Instrument lights are not bright
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 9,662
Likes: 7
From: Semper ubi, sub ubi
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Instrument lights are not bright (ALIEN)
I don't know what year model you have, but it could be that the rheostat portion on your headlight **** is not functioning. Normally you can adjust the brightness by twisting the headlight **** to the right. Then dim them by turning the **** to the left.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,482
Likes: 27
From: Plum Boro, Pa. USA Pennsylvania
Re: Instrument lights are not bright (Ben Taylor)
I've posted this a coupla times in the past: my '62's dash lights hadn't lit up for 10 or 15 years; friends said "rheostat", "switch", etc. Early last year, I got out a can of "LPS-2" (like WD-40) that had the thin, red plastic tube that fits into the nozzle. I pulled the switch all the way back (headlights), and there's a square opening next to where the switch rod slides in. I gave it a few shots, pushed the switch in, twisted it left-to-right, right-to-left a buncha times. I repeated this 3 or 4 times, a coupla days in a row. Coming home from a Cruise, with headlights on - all of a sudden, a faint glow from the dashboard...WTF?: almost ran off the road!! Came home, gave it more squirts, more twists...and now the dash lights up perfectly. One downside: now passenger/wife Donna can glance over from her seat and see how quick I'm driving - DAYAM!! - NEVER had THAT problem when lights didn't work.
Try it...whaddya have to lose...LPS-1, 2, 3 are labeled to "displace water, lubricate, etc." Lemme know if it works for you.
Cruz
Try it...whaddya have to lose...LPS-1, 2, 3 are labeled to "displace water, lubricate, etc." Lemme know if it works for you.
Cruz
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,310
Likes: 1
Re: Instrument lights are not bright (Smokehouse69)
Are all instruments lit equally poorly? I knocked one of the tach bulbs out and with one less bulb, it's pretty dark over there compared to the speedo. Maybe you've got a bulb or two out.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Re: Instrument lights are not bright (ALIEN)
I changed all the instrument bulbs, no difference. Went to Radio Shack and bought a spray can of Contact Cleaner. Sprayed it all over the reostat switch, turned and turned. Lots of dirty crap came out, used it again. Now they are brighter. It took some work but it may be just easier not to drive in the dark......
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,147
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: Instrument lights are not bright (ALIEN)
I am starting to think this is just the nature of the beast. On both of my 73s the tach speedo are okay but the center console guages are dim and the HVAC controls in the console have next to no light (can see that there is a light but cannot read anything).
Replaced the light switch so a dirty rheostat is not an issue.
tom...
Replaced the light switch so a dirty rheostat is not an issue.
tom...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Re: Instrument lights are not bright (Tom73)
Just a thought - I had found that the first owner had replaced some of the bulbs with the incorrect wattage. I replaced all with 1895's.
