes solving little problems much easier!

Thanks again,

Blue Ox

 

[Spike Strip]

These actually work pretty well. I put them in my dim '75 cluster and much brighter. I'm also gonna try what lcwiz suggested.

Dome Light Bulb

 

[myquestoyota]

When I tried the CCOT bulbs they were like 1.5X brighter maybe. Don't bother, just get the leds. You will thank us. I also went with the led dash light and dome light.

 

[Spike Strip]

Yeah, if I did it again I'd prolly just go straight to LEDs ... But the CCOT bulbs are cheap.

 

[fzr400guy]

When I picked up my 71 FJ40 the bulb on the left side of the gauge cluster was burnt out. I wasn't interested in using a standard replacement bulb since I'm a big fan of led's. I checked out the FAQ thread and got the link to superbrightleds.com. My older gauge cluster uses a standard BA9 bulb so I picked up 2 of these.

1-LED Wide Viewing Angle BA9s LED Bulbs Specifications

I installed them and presto my dash had a nice brilliant white glow.

 

[primer7]

LEDS are the only way to go, I replaced all the bulbs on my 69...so much better and easy.

 

[twoyotas]

there is a thread posted by amurer you should check out:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-seri...ven-mechanical-gauges-into-stock-cluster.html


on page 2 of the thread he has posted pics of his solution in action.

 

[Volcano cruiser]

There are some shields around the lights inside the cluster. I removed them and got much better lighting. I found this mod somewhere here on Mud, don't remember where. Try search to see if you can find the pics. Others may know where to find the pics.

Don

Read the led light thread. I replaced mine with bulbs from superbrightleds and it works great

You can check my build thread for pictures of the "helmet" removal. I also used Trollhole´s list and replaced all of the bulbs in my cruiser with LEDs. Big difference at night. I too tried the better incandescent bulb route and it wasn´t close. Search here is your friend . Look under superbrightleds and the threads should pop up. Trust me this is a very good mod.