Author Topic: 84-88 Dash/Heater Lights TUT (Read 40005 times)

whatever works

I have a digital to use. i think today ill retake pictures for the TUT.

what all have you done? as far as searching for the problem? try and bypass that switch... and see if that helps.

how would i bypass it? its got 2 contacts, but its a rheostat... the gauges wont light without it connected

someone also said check for the grounds, i am going to do that soon as well, i tried taking the switch apart, but i will try again with some sandpaper to clean the contacts some more

THK Matt · « **Reply #35 on:** May 07, 2008, 03:21:33 PM »

Quote from: jimbo74 on May 06, 2008, 08:38:55 PM

how would i bypass it? its got 2 contacts, but its a rheostat... the gauges wont light without it connected

Really? put a jumper on the two wires that hook the contacts on the switch.... see what that does.
thats weird..

Quote from: pyrosnow911 on May 06, 2008, 08:32:39 PM

that blue looks so sick!! i just bought some

Thanks, i think it looks the best to my liking.
Red may look pretty cool too.

-Matt- · « **Reply #36 on:** Jul 10, 2008, 11:37:30 PM »

im curious if the blue leds will do the same thing to the altimeter and tilt gauge cluster... when i first got my truck i bought some blue coated bulbs (halogen) and put them in there and it made it a lot brighter but didn't make it even remotely blue. im curious if its more of the actual led light spectrum thats making it so nice and blue instead of just the "blue looking tint". if someone has tried the blue leds in the cluster let me know

pyrosnow911 · « **Reply #37 on:** Jul 11, 2008, 02:54:33 PM »

i have blue ones in my altimeter and inclometer stuff and its blue in there, its hard to see the orange needle point on the altimiter thogh, i think if you buy the ultra bright 6 mini leds in one led it would be better

-Matt- · « **Reply #38 on:** Jul 11, 2008, 06:53:06 PM »

do u actually have blue leds or are they just colored blue halogens

pyrosnow911 · « **Reply #39 on:** Jul 11, 2008, 07:25:03 PM »

they are leds

-Matt- · « **Reply #40 on:** Jul 11, 2008, 08:53:44 PM »

k thanks

THK Matt · « **Reply #41 on:** Jul 12, 2008, 05:23:34 PM »

the LEDs are what makes it blue... the halogens just make it brighter.

Hawk Thor · « **Reply #42 on:** Dec 07, 2008, 10:26:05 PM »

When I ripped the dash out of my 3rd gen this summer I took a look at the cluster. I noticed that the original bulbs were 3W and someone had removed the green covers. Even with no covers they were pretty dim. I thought about blue or red lights for the gauges, but then I realized that I could not change the color of the switches. So I just bought some 5W bulbs and green covers and put the thing back together. Now I have proper lighting in my gauge cluster.

I also put a cover on the bulb for the heater controls and replaced the bulbs in my hazard switch and foglight switches. I even put green covers on the bulbs in my pyrometer and voltmeter. My GPS also has green backlighting so my dash has a very uniform look to it, and the green does not irritate my eyes at all. Even the 12V charger for my cell phone has a green indicator light.

Too bad my headunit has red lights, I might have to take lighting into consideration the next time I buy a headunit.

THK Matt · « **Reply #43 on:** Dec 07, 2008, 11:09:17 PM »

LOl the blue is actually really nice

herpestes · « **Reply #44 on:** Dec 08, 2008, 04:41:33 PM »

on the dimmer switch not working......check to see that all the bulbs are working had the problem on mine where the dimmer was not working. checked and replaced the bulb for the vent /heater control panel and now working ok.

THK Matt · « **Reply #45 on:** May 31, 2009, 01:45:22 AM »

I will update this as I did the ones in my 90... different setup... easier to do actually.

MC387 · « **Reply #46 on:** Jun 02, 2009, 12:38:22 PM »

Does the dimmer still work with the LEDs?

THK Matt · « **Reply #47 on:** Jun 02, 2009, 01:02:41 PM »

yes it does

jimbo74 · « **Reply #48 on:** Jun 02, 2009, 01:34:05 PM »

i have heard to run the 5 LED SMD bulbs, have seen them in use on the explorer website i belong to, they are a little bit priceier than the ones above used (i used them in mine, and they were cool but suck) but the SMD ones are amazing

beachboy67 · « **Reply #49 on:** Aug 30, 2009, 09:32:21 AM »

i have a 93 toyota pick up and i was wondering if you new what type of bulb do i use for my dash?

THK Matt · « **Reply #50 on:** Aug 30, 2009, 11:19:03 AM »

Its a 194 for the Cluster

and a 74 I believe for the heater controls.

yotaismygame · « **Reply #51 on:** Aug 31, 2009, 12:23:40 AM »

Easy way of getting to the speedo cable is to reach up under the dash by the steering colum and grab it from the back.

THK Matt · « **Reply #52 on:** Aug 31, 2009, 12:29:53 PM »

its really not that hard to grab though.....

pull all the harness plugs from the back of the cluster.... turn the cluster and reach behind it and unplug it. =]
Ive pulled my dashes apart so much i can have mine stripped down to the crossmember in ten minutes

yotaismygame · « **Reply #53 on:** Sep 01, 2009, 07:32:31 PM »

my cluster wont pull out more then a few inches tops, So its hard to get my hand behind it.

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