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Maybe the bulbs are getting dimmer, they are 20 years old after all, or maybe my eyes are getting worse (equally if not more likely), but I'll be darned if I can see the numbers on the odometer at night.
I'd like to be able to make the illumination of my instrument cluster brighter. Currently I have the adjuster at the max setting and it just isn't enough for me to see it all clearly.
Here is a parts diagram of the cluster for my truck. Which bulbs do what? In other words, I'm not worried about warning lights, turn signal indicators, or hi-beam indicator, etc, etc.
The main goal is to brighten the main illumination including the odometer. Which of the bulbs should I replace.
For extra credit, I would love to experiment with LED's so if you have a line on which LED would be an appropriate replacement I'd really appreciate a suggestion, recommendation, or link.
I had my gauges go dim and then get brighter again. Ended up putting on a new voltage regulator on my alternator ($35 part) and my gauges got brighter and stayed bright to this day.
Not sure if that is what you are up against or not though.
Funny, I'm doing the same thing with the Saturn, looking for LEDs for the dash since I have a couple out. Way easier to source the bulbs on a Saturn, same two types used for everything, not so with the Disco.
The bulbs that will make the gauges seem dim are in the illumination assembly (#7 in that diagram). If either one of those are INOP the needles will seem very dim and hard to see. When I bought my 98 LSE they were both out and once I replaced them it was a total difference. I'd inspect those first, and then you could replace the 194 bulbs with some LED ones, but DO NOT use the Sylvania ZEVO's as they aren't tall enough to get 100% coverage of the Speedo illumination.
Nothing useful to post yet, but subscribing because I have pictures of the instrument cluster torn down on my other computer. #7 & 8 provides overhead illumination but isn't what lights up the numbers or needles. That will be one of the 3 different back bulbs. My pictures will help identify them once I get to them...
**Edit**
I found pictures, but it isn't as detailed as I had hoped. It was after reassembly and I had put covers back on. I did flip the backside photo though, so you can use it to reference the bulb locations from the front view. Here is what I recall from memory on what bulbs did what.
#8- Your overhead bulbs. They assist in lighting the bezel for parts that don't have their own lights.
#14- Your warning lights. Most get clear bulbs because the warning filter will have the color of the indicator.
#15- Large bulbs for illuminating numbers & ticks.
#16- Long candlestick holder for the Security light that sits bottom center of the cluster.
I hope that helps
Last edited by RedRovin'; Mar 18, 2017 at 08:25 AM.
I had my gauges go dim and then get brighter again. Ended up putting on a new voltage regulator on my alternator ($35 part) and my gauges got brighter and stayed bright to this day.
Not sure if that is what you are up against or not though.
Where did you get the voltage regulator from? Part #?
I have an alternator with a janky regulator on my bench that is otherwise good.
I used https://www.superbrightleds.com/ for the bulb in my digital dlock and changed it ti a green back light. much easier to read during the day and at night. They have a listing for just about every bulb to cross over to an led bulb
brighter instrument cluster
