84-88 Dash/Heater Lights TUT

[jimbo74]

so, now its back up top so i dont need to search for it... easy clicking

you could bookmark it

[THK Matt]

so, now its back up top so i dont need to search for it... easy clicking

whatever works

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

bump for what? i still havent figured out my stupid dimmer switch... but i am not trying very hard

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

[Doof]

you could bookmark it

could but didnt...

[pyrosnow911]

that blue looks so sick!! i just bought some

[jimbo74]

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]

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..

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-]

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]

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-]

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

[pyrosnow911]

they are leds

[-Matt-]

k thanks

[THK Matt]

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

[Hawk Thor]

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]

LOl the blue is actually really nice

[herpestes]

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]

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

[MC387]

Does the dimmer still work with the LEDs? 

[THK Matt]

yes it does

[jimbo74]

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]

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]

Its a 194 for the Cluster

and a 74 I believe for the heater controls.

[yotaismygame]

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]

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]

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