Gauge Cluster Overhaul

OGMB2K

This is my sad sad gauge cluster .. Is this how they light up? Or am I chasing yet another rabbit down a hole?

As it has been mentioned here before, a very generous member has provided me with donor clusters so I can begin to work on custom face plates. In the meantime, can one of you post pics of your lighted clusters? Or is this as good as it gets .. lol

Thank you

MazdaMitch

You can replace the bulbs with LED lights and it makes it look better and they are still dimmable.

Cluster Led Bulb Replacement.
T10 (194) are the larger ones.
https://amzn.to/3nBAd0n
T5 are the smaller ones.
https://amzn.to/35LVI8z

OGMB2K

MazdaMitch That's a great starting point for me ...

Therefore, either all my bulbs are bad, there is a bad fuse, or I'm down another rabbit hole .. lol
Because from my photo, my gauge almost looks like it lights from the front. Now I am pleading ignorance here, i was just doing a safety check that night and considering all the other rigs I have found so far, I would not put it past the previous owner to have put a cheap LED strip under the face plate to light up the gauge face ..

Thank you for the pics ..

Axel-Breaker-Earl

OGMB2K

That does look like the gauge face has been lit up.

Here is my 4x4 B2600i truck gauges.....

OGMB2K

Mitch, since you have upgraded your bulbs have you noticed any spots that are brighter than others? We are talking about 80's tech here, I'm trying to figure out what effects colored gels or diffused light would have in softening or balancing the lighting so you do not get bright spots in these custom ones I will be designing.

lizardkingjr

Are there any bulbs that shouldn't be replaced with LED? I remember this being a topic on the old site.

MazdaMitch

lizardkingjr yes the alternator or charger indicator, it has to be the standard bulb or it will affect charging believe it or not.

Also if you replace the high beam with LED it will be awfully bright at night.