Dash lights

[Spencer2362]

Hi everyone so I recently purchased a 97 eclipse gs-t and the back lights are very dim behind the guages. I ordered some small light bulbs that were recommend and I replaced them all but the lighting is even worse now. I didn't replace the big bulb. But I was wondering if anyone can advise me if I need to replace it I can see the light around the outside of the guages but I can't see the actual numbers.

 

[RidleyNoah]

Have you tried adjusting the dimmer switch?

 

[Spencer2362]

Have you tried adjusting the dimmer switch?

Ya I did I have it all the way up

 

[RidleyNoah]

Thought I should ask. Unfortunately, I'm not sure otherwise but did you turn on and check the bulbs when you had the cluster out?

 

[Spencer2362]

Thought I should ask. Unfortunately, I'm not sure otherwise but did you turn on and check the bulbs when you had the cluster out?

I didn't

 

[RidleyNoah]

I'm sure there is somebody a lot more knowledgeable on here that might have some ideas but I would at least check them with the cluster out to make sure they're all working and check brightness.

You could also check voltage at the sockets and see if you have low voltage.

That's about the extent of my electrical knowledge

 

[Spencer2362]

I'm sure there is somebody a lot more knowledgeable on here that might have some ideas but I would at least check them with the cluster out to make sure they're all working and check brightness.

You could also check voltage at the sockets and see if you have low voltage.

That's about the extent of my electrical knowledge

Thank you I will try that

 

[RidleyNoah]

If you have a volt meter you should have 12 volts at the socket with the dimmer switch all the way up and I think about 3.5 volts with it turned down to the lowest position. That would give you an idea if it could be a bad dimmer switch.

 

[PlanZero]

Do you still have the stock alternator?

 

[Spencer2362]

Do you still have the stock alternator?

Yes the car is bone stock

 

[PlanZero]

When you choose to upgrade to a 90 amp your lights will brighten.

 

[joejoe]

I would start with Noahs advise... those lights should be bright with just a good battery and engine not running. also I recently upgraded to led bulbs in my truck the dash is too bright now haha. is the cluster stock or does it have an aftermarket insert? those can be junk and completely dim the cluster.

 

[Spencer2362]

I would start with Noahs advise... those lights should be bright with just a good battery and engine not running. also I recently upgraded to led bulbs in my truck the dash is too bright now haha. is the cluster stock or does it have an aftermarket insert? those can be junk and completely dim the cluster.

Its a stock cluster, and I put led's in so I thought they would be really bright.

 

[joejoe]

Do any of your warning lights stay on while car is running like the brake ,cel, battery light?

 

[Spencer2362]

Do any of your warning lights stay on while car is running like the brake ,cel, battery light?

No everything checks out

 

[joejoe]

I guess it could be the rheostat (dimmer switch) if your 100% you battery and alternator are good... that switch would be the next place I look at. Usually when the switch goes bad the lights shut off completely... though I have heard of them staying bright and not dimming. You replaced all main bulbs but 1 correct?

 

[Spencer2362]

I guess it could be the rheostat (dimmer switch) if your 100% you battery and alternator are good... that switch would be the next place I look at. Usually when the switch goes bad the lights shut off completely... though I have heard of them staying bright and not dimming. You replaced all main bulbs but 1 correct?

Yes I replaced all main bulbs but the larger one. The boost fuel and temp guages light fine but just not the speedo and tach

 

[joejoe]

The larger is just the high beam bulb. You have me stumped on this one. 2 gauges are fine but speedo and teach are not... if you haven't checked the lights while the cluster is out... you should do that as Noah previously stated. I will keep this in my head. Check it with cluster out let me know what the results are and maybe by then I will have thought of something. either way keep me posted. I pop on the forum every day.

 

[spyderdrifter]

Here's a quick way to see if your cluster is the problem, or something in the car itself. In the picture, the 2 contacts I circled are the points to hook up a battery source. This will light up the gauge lights. I don't remember which is positive and negative, but if it doesn't work one way, flip it. That simple. Use a 12 volt source and if they illuminate normal, check out your car's wiring.

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[Spencer2362]

I am terribly confused with this I can tell the leds are working because there is a glow around the edge of the gauges but no light is coming through?

 

[luv2rallye]

LED dash lights are incompatible with the 2g dimmer's internal design. It's not a rheostat like in the 1g. It has circuitry that sends pulses out designed for an incandecent light.

 

[spyderdrifter]

I've had plenty of LEDs in my gauge clusters over the years. I've never had a problem with them not working. I've used the direct plug in polarized LED bulbs and they worked great, but sadly just didn't cover enough space on the gauge faces. Even now, my setup is an LED strip that I have wrapped around everywhere needed that I hooked up to the base of one of the bulb sockets and that runs off of factory wiring. They also dim the way they're supposed to, and function as though it was oem equipment.

 

[joejoe]

Do this and call it a day...
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/gauge-cluster-led-project.271195/

 

[luv2rallye]

Ya if you get the correct direct plug in ones with internal resistors I've heard they have worked. But you must use the correct ones and have the polarity right. It's doubtful you can just replace each incandescent bulb with a raw LED bulb that's not designed for it which was my point. But I'm sure dozens of people will jump on here to say how they did it (which will be good).

 

[pauleyman]

Im in agreement. Possible issue using just any led. I had problems in a lancer with led brake lights (car came with them) cruise would not work as the resistance in the circuit changed so cruise computer thought it was a burned out bulb. Took a lot of searching to find out why cruise didnt work.