C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Instrument Panel lighting dim

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 7, 2018 | 08:36 PM
  #1  
fastimes's Avatar
fastimes
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 465
From: Henderson, NV
St. Jude Donor '19-'20-'21-'22
Default Instrument Panel lighting dim

Yet another question . . .
My instrument panel lights are very dim. Even with the light switch turned up all of the way, still all very dim. Any ideas are appreciated.

Last edited by fastimes; Nov 7, 2018 at 08:58 PM.
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2018 | 11:36 PM
  #2  
kansas123's Avatar
kansas123
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,824
Likes: 470
From: Wichita Kansas
Default

Well..........I have been told and have experienced the fact that, the instrument and gauge lighting in these cars is, well, not very good/bright especially compared to more modern cars. I finally got tired of the dimness and installed LED lights all around and in the console too. The only thing about that is you cannot dim them with the rheostat on your headlight switch. (I understand there may be some you can install that will dim?) I love the looks of my new lighting, don't care to make them dimmer.

I remember years ago when I first got my '72 being disappointed in the lights and replacing them with new ones, thinking that will help. Not! LED is the way to fix the situation.
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2018 | 11:51 PM
  #3  
fastimes's Avatar
fastimes
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
 
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 465
From: Henderson, NV
St. Jude Donor '19-'20-'21-'22
Default

Thank you. So I guess I'm not experiencing anything out of the ordinary. I am surprised at how dim the lighting is though. Your's look great!
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2018 | 09:43 AM
  #4  
74Ken's Avatar
74Ken
Burning Brakes
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 96
From: Bowmanville Ontario
Default

LED's here too in my 74.
I just made sure I got dimable ones. They don't flow up and down like regular ones but man what a difference.
I couldn't see how fast I was going before changing them.

Depending on what year you have, you may want to change the sockets to a later year, was a bitch getting them back in with the original 74's. Found out afterwards to go with a new year was much more easy installation
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2018 | 11:45 AM
  #5  
69Vett's Avatar
69Vett
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Default

the problem is the poor grounding scheme design of the car.
The gage lights, rely upon the gauge housing being properly grounded to work, for each bulb. ( first verify ALL your gauges, and center console are properly grounded.)
any resistance equals dim lights,
The gnd from the Gauge housing go to the LT hand door frame,/ birdcage. ( this would be second place to check for good gnd. connections in the cabin).
Then Cabin/birdcage ground to Frame, usually not even connected, located about where your left knee would be under the car.
and finally the frame to battery cable. any one of these corroded connections can have resistance. ....you will have dim gauge lights lights.
if you just stick in Leds, they will be dim too.

Last edited by 69Vett; Nov 8, 2018 at 11:46 AM.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Instrument Panel lighting dim





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:00 PM.

story-0
10 Corvettes to Drive Before You Die!

Slideshow: 10 Corvettes to drive before you die.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:31:12


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette & Porsche 911: How Two Icons Conquered the Last 25 Years

Slideshow: Corvette and Porsche 911, how two icons conquered the last 25 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-23 08:18:33


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 First Look: Everything You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Is the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 the best Silverado yet?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-16 08:01:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers

Slideshow: 5 best and 5 worst Corvette daily drivers

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:32:13


VIEW MORE
story-4
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained

Slideshow: The headlights of every Corvette generation explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-15 10:17:14


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 most overrated Corvette track packages ever.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:46:45


VIEW MORE
story-6
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained

Slideshow: Every 2027 Corvette engine explained

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 12:16:31


VIEW MORE
story-7
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette

Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-08 19:53:43


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE