Dim Dash Lights
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: burlington wi
Dim Dash Lights
Has anyone experienced dim dash lights? I've replaced all the bulbs for the speedo & tach area (like 9 of them) and still with the dash light switch rolled all the way counter clockwise (just before the dome light comes on) the dash lights are not very bright at all.
Any ideas????
"78" coupe
Jim
Any ideas????
"78" coupe
Jim
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 76
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From: burlington wi
I did replace them all to no avail. But I did notice when it was dismantled, that the gap that allows the light to come around to the gage faces are very thin. The light does not actually come through the faces as they are solid, the light comes around the face edges from behind. I hope I explained that well, but I wonder if it would be possible to widen that gap allowing more light to pertrude to the face???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
couple things to check/verify.
1 you have the correct lightbulbs
2 put 12v and ground straight to the bulbs, see if they brighten
3 Put a jumper around the dimmer for the dash
4 get different bulbs (brighter)
5 check out the reflective paint on the insturements, it may have degraded and can be redone.
1 you have the correct lightbulbs
2 put 12v and ground straight to the bulbs, see if they brighten
3 Put a jumper around the dimmer for the dash
4 get different bulbs (brighter)
5 check out the reflective paint on the insturements, it may have degraded and can be redone.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: TAMPA FL
Just finished 3 yr resto on a 73. All new wiring, bulbs, fuses guages rebuilt if needed. Mine a dimmer than I like, I havn,t addressed the issue yet. I have thought about trying to replace with a higher watt bulb.
Dennis
Dennis
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
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From: Aurora Ontario
The dimmer works on a coil/contact system. Not sure if you have ever seen it. The headlight switch is actually two parts. The power actually runs through that coil on route to the dash lights. Problem could be with dirt on the contact. Or as that coil burns out it gets thinner carrying less current. Or it could be the internal part of the dimmer switch being gummed up or starting to fail. You should measure the voltage at dim and at full counter clock wise. At full you should be getting full voltage to the lights.
Jim
Jim
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
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From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Same here, though my bulbs are all new. I think it's design. These days we are used to driving cars with an LED-lit dash which offers much more lighting and lots of other bennies.
On my car I can read the speedo and tach, enough to be able to see them fine while driveing ... but the display is certainly WAYY too dim for me to read the odometer, for instance.
On my car I can read the speedo and tach, enough to be able to see them fine while driveing ... but the display is certainly WAYY too dim for me to read the odometer, for instance.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
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From: Palm Springs, CA.
Originally Posted by jdp6000
The dimmer works on a coil/contact system. Not sure if you have ever seen it. The headlight switch is actually two parts. The power actually runs through that coil on route to the dash lights. Problem could be with dirt on the contact. Or as that coil burns out it gets thinner carrying less current. Or it could be the internal part of the dimmer switch being gummed up or starting to fail. You should measure the voltage at dim and at full counter clock wise. At full you should be getting full voltage to the lights.
Jim
Jim
Your rheostat may not be working properly any more. New headlight switch is not that much dough and pretty easy to install.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2006
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From: burlington wi
headlight switch, thanks guys. I see the spring like coil that works the dimmer, must had just been worn out. Way better, not as bright as the new cars, but a dramatic improvement.
Jim
Jim
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 500
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia PA
I had the same problem. I took the dash apart and checked the grounds, tightness of the bulbs and the bulb receptacles, which are self grounding when you snap them into the dash display. An improperly seated/snapped in bulb socket caused my dimness.
Last edited by Highhat; Jun 21, 2006 at 11:41 PM.
