light burnt out to light up gauges???

[thebrown83]

I think I have a light burnt out behind my guage cluster, because when I turn my headlights on at night, only the right side of my speedometer and my fuel gage lights up. All the guages on the left are dark. Do I have a light burnt out somewhere and If I do how do I fix it or get to it? What do I have to take apart on the dash?

[xtreme80]

First take off the black dash bezel. There are what 6 or 7 screws holding it in. Once that's off you would need to take off the clear plastic cover, which is held on by 5 or 6 screws. Then I believe the guages themselves come out as well, but I'm not positive. At least you got a starting point now. It's fairly simple, and you should see it once you get back there.

[tyjoja]

seems like you should be able to get to them from underneath, lot of stuff going on here but I think you can. look back at last weeks thread on releasing the speedometer cable, there were some good pics of the back of the cluster. theres about 8 or 9 light bulb sockets, you just turn them 90 degrees counterclockwise and the bulb pulls straight out. lol (lots of luck)bob

[killthewabbit]

I changed all the lights on mine last year. It's really not too difficult. I didn't remove my speedometer. You can loosen it without pulling it out all the way and still be able to get to the bulbs. Just be sure you get quite a few bulbs. May as well replace them all while you're doing it.

[old Rusty C10]

the light bulbs are in these twist out and in things usually if you take the dash bezel off and move the radio or if youre skinny you can reach from underneath and change the bulbs its not hard
the only problem is iif after you change out the bulbs you still have no lights you may have to remove the cluster and change out the plastic panel on the back. Ill try to get into my basement and see if i can post some pics later to make this clearer later

[68GMC454]

if you decied to clean the gauges while you have it apart, do not use windex,,, does a number on the colors...dont ask me how i found this out

[jokersbowtie]

if you take the dash apart, under the clear plastic cover there is another plastic part with a blue back. Get yourself some chrome spray paint and paint the blue it will help reflect the light to the gauges.

[BLE 'BURBAN]

Originally Posted by jokersbowtie

if you take the dash apart, under the clear plastic cover there is another plastic part with a blue back. Get yourself some chrome spray paint and paint the blue it will help reflect the light to the gauges.

Gloss white works better.

[thebrown83]

I have read what all you guys have said and I thank you for the help. The only thing I am not sure about is when I get this far (first pic), can I just reach up behind there and change the bulbs, or do I need to take it apart more? Also is what I have circled in the second pic the bulbs I need to change? And sorry for lots of noob questions, but what kind of bulbs are these and where do I get new ones at? note: these pictures are not mine and I got them from a different thread.

[jokersbowtie]

yes that is what you need to change.

the autoparts store will know what you need or just take one with you




Gloss white??? hmmm might need to re do mine

[impala_631]

i just put my cluster in and its really dim, i think i might pull it out and hit it with some chrome or white paint and see what happens

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by impala_631

i just put my cluster in and its really dim, i think i might pull it out and hit it with some chrome or white paint and see what happens

Most of the cluster are white inside. If you use bright silver or "chrome" paint the light will disperse much more evenly and will be brighter as well.

Here's a good article on the subject-Link

[impala_631]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Most of the cluster are white inside. If you use bright silver or "chrome" paint the light will disperse much more evenly and will be brighter as well.

Here's a good article on the subject-Link

kool good info

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by impala_631

kool good info

No prob bro. Gotta remember the number for the brighter bulbs. Hmm, where did I put that...BRB.

[shpark]

Part #'s at Autozone are 168 or 194, I am unsure which are brighter though! I found I had to play with the contacts in those quarter turn sockets, they wouldn't contact the printed circuit well enough to stop flickering. I give em a shot of sandpaper too, to take off any corrosion.

[boxrodz]

Yeah, the bulbs for the instrument cluster take the wedge-style bulbs. The stock is the 194s. But, the 168s are brighter at 5 watts versus 3.5 watts. (Although, you'll be drawing a bit more current through the wiring and laminated printed circuit using the 168s.) You can usually get the bulb holders at the HELP section of your local auto parts chain store.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by boxrodz

....The stock is the 194s. But, the 168s are brighter at 5 watts versus 3.5 watts......

That's what I was looking for. 168's are the ticket...

[us111]

also remember if you have an automatic tranny be SURE and disconnect the little wire for your shift indicator from the right hand side of sterring colum or you will break it..

[Big_Black]

...Good info guys...that's the coolest thing, how everybody can come together to help everybody out...
Anyways, a few years back, and I don't know if it was on this site or somewhere else, but there was an site on instructions on installing LEDs to make your instrument cluster more brighter. Does anybody have these instructions or have a link to that site?
Thanks,

Jesse

[marvxyz1]

Whenever you are working with the gauges, be very careful with the gauge needles, they are old and will crumble in your fingertips. I've found out the hard way.... marvxyz1

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Big_Black

...... Anyways, a few years back, and I don't know if it was on this site or somewhere else, but there was an site on instructions on installing LEDs to make your instrument cluster more brighter. Does anybody have these instructions or have a link to that site?
Jesse

I think the article you are talking about was one done by Chevy Chick. It is referenced on this page (link) at 73-87.com. Unfortunately the reference is to a page on Chevy Chick's site and it is no longer active.