Dash lights are dim

[nelliott500]

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Is this just as bright as they get? The previous owner installed white-face gauges (poorly as you can see from the speedo) but, unless I'm mistaken, they're not blocking any light from getting through. Is this just normal for 1G gauges? Is there anything I can replace the bulbs with to light them up more?

I haven't pulled the cluster yet. When I get a chance, I'm going to pull it so I can fix the speedo overlay so the numbers show up properly.

 

[97ClipseGSX]

There's a dimmer knob to the left of the steering wheel. Are your headlights bright or dim? Could be your alternator is shot and your running your juice off your battery.

 

[nelliott500]

I'm familiar with the dimmer knob.

There's nothing wrong with the alternator either. I've been driving the car for a few weeks. I'm just curious is other 1G cars are dim as well.

 

[1992 Eagle Talon TSi]

Mine are dimmer than my truck, but are a bit brighter than yours. Not by much, it never really bothered me so I never thought much of it.

 

[Bobster66]

24 year old bulbs may be the problem, they do get dimmer with age. All the 1g's I've owned have always had the dimmer switch at max and have never been very bright. If you pull the dash, replace every bulb and post a picture of the difference. Some of us could use the inspiration to do the same.

One other thought, it could be the switch (rheostat) itself. Remember replacing one of those once.

 

[97ClipseGSX]

I'm familiar with the dimmer knob.

There's nothing wrong with the alternator either. I've been driving the car for a few weeks. I'm just curious is other 1G cars are dim as well.

My buddy has a 1g non turbo. His are just as bright as mine in my 2g. Id try what the other guy said replace the bulbs in the unit.

 

[nelliott500]

I'll give that a shot. I'd like to pull the cluster this weekend to take a look at it but we'll see what happens. I have to replace the driver's window in my Prelude because, yesterday, it decided it didn't want to exist anymore and exploded in to lots of pieces.

 

[97ClipseGSX]

Let us know if it fixes the problem. Im sure other people are having the same problem.

 

[V8srslow]

I would make sure the ground is good also.

 

[nelliott500]

If the ground were bad, wouldn't the lights either not work or go in and out?

 

[PXHero]

High resistance and poor grounds can cause current flow issues, in LED's this can prevent them from lighting, but with incandescent lights it may cause a dimming effect since the full +12 isn't flowing through the filament.

Personally, I agree with changing the bulbs. It's the easiest solution to the problem. Next would be replacing the rheostat. Tracing a factory wire to find the "bad spot" could take forever.

My recommendation if the bulb swap and rheostat don't help: determine what wires are the +12 and ground wires for your illumination circuit either in the switch, or at the rheostat, cut them and supply a good +12 and ground source to the corresponding wires.

 

[nelliott500]

Can replacement bulbs be picked up at your typical auto store or are they a special item?

 

[1992 Eagle Talon TSi]

Can replacement bulbs be picked up at your typical auto store or are they a special item?

Yes, typically they are a 168 or 194 bulb. On these cars I actually do not know for sure. Either take it apart and take the bulb with you or ask them to look it up.

 

[nelliott500]

Pulled the cluster out today and played around with it. I replaced all 8 of the 158 (main) bulbs (cost was $4.99/2-pack). It's tough to compare the two pictures because my original was taken at night. This picture today was taken during the day in my garage with the door closed and lights off but there's still light coming through the windows.

Ignore the paper covering the oil pressure sensor location. I did that to block the light out. The last owner was a dipshit and lost the little metal retaining bracket that goes on the back of the gauge to hold it all together. The screws were just sitting in there. I found out when I flipped cluster over and those screws fell out in to the plastic cover. I left the oil pressure gauge out for now until I can figure out what to do to hold it all together. I'm thinking of drilling out the holes a little bigger so I can use a replacement screw/nut but I don't know how well that will work.

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[clipto]

My answer was to replace the bulbs , but looks like you got it. Looks good now and I need to change mine too.

 

[nelliott500]

The biggest difference was lining up the speedo overlay. The last owner was clearly retarded and thought it was "good enough".

Honestly, these gauges aren't even 100% correct. Some of the wording and symbols don't line up properly. I think they're either some knock-off or maybe 91-94 cars are different and that's what these were made from. I don't really know but something's off.