I have a 79 and my cluster lights seem to be very dim from what I'm used to on all my other cars. The dimmer appears to be in working order, but at full on it still seems half the brightness it should be.

 

- dimmer going south?
-some of the bulbs out (are there darker areas in the cluster?)
- original bulbs just fading away?
- dust? (pretty tightly sealed in there, so can't imagine)

Cluster actually pretty easy to pull - check Archive for how-too - some have advocated using LEDs - could be brighter? Certainly less heat, very long life....

Stu Aull
80G
Alaska

 

The bulbs "plate up" on the inside over time; metal slowly boils off of the filaments and ends up on the inside of the bulb glass, blocking the light.

First time I yanked a couple of mine, they looked chromed on the inside. Changing them out made a big difference.

You can replace the cluster bulbs on most years without pulling the cluster; there's a good photo of the back of a cluster floating around here somewhere, and one in the FSM. Bulbs are in twist-off black carriers, and with some squirming you can get to them from under the dash. Pulling the front seat helps (only 4 bolts).

 

IHMO its easier to pull the cluster. Just disconnect the speedo, unscrew the two screws for the surround and unsnap it from the front of the cluster and then undo the two screws at the top and the hidden ones in the bottom that you access laying upside down. Then undo the two plugs and slide it out. Don't even have to muck with the steering wheel surround if your careful. Other than the laying upside down part theres a lot less squirming involved this way.

 

Maybe my car was a special case, but it took me forever to get my (79, 130mph) cluster to stop rattling after I first installed it. I'll go thru a lot of squirming to avoid upsetting it.

YMMV, of course. Maybe mine's just cranky.

 

OK, glad this thread has started. My bulbs are dim also. They all seem to be working, but dim. Also my dimmer makes no difference. It has the same brightness turned either direction. I figured my dimmer switch was shot. Anyone have any experience with the dimmer going south??

 

Take it apart and clean the contacts ^

I can remove the cluster and swap the bulbs no problem. I just didn't know if it was normal to be dull looking. You can barely see the red needles at all. It looks like my FC clusters with the dimmer all the way down. It hasn't been high on my "to do" list so I just haven't gotten around to it.

Do they use the same bulbs as the FC? I have a billion of those little bulbs from all my FC parts I've accumulated over the years.

I also need to get off my lazy **** and aim the headlights! They're pointed straight down...