Full-time instrument lighting
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 265
Likes: 5
Full-time instrument lighting
Another thread got me thinking about this. During the day, the dash gauges are nearly useless to me because of my colorblindness. The HUD has indeed been a God-send for me, but it would still be nice to make the gauges useful if possible.
The gauge backlighting creates more contrast which helps immensely. Other than driving with my parking lights on all the time, is there a reasonably straightforward way to make the dash backlighting stay on whenever the ignition is on? The only other alternative of which I am aware is replacing the gauges faces with ones offering more contrast, but I'd much rather stick with stock if I can get the instrument lighting to remain on whenever the car is on. Any ideas how to do this?
The gauge backlighting creates more contrast which helps immensely. Other than driving with my parking lights on all the time, is there a reasonably straightforward way to make the dash backlighting stay on whenever the ignition is on? The only other alternative of which I am aware is replacing the gauges faces with ones offering more contrast, but I'd much rather stick with stock if I can get the instrument lighting to remain on whenever the car is on. Any ideas how to do this?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,520
Likes: 5
From: Long Island NY
I'm pretty sure the only way to do that is to get into the dash and find the wires that control the instrument lighting and rewire it to an always on connection. I don't think the light sensor trick on the dash will work, when I start my car at night the instrument panel is dark till I turn on the headlights or parking lights. The only part that is always on is the MPH/KPH indicator on the speedo.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
There is an ambient light sensor on the top of the dash. I believe it is in the center vent grille on the left side at the left most end. You could try putting a piece of dark paper or some tape over that sensor. That tricks the sensor into thinking it is night out. There are other lighting that will illuminate during the day time if you do that, such as the courtsy lighting when you open the door, map light etc. Easy to try and undo if you don't get the desired results.
Turn on your running lamps problem solved?or push in the button **** on the left and turn on your gauge cluster lights and trunk light but remember to shut them off if you want to start your car in the morning.
this may be more what u want
http://www.pfyc.com/pc/GN2035/C6/LED...e+Cluster.html
http://www.customledservice.com/c5_corvette_prod.html
Last edited by Got uid0; Oct 1, 2012 at 11:16 PM.
