Brighter Speedometer display?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 139
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Brighter Speedometer display?
I have searched and saw several write ups on how to take it apart, but mine is like really dim and want it brighter. The small **** is on max brightness. Is there any fixture or anything that needs to be soldered, I am not talking about the climate control, but the tach and speedometer panel, thanks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Your Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is NOT lighted by LIGHT BULBS behind the display. The display is painted in DAYGLOW INK and on the LEFT & RIGHT sides of the display are small 4" Black Light Florescent tubes.
The light level can be increased and decreased using the small BUTTON on the LEFT side of the IPC panel.
Press the BUTTON and it will POP OUT. Once it POPs out, you can turn it CW and CCW.
NOTE! If you turn it ALL the way CW, it will click and the interior lights will remain on ALL THE TIME and kill the battery. Just take it out of the click detent for the brightest display without the interior lights staying ON.
If you already know about the dimmer button and have attempted to adjust it with out changing the brightness of the IPC Display, the black light bulbs could be bad or the 12 DC to 700 VAC inverter inside the IPC Cluster could be damaged. They have been known to burn up and QUIT!
If you get down on your knees and look up into the far right side of the cluster display, you can see the aluminum reflector for the florescent bulb and maybe even the black light tube.
Please let us know what you find!!
Please consider posting C5 technical related questions in the C5 TECHNICAL SECTION. I don't usually visit this section but on the spur of the moment took a look and saw your post.
The light level can be increased and decreased using the small BUTTON on the LEFT side of the IPC panel.
Press the BUTTON and it will POP OUT. Once it POPs out, you can turn it CW and CCW.
NOTE! If you turn it ALL the way CW, it will click and the interior lights will remain on ALL THE TIME and kill the battery. Just take it out of the click detent for the brightest display without the interior lights staying ON.
If you already know about the dimmer button and have attempted to adjust it with out changing the brightness of the IPC Display, the black light bulbs could be bad or the 12 DC to 700 VAC inverter inside the IPC Cluster could be damaged. They have been known to burn up and QUIT!
If you get down on your knees and look up into the far right side of the cluster display, you can see the aluminum reflector for the florescent bulb and maybe even the black light tube.
Please let us know what you find!!
Please consider posting C5 technical related questions in the C5 TECHNICAL SECTION. I don't usually visit this section but on the spur of the moment took a look and saw your post.
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jan 6, 2016 at 05:01 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 139
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Thanks for responding Bill, Do I have to remove the center console in order to remove the instrument panel? Does the inst panel have to be removed to access the bulbs for replacement? Thanks Sorry for the questions but new to the C5 electrical. Yes like I stated the lil black **** is on max and the display is not bright enough, just looks like it could use better bulbs or something.
Last edited by corvet786c; Jan 6, 2016 at 05:34 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 739
From: Miami FL
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 139
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Here you have step-by-step directions to pull the IPC.
Bill while we have you here, off topic, The best connection for the starter area, would it be to crimp and heat shrink the connections?
The small black wire had to be spliced and I did do that but wanted to double check with you. I know engine vibrations over time can make connections loose. Thanks
Last edited by corvet786c; Jan 6, 2016 at 06:23 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
A good solid crimp will work as long as its properly sealed... The best way would be western union splice and solder with a heat shrink that has a good sealer in it.
The only light bulbs behind the gage faces are for the INDICATOR LIGHTS . Parking Brake, Check ENGINE, Blinkers, Air bag light, etc...
If the florescent tubes are not working correctly, you are pretty much HOSED. There are ZERO replacement parts and the INVERTER is NOT a replacement part or easily repairable. Some of the electrical parts inside the inverter are NOT marked as in manufacture or part numbers.
Here are a couple post that shows you what is inside the IPC:
- https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...enter-dic.html
- C5 Gage Cluster disassembly - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380674
- C5 Gage Cluster Post - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380878
The only light bulbs behind the gage faces are for the INDICATOR LIGHTS . Parking Brake, Check ENGINE, Blinkers, Air bag light, etc...
If the florescent tubes are not working correctly, you are pretty much HOSED. There are ZERO replacement parts and the INVERTER is NOT a replacement part or easily repairable. Some of the electrical parts inside the inverter are NOT marked as in manufacture or part numbers.
Here are a couple post that shows you what is inside the IPC:
- https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...enter-dic.html
- C5 Gage Cluster disassembly - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380674
- C5 Gage Cluster Post - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380878
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jan 7, 2016 at 04:04 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
A FEW MORE thoughts!
1. Are you sure that the Dimmer Switch its self is working. Does it fully light and properly dim all the other stuff that gets dimmed???
2. Our C5s can have poor connections and that will cause less than optimal voltage at specific areas.
Obtain a Multimeter and find the Fuse for the IPC. Read the two test points on TOP of that fuse to a good chassis ground and see if you have FULL BATTERY VOLTAGE.
1. Are you sure that the Dimmer Switch its self is working. Does it fully light and properly dim all the other stuff that gets dimmed???
2. Our C5s can have poor connections and that will cause less than optimal voltage at specific areas.
Obtain a Multimeter and find the Fuse for the IPC. Read the two test points on TOP of that fuse to a good chassis ground and see if you have FULL BATTERY VOLTAGE.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,415
Likes: 24,798
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Bill - thanks for the helpful info on the instrument cluster lights. Keeping this for future reference.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 376
Likes: 21
From: Coos Bay Oregon
If you are getting low voltage, it may be a bad ground. There's a sticky either on this site (C5 general) or the C5 tech line that will tell you where all the grounding points are located. C5's have a problem with grounds because they are not sealed.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,138
Likes: 139
From: Port St Lucie Florida
A good solid crimp will work as long as its properly sealed... The best way would be western union splice and solder with a heat shrink that has a good sealer in it.
The only light bulbs behind the gage faces are for the INDICATOR LIGHTS . Parking Brake, Check ENGINE, Blinkers, Air bag light, etc...
If the florescent tubes are not working correctly, you are pretty much HOSED. There are ZERO replacement parts and the INVERTER is NOT a replacement part or easily repairable. Some of the electrical parts inside the inverter are NOT marked as in manufacture or part numbers.
Here are a couple post that shows you what is inside the IPC:
- https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...enter-dic.html
- C5 Gage Cluster disassembly - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380674
- C5 Gage Cluster Post - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380878
The only light bulbs behind the gage faces are for the INDICATOR LIGHTS . Parking Brake, Check ENGINE, Blinkers, Air bag light, etc...
If the florescent tubes are not working correctly, you are pretty much HOSED. There are ZERO replacement parts and the INVERTER is NOT a replacement part or easily repairable. Some of the electrical parts inside the inverter are NOT marked as in manufacture or part numbers.
Here are a couple post that shows you what is inside the IPC:
- https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...enter-dic.html
- C5 Gage Cluster disassembly - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380674
- C5 Gage Cluster Post - http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...post1570380878
My battery is new from autozone and I always check it like bill says typically is about 12.6-12.7 with engine off and after driving it a bit, and then after I dont drive it for about 2 days it goes down to 12.4-12.5, is this normal.
Also bill I wanted to ask you I noticed my voltage on the DIC for some wierd reason was reading 13.6 after warm up typically 20 minutes after starting, then one day it was down to 13.3 and stayed there.
I do have a BAP hooked up and finally completed all the wiring and crimped the wires, did not know if the 13.3 was normal. Does the PCM back off on voltage when Alternator has fully charged the battery Thanks again Bill.
Last edited by corvet786c; Jan 8, 2016 at 07:26 AM.