Improving dash light brightness? |
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Improving dash light brightness? |
Cuda911 |
Aug 22 2014, 12:21 AM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,489 Joined: 20-May 14 From: Oceanside (N. San Diego County), CA Member No.: 17,376 Region Association: Southern California |
Hey all,
My one (and only) complaint with my 914 is that the dash lights are very faint and very hard to see at night (speedometer, etc.). Someone told me that brighter LED bulbs are available. Is that correct? If so, can someone provide me with: 1. What bulbs? 2. What source to buy them? 3. How many do I need? 4. Are they direct replacements (i.e. no other modifications need to install them) 5. To replace them, do I take out the 5 or so screws on the dash faceplate to access them? Thanks, guys! |
Cuda911 |
Sep 14 2014, 10:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,489 Joined: 20-May 14 From: Oceanside (N. San Diego County), CA Member No.: 17,376 Region Association: Southern California |
OK, finally got around to doing the bulbs today.
A few tips for other newbies: 1. Take out the screws that hold the cluster face plate and pull out the plate. But, you won't be able to pull it out far enough because of the speedometer cable. So, lift the cable off of the clip in the footwell. This will give enough "play" in the cable to let you pull out the face plate far enough to access the back of the gauges. 2. Push each gauge out of the faceplate from behind. 3. OK, a total newbie error, but might as well pass it on... to get the old bulb out, push in and turn. Sheesh, busted the first bulb trying to pull it straight out. Duh! 4. The metal bulb housings ground to the gauge cases, so once you replace a bulb you need to hold the bulb housing against the gauge case to test it. 5. Do not drop a bulb into the housing by accident, or you will have to disconnect everything to get it back out. (Ask how I know) 6. Those spade connectors are brittle. One of them broke, so I had to splice in a new female side Went for a drive tonight to see what difference it made. For the speedometer, makes a very significant improvement. Definitely worth it. For the tachometer, the left side is much brighter. Right side is still pretty dark. I'm wondering if one of the LEDs isn't working, so will take it apart again and check. Left gauge... parking brake warning light is much brighter. Fuel guage is still nearly unreadable at night (I think that has one of the tiny bulbs that is not the type that can be replaced with LED... I forgot.. Here's some pics and two videos. The first shows the OEM turn signal bulb, and the second shows it replaced with an LED. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSvEb_r7BXo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IphOdeOVTc Attached image(s) |
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