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> Improving dash light brightness?
Cuda911
post Aug 22 2014, 12:21 AM
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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!
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bluhun
post Aug 22 2014, 12:46 AM
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QUOTE(Cuda911 @ Aug 21 2014, 11:21 PM) *

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!


The bulbs, designation BA7s-W, can be obtained from superbrightleds.com http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/ba9s-ba7s/

I bought a pack of 15, which is plenty to replace all of the incandescent bulbs in the
instrument cluster. They are direct plug-ins. Their is no need to remove any screws. Just pull the gauges directly out from the instrument cluster, remove the light receptacles from the rear of the gauges, remove the incandescent bulbs and replace with the LEDs.

It makes a huge difference in illumination.
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Dave_Darling
post Aug 22 2014, 12:46 AM
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No direct replacements that I know of. You can take the gauges apart and put LED strips inside. You can build a timer circuit to flicker them to make them seem dimer or brighter.

Or, you can:
- Clean all ground connections for the gauge lights
- Clean all power connections from the battery, to the ignition switch, to the headlight switch, to the dimmer, to the lights
- Replace the bulbs with new ones
- Clean the glass in the gauge
- Re-paint the inside of the gauge to reflect the light around better

Each of the above should help a bit. When all done together, you'll have lights that are OK but not super bright.

--DD
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Cuda911
post Aug 22 2014, 12:56 AM
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Interesting... two completely opposite replies regarding the bulbs.

So, to get the gauges out I just pry them?
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bluhun
post Aug 22 2014, 12:58 AM
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QUOTE(Cuda911 @ Aug 21 2014, 11:56 PM) *

Interesting... two completely opposite replies regarding the bulbs.

So, to get the gauges out I just pry them?


Correct, just pry them out.
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Cuda911
post Aug 22 2014, 01:05 AM
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Wow, never would have guessed that. One of my biggest concerns on fixing up this car is that I will take a perfectly good part and screw it up by taking it off incorrectly.

Bluhun, I didn't see a 15-pack option in the link, but those look great!

Cool white or warm white?
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bluhun
post Aug 22 2014, 01:18 AM
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QUOTE(Cuda911 @ Aug 22 2014, 12:05 AM) *

Wow, never would have guessed that. One of my biggest concerns on fixing up this car is that I will take a perfectly good part and screw it up by taking it off incorrectly.

Bluhun, I didn't see a 15-pack option in the link, but those look great!

Cool white or warm white?


Cool white. Just be careful with the gauges. Use your fingernails or a flat-bladed screwdriver to get between the rubber O-ring surrounding the gauge and the instrument cluster. Very gently start prying and then wiggle the gauge out of the cluster.
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Cuda911
post Aug 22 2014, 01:23 AM
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Will do, thanks again!!!
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Tom
post Aug 22 2014, 04:07 AM
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(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) pry out the gages? Why, it only takes 4 screws to remove the whole instrument cluster and keep the wiring from being stretched too much.
Tom
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Cuda911
post Aug 22 2014, 04:11 AM
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Ah, interesting, Tom. I was wondering the same thing. Lots of time the gaskets get stiff with age, so I'm a bit worried that when I press them back in that they won't seal as tightly.

So, if I just take out the four screws, the whole panel will come out and give me access to the bulbs?
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ThePaintedMan
post Aug 22 2014, 07:52 AM
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The easiest, and BEST solution is to PM Tim (timothy_nd28). Have him do your gauges - you will not be disappointed.

Check out his awesome work here:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...5&hl=gauges
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Mike Bellis
post Aug 22 2014, 07:54 AM
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You will need to disconnect the speedo cable to get the cluster out.
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messix
post Aug 22 2014, 07:57 AM
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be very careful of the trip odometer reset cable that goes down to the bottom of the dash.
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dangrouche
post Aug 22 2014, 08:50 AM
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here is the CSOB style, will require several hours of your time

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=219852
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patssle
post Aug 22 2014, 10:58 AM
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QUOTE(bluhun @ Aug 21 2014, 10:46 PM) *


The bulbs, designation BA7s-W, can be obtained from superbrightleds.com http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/ba9s-ba7s/



The website only shows BA7s-x - is that the same thing? Don't see a -W.

Edit: NEVERMIND. X represents color and changes when you select the white.
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bandjoey
post Aug 22 2014, 11:21 AM
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DO NOT !!! Replace the alternator bulb with led. Your alternator will quit charging. Has something to do with how the current gies through the bulb.

I bought the stock led bulbs in blue as a direct plug into the existing sockets. Speedo and Tach have a 50% immediate improvement. Gas gauge is. 25% improvement due to fewer bulbs.

Tim's overhaul is the 150% improvement.
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DRPHIL914
post Aug 22 2014, 01:17 PM
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The late All Garcia did mine and turned out nice. He installed the strips. Similar to what Timothy is doing.
This would be a better picture if I took it at night.


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image Attached Image
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Cuda911
post Aug 22 2014, 01:58 PM
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Wow, some great additional info... thanks, guys!

OK, I will be sure to leave the alternator bulb alone.

I assume that the various red and green lights are just red and green glass or plastic over the bulbs, and the all bulbs are actually clear?

The ones with the whole strip installation thing look fantastic!

The multicolor system in the link to Timothy's thread is absolutely outstanding!!!

I think for now, I will go the cheapest and easiest route, and order some of the bulbs as per bluhun's post.

So, how many bulbs should I expect to find back there?
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timothy_nd28
post Aug 22 2014, 07:17 PM
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I just copycatted ALs work, just because his method was the only one that seemed to brighten these gauges up the most.

Do a search with the LED bulb replacements, many people have mixed feelings with the results.

I have a few threads explaining how to install these LED strips inside the gauges, it's really not that bad of a project just time consuming.

If you take on this project, be sure to paint the inside of the gauge cans flat white, this is the best color to reflect the light. Also, with the tachometer, paint the back end of the bezel that holds the glass flat white. The gauge seems to be the dimmest due to the solid face dial.
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Cevan
post Aug 22 2014, 08:39 PM
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I used this method.

Uses your existing headlight dimmer and no need to open the gauges. Not as bright as a whole strip of LEDs but a vast improvement.
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