Instrument cluster woes

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GerhardUngerer

Joined
Oct 14, 2020
Threads
63
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Location
Charlotte, NC
I am in the process of replacing the dashboard on my FJ80 and decided to upgrade the instrument cluster bulbs to LED. After I tested it out, the center PRNDL worked for a second, then stopped working. I put the bulbs back in and it just gives a dim glow. Also, the bottom row of indicators doesn't seem to light up when I switch the key on. Going back to bulbs didnt do any good. Did I let the smoke out? Advice?

There used to be a white indicator light that came on right bottom, above the diff lock lights. No more. ???

Is there a way to test the instrument cluster on the bench?

IMG_3126.webp
 
Also make sure the LEDs are all the way seated. Mine were a little tight, and I thought it was "good enough", but could still twist a little more.
 
Thanks. I swapped and shifted. Nada. The PRNDL LEDs are those squat ones. I turned them around and it still didnt work. Then put the original bulbs in there without luck.

Scratching my head a little.
 
Hmm interesting 🤔 the pack came with more bulbs right? Maybe the ones your using blew 🤷🏽‍♂️ or I'm not sure if there is a fuse that controls them. That may have blew
 
Are you testing them with 12v from the battery, or are you using a power supply? LED's have a wider operating range than incandescent but I'm not sure that that would matter in this case. Just spitballing here.

Have you read threads about replacing all dash bulbs with LED? I haven't, but I'm sure that this would be noted if it were a common issue. Personally, I'd think that LED's would be way too bright on the dash panel for my taste unless they played well with the dimmer switch. WHOA! Maybe the dimmer switch isn't compatible with LEDS?
 
Dimmer is working fine with the LEDS that are working. Works REALLY well with the LEDS that are NOT working. HA!
 
JohnVee said:
Are you testing them with 12v from the battery, or are you using a power supply? LED's have a wider operating range than incandescent but I'm not sure that that would matter in this case. Just spitballing here.
Click to expand...
Testing from the battery.
 
JustinJawbreaker said:
Same. Mine did the same thing. Took me pulling the instrument cluster, reseating the LEDs and rotating some for all of it to finally work.
Click to expand...
I did that, but it still doesn't work. The gear selector indicator (PRND2L) now has all bulbs installed and still doesn't work.
 
Prior to posting the cluster back in the dash, because we all know how much of a PITA that is, try attaching a pair of alligator clips to a 9V and the other end to some multimeter tips and go to each light in the dash and verify it works before reinstalling. Just my $0.02.

also...if you picked up some LEDs from Amazon there’s always the chance that a good number of them are garbage. It took some sorting through mine to find the good ones vs. the bad ones.
 
If the bulbs aren't the culprit, you can pin out the PRNDL lights with the connector on the back of the cluster. The FZJ80 EWD will tell you which pin lights up which bulb. Check for conductivity between the connector and the socket, both power and ground for each. That would tell you if the cluster itself is damaged somehow.
 
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