Dash Light Brightness...

[BushWakr - RIP]

Is it possible to improve the brightness of the dash lighting? Are there replaceable bulbs that can be upgraded? Will doing so overload the lighting switch/circuit?



Any thoughts?



Thanks,



Bush'

 

[hdm48]

mine were very hard to see also so i went to the mighty napa and got some higher wattage bulbs. now i can see my odometer in the dark without a flashlight. and no, it wont over heat anything.

 

[Midnite]

Cool! I've noticed that my dash lights were looking a little dim recently too. I'm not real crazy about having to take that dash apart though--it looks like a real pain.



Mike

 

[Case500D]

Anyone happen to know the number of the new and improved light bulbs? Right now I can read my Autometer guages better than I can my dash.

 

[Lil' Dog]

If you go to a parts store the will have many of the plug in bulbs with different wattages. I searched around for some when my visor was a little dim for my standards. I also got some red coated ones just for an orange look... LOL... I think that the 192's are the brighters ones if I recall. Just look at the filiment and see which one is thicker-longer...



I haven't got into the dash yet and want to do the same to the tach.



J-eh

 

[CToney]

Dash Lights

I had the same problem with the dash lights on the truck that I just bought. I had some bulbs on hand, 193's and 194's. I put them in and everything sure brightened up. I'm not sure which is brighter, I never payed too close of attention. Taking the dash apart isn't too hard. All that one needs is a philips screwdriver and maybe a torx driver and a little patience. The actual instrument cluster will not want to pop out because it has a piece that kind of clips into something behind and on top of your heater controls. I recommend checking all the bulbs if you have a higher milage truck. A pair of pliers a twist should remove the bulbs from the cluster.



CR Toney

 

[ETOBICOKE]

Inst Lamps

The reason that the instrument lamps are dull when they get old is that the tungsten fillament slowly boils away and coats the inside of the lamp. Both the 193 and 194 lamps have the same output of 2 candle power, the 193 has a slightly heavier filament and draws just a bit more current. The only lamp I have listed in my lamp catalogue that is brighter is the 168 at 3 candle power.

I replaced mine with 194 this summer, the new lamps alone make a big difference. But found that the instrument cluster had to be removed to change them, this just may be due to the A/C vents in my truck.

Hope this helps

Neil

 

[Paychk]

Something else to check, is the connector at the headlight switch, it is a known for going bad and smoke checking the harness right at the switch. When I replaced mine, it hadn't fried to the point of failure, but the center of the connector was all charred away and the contacts were scorched, loose and corroded. After the swap my dash lights were much brighter.



BTW Dodge Dealers have a repair kit with a new improved connector and switch not sure of the P/N



Alan

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

GREAT!! Thanks guys.

Etobicoke, I also have the AC. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to mess with the AC ducting. Well, atleast I should be able to see the darn instruments when I'm done.

Thanks again guys!



Regards, Bob

 

[Matt S]

Are you trying to light up the highway with the dash? I have mine set low for better night vision and less distraction. I think they can get very bright. I'd tend to think it may be related to the light swicth if you haven't upgraded that. Mine met a smokey demise last winter. Things got pretty dim and smelled pretty bad but the truck got me through the snow storm in the middle of VT. You may want to check that plug while you have the dash apart.

 

[jjohn]

Dodge Repair Kit part number 4886449AB

$92. 90 is the price from dodge Includes new Headlight switch and upgrade Wiring kit to replace problem connector to switch.

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

jjohn, thanks for the PN. Matt, I haven't detected any burning smells or overheat odors either, but that doesn't mean it can't be on its way out. I'll check that too just to be sure. I've found that the overall light level on the instruments is just way too soft. In particular the gauges on the left side of the cluster are quite dark. I have my boost, tach, pyro, and transmission temp guage wired to the dimmer circuit as well so I am thinking maybe it is too much for it, although those things don't draw a heck of a lot of current.

I'll get in there and start digging first nice day I get. (not looking forward to fiddling with that stuff, I'm more of a ballpeen hammer kinda guy )

Lil'Dog, were the red coated bulbs the ones mentioned in the posts, the 194's , 193, 168's???



Thanks again.



Bob

 

[jjohn]

You bet Bushwakr

I bought the new switch because if I turn the light switch as if to dim the lights I blow a fuse, loose the dash and tail lights. I hope it solves the dash brightness issue also. I haven't had a chance to install it yet. I will let you know.

 

[jjohn]

I replaced the Headlight switch today. “Big” difference in dash brightness, and no more blown fuses if I turn the knob to dim the dash lights. Although I still don’t feel a need to dim from overwhelming dash brightness, I can easily read the odometer now. I am going to replace all the bulbs anyway after reading the above posts. I have a burned out bulb to the 4x4 indication, so while I’m in there why not.

I soldered the spliced wires and used the supplied heat shrink tubing. One tip, there is a spring loaded button on the bottom of the switch that releases the post and knob from the body of the switch. The connector on mine looked fine, my switch had a problem with the center rotating connection on the ceramic wheel (that Has the coil spring for the dimmer function). It was charred and worn thin.

 

[jjohn]

After work today I bought a box of 10 Wagner electric “PC168” ’s – (3 candlepower), and a box of 10 193’s (2CP) also Wagner brand. The PC168’s came permanently attached to a base unlike the factory base that you can reuse by removing the old and plugging in a new bulb. The main instruments cluster used all 10 PC168’s plus 2 of the 193’s in old bases. One in the 4x4 indication, one in the heater controls and 4 more in the in the right side annunciation panel with the brake, wait to start, antilock and uhh…. . the other whatever it is indication?

18 bulbs in all for a complete swap out.



Two of the old bases broke taking them out, seemed somewhat brittle so it was good to have the new base 168’s



I gained one and a half times “more” brightness than I gained from the new switch. Now I really will use the dimmer switch. It was worth the hassle. Also while I was in there I did a clean up job. Much better.