Brightening up my gauge cluster
#1
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Brightening up my gauge cluster
Kind of random but my gauge cluster (speedo, tach, etc behind the steering wheel) isn't very bright. It's visible and everything, I have no trouble reading any of it, I was just wondering about brightening it up. Would a new set of bulbs help? Maybe the old ones have gone a bit dim? Or can I get a higher wattage? Or maybe LED or something?
I don't wanna get those eBay indiglo things or anything, just looking to brighten it up a bit. It looks way dim compared to newer cars. (Like my friend's new A4 Jetta or my sister's protege.)
(And before anyone states the obvious... yeah I have the dimmer all the way up. :P )
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
I don't wanna get those eBay indiglo things or anything, just looking to brighten it up a bit. It looks way dim compared to newer cars. (Like my friend's new A4 Jetta or my sister's protege.)
(And before anyone states the obvious... yeah I have the dimmer all the way up. :P )
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
#5
As he stated before his dimmer is all the way up. Ive seen a write up on LEDs but never seen how they look. I would think thats the way to go. I did something similar on my old SE-R and it looked awsome.
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Yes, as mentioned in the first post, the dimmer **** works fine.
Hmm... I'll search around on google and the boards here. I may be able to grab a pic of the brightness sometime later tonight. Like I said before, there's nothing wrong with it, per se... it's just kinda dim and dreary and ... "OLD" looking.
Thanks,
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
Hmm... I'll search around on google and the boards here. I may be able to grab a pic of the brightness sometime later tonight. Like I said before, there's nothing wrong with it, per se... it's just kinda dim and dreary and ... "OLD" looking.
Thanks,
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
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Originally Posted by Turbo II-FB
replace it with white LED's
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#11
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Originally Posted by eatmyclutch
ooooh JEBUS SAVE ME JEBUS!!!
What was that in reference to?
the orange color is made into the gauges, you should be fine
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Originally Posted by RotaryX
Where in Dallas are you? I'm in fort worth. I would be interested in seeing how this works out for you. I will probably do the same thing.
(Also note, I don't have spare change to dump into LED lights at the moment. All my spare cash is going into a CAI for my baby ASAP. But if you wanna see, I'll keep you updated.)
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
#16
hey im not sure if your electrical system is up to par or not, but you might want to check to make sure you have a good new battery and alt. in there. since i have put an 800 cold cranking amp battery and a reman alt in my car all my gauge lights are working brighter. im probably going to use an fd alt soon, but i would also like to go led soon. so let us know how it turns out. thanks.
Brian
Brian
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New battery and the alt has been checked and said to be in good working condition. Everything else works fine, stereo / amp, as well as the lights on the A/C unit. Here's a picture.
Now, understand the limitations of the camera when viewing this picture, the gauges are more visible in person. But still...
I mean.. it's an 18 year old car.. who knows when those bulbs were last replaced and or cleaned.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up on LEDs at Frys, for some reason I thought they were more expensive.
I just put in LED bulbs for my tails and they look great (and I got 'em for free, friend didn't want 'em anymore.) they look more clear and bright. I like. ^_^
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
Now, understand the limitations of the camera when viewing this picture, the gauges are more visible in person. But still...
I mean.. it's an 18 year old car.. who knows when those bulbs were last replaced and or cleaned.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up on LEDs at Frys, for some reason I thought they were more expensive.
I just put in LED bulbs for my tails and they look great (and I got 'em for free, friend didn't want 'em anymore.) they look more clear and bright. I like. ^_^
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
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its doubtful that everysingel bulb is dirty/dim at the same time is your int. lighting system getting enough juice? you said you batt and alt are fine, maybe its a switch?
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Originally Posted by Alex6969
its doubtful that everysingel bulb is dirty/dim at the same time is your int. lighting system getting enough juice? you said you batt and alt are fine, maybe its a switch?
I'm just gonna replace those bulbs with LEDs when I can.
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#22
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Oh and for the sake of not opening a new thread, here's a little question...
My hazard light button doesn't stay in, I have to hold it. What's up? Is it just broken or not installed / secured properly?
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
My hazard light button doesn't stay in, I have to hold it. What's up? Is it just broken or not installed / secured properly?
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
#23
From the looks of it, it looks like you have a few bulbs out. OH I want the toolbox, I be by later tonight to pick it up.
Originally Posted by iSP33D-for-J3SUS
New battery and the alt has been checked and said to be in good working condition. Everything else works fine, stereo / amp, as well as the lights on the A/C unit. Here's a picture.
Now, understand the limitations of the camera when viewing this picture, the gauges are more visible in person. But still...
I mean.. it's an 18 year old car.. who knows when those bulbs were last replaced and or cleaned.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up on LEDs at Frys, for some reason I thought they were more expensive.
I just put in LED bulbs for my tails and they look great (and I got 'em for free, friend didn't want 'em anymore.) they look more clear and bright. I like. ^_^
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
Now, understand the limitations of the camera when viewing this picture, the gauges are more visible in person. But still...
I mean.. it's an 18 year old car.. who knows when those bulbs were last replaced and or cleaned.
Anyway, thanks for the heads up on LEDs at Frys, for some reason I thought they were more expensive.
I just put in LED bulbs for my tails and they look great (and I got 'em for free, friend didn't want 'em anymore.) they look more clear and bright. I like. ^_^
iSP33D-for-J3SUS
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Originally Posted by Karack
it does look like you have a few burnt out bulbs
The tach is well lit up though... well... more than anything else.
iSP33D-for-J3SUS