’90 dash light?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA.
’90 dash light?
After tinting the windows on my ’90 coupe I had trouble seeing my speedo during the day. I’m thinking that the ambient light inside the car had been reduced causing the dash back lighting to be reduced. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Do not have tinted glass on my 90 however my display was difficult to read, probably sun faded.
I installed polarization film on the display & it brought it back to life.
http://www.polarization.com/polarshop/
If you would like to try the film I have enough left over material to do another car. PM your mailing addy & I'll send it NC.
While the cluster was out I cleaned all the bulbs & removed the aggravating 1-4 shift bulb, the change oil bulb & the shift bulb.
I installed polarization film on the display & it brought it back to life.
http://www.polarization.com/polarshop/
If you would like to try the film I have enough left over material to do another car. PM your mailing addy & I'll send it NC.
While the cluster was out I cleaned all the bulbs & removed the aggravating 1-4 shift bulb, the change oil bulb & the shift bulb.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA.
Churchkey - Pm will be sent in a minute, Thanks
Sweet90 My car is not an export model, but good thought. There is an ambient light sensor on the dash just above the inst/ave button. If you put your finger over this sensor you will see my problem.
Sweet90 My car is not an export model, but good thought. There is an ambient light sensor on the dash just above the inst/ave button. If you put your finger over this sensor you will see my problem.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA.
Yes it does. Part of my problem is old eyes, nothing I can do about that. It dims enough to get my attention during the day. Last Wednesday evening I was coming home about sunset and the dash went out. It was about 90 degrees out so windows were closed and AC on. I could have brought the dash back up by turning the headlights on. But thought there must be a better way. I don't like the headlights up unless I need them 
(speed brakes).
(speed brakes).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,030
Likes: 10
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Yes it does. Part of my problem is old eyes, nothing I can do about that. It dims enough to get my attention during the day. Last Wednesday evening I was coming home about sunset and the dash went out. It was about 90 degrees out so windows were closed and AC on. I could have brought the dash back up by turning the headlights on. But thought there must be a better way. I don't like the headlights up unless I need them (speed brakes).
(speed brakes).
Maybe you just need a passenger to shine a flashlight on the sensor while driving.
Hope Churchkey's solution works for you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA.
I recently read about polarizing film on the earlier "star wars" dash to correct problems but nothing about our dash. I hope it helps. Unfortunately I don't always have a passenger it hold the flashlight!. I have another idea that I will try as well. I will put a resistor in parallel with the sensor, This should lock the minimum dash light intensity. We shall see.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA.
I tried paralleling the ambient light sensor with a 42K resistor (found in the junk box). I haven't had the car out at twilight yet but I think the results will be positive. During the day with sunglasses on the speedo was much easier to read. Snail mail is so slow, I'm waiting for the package from Churchkey More commentary when his contribution to this experiment arrives.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
why not solder some clips onto a potentiometer (radio shack) and fool with it a bit until you get the right response then measure the pot to see what resister you'll need?
3 bux and you wont have to buy a bunch of resistors and change them out.
3 bux and you wont have to buy a bunch of resistors and change them out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento CA.
We sure do get a bunch of junk don't we. They can keep the bills and the junk! just send the good stuff. Mail here is normally about 3 PM, it will probably be here this afternoon. Did you cover the whole panel or just the speedo area? Thanks again, I'll let you know how it works.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
Covered the entire orange screen with the film. The fuel gauge bars are now distinct as well as the avg mpg/reserve readout & can now be read when wearing sun glasses. My eyes have also been around for a long time.
If any ?? on the install pm here, call or use the email addy I included with the brief install instructions.
If any ?? on the install pm here, call or use the email addy I included with the brief install instructions.
