Install new dash lights ?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 188
Likes: 2
From: Flowermound Tx
Install new dash lights ?
While my interior is pretty much removed I was wondering if I should replace my dash light bulbs ... they all work though some are a bit dim. Have you all that have replaced them noticed a difference in brightness ? Kind of hate to remove something that's worked fine for 32 years. Kind of bad car karma for me. What do you think ?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Thanks for your thoughts!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Seattle Wash.
If you're that far along, why not? If one or more should burn out after you reinstall the interior, you'll probably kick yourself for not doing it when you had the interior all apart. Just my .02.
Tony
Tony
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,390
Likes: 2
From: New Castle DE
i would replace them all with new ones then test before putting back together. i know i replaced a couple in the 74 reaching behind the dash with my fat monkey arms and it was a nightmare!!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Dash Light Replacement
Absolutely...replace all of the bulbs. But....be careful taking the sockets out of their "home" position. The metal flange is merely pressed into the plastic housing and it can get separated very easily. Then it's glue them back together or ???? Good luck.
P.S. Nothin' worse than putting the instrument cluster back in and having an "old" bulb wink out two days later!
P.S. Nothin' worse than putting the instrument cluster back in and having an "old" bulb wink out two days later!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 620
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio TX
While you're at it!!
Although the bulbs will gradually and slightly dim over the years, the bigger culprit leading to dim dash lights are all the connections. I would seperate and clean all of the electrical connections you can access, to include the main ones leading to the printed circuit boards. Use a pencil eraser and gently rub the Printed circuit board with it at all the contactl areas. Be careful, they are pretty fragile when they get this old.
For plug connections you can use aerosol electrical contact cleaner but be careful with it. It will melt paint. You can use a toothpick to get inside of the connectors. Just rub the copper connector vigorously with the toothpick. You don't want to use a metal scraper, it will scratch the copper, leading to worse corrosion in the future.
Oh, and another thing I did that seemed to brighten my dash. Clean the insides of the cups out. Years of dust and crud accumulate as a film and really diminish the reflective qualities of the coating.
Although the bulbs will gradually and slightly dim over the years, the bigger culprit leading to dim dash lights are all the connections. I would seperate and clean all of the electrical connections you can access, to include the main ones leading to the printed circuit boards. Use a pencil eraser and gently rub the Printed circuit board with it at all the contactl areas. Be careful, they are pretty fragile when they get this old.
For plug connections you can use aerosol electrical contact cleaner but be careful with it. It will melt paint. You can use a toothpick to get inside of the connectors. Just rub the copper connector vigorously with the toothpick. You don't want to use a metal scraper, it will scratch the copper, leading to worse corrosion in the future.
Oh, and another thing I did that seemed to brighten my dash. Clean the insides of the cups out. Years of dust and crud accumulate as a film and really diminish the reflective qualities of the coating.
Last edited by cchristo; May 17, 2006 at 12:38 PM.
