Dash board lights dim - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

s34n · 10-19-2012, 08:52 PM

My dashboard lights are dim. The switch for making it brighter is fine cuz i can still change the level of brightness. But making it really bright, it's still dim. Is it the bulb or something else?

DreamN · 10-19-2012, 08:54 PM

Bulb or charging system isn't at 100%.

Either way, get some LEDs for the dash.

*wangan_cruiser* · 10-19-2012, 11:44 PM

how can you tell if its the charging is not 100%?

future · 10-20-2012, 12:07 AM

My guess is your alternator if its happening at night

MrSanchez925 · 10-20-2012, 12:21 AM

take a Multi meter to the battery terminals with the car RUNNING.

Should be around 14v if your alt is working.

also you can check your bat with the car off. Should be around 12.6v

240SilviaX · 10-20-2012, 12:21 AM

LED's is the only way to go, and check your alternator and see if its charging. The cluster takes (if its non digital) 3 T10's and 3 T5's to light your dash. Search ebay for those size LED's and they come in many colors. I did all of the back lighting ones blue and the clock white and took out the color filters on the indicator lights and customized with the colors.

XsirousX · 10-27-2012, 02:00 AM

I would check for voltage on the wire supplying power to the cluster with a DMM.
If voltage is low then you have resistance, check for a burnt wire if not exposed wire, even a wire that is torn.
Get specs for your dimmer switch, it actually makes resistance so the lights can go dim, idk what the specs are but it can possibly be that your dimmer switch has a lot more resistance then normal, you also check that with a DMM.

soryu · 10-28-2012, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 240SilviaX

LED's is the only way to go, and check your alternator and see if its charging. The cluster takes (if its non digital) 3 T10's and 3 T5's to light your dash. Search ebay for those size LED's and they come in many colors. I did all of the back lighting ones blue and the clock white and took out the color filters on the indicator lights and customized with the colors.

Color filters?
you meen the blue bulb covers.

240SilviaX · 10-28-2012, 02:48 PM

No, those lights up the cluster but you replaced them with LEDs, you wouldnt have any of those, the indicator lights dont have those bulb condoms ( brake, oil,seat belt, ect ect lights) you have to take the cluster apart and take a small flat head to where the indicator lights are and carefully pry the layers apart and 1 of the 3 layers is the color filter. yellow for the gas light side and red for the brake oil and battery side. Once you remove those you can put any color LED you like in it. if you look closely to my avatar you can see the colors.

240SilviaX · 10-28-2012, 02:52 PM

When i mentioned the light sizes" 3 T10's and 3 T5's to light your dash" those arnt counting the ones for the indicator lights. The Gas light and battery (both T10 or 194) i recommend to leave the stock bulb cuz it works off of resistance and if there LED they will always stay on.. but the rest are T5 size

soryu · 11-01-2012, 12:22 AM

Is it hard to remove the layer for the gauges?
I got some white led's but when I drop them in the light is blue.

10-19-2012, 08:52 PM	#1
s34n Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: GU Age: 34 Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Dash board lights dim My dashboard lights are dim. The switch for making it brighter is fine cuz i can still change the level of brightness. But making it really bright, it's still dim. Is it the bulb or something else?

10-19-2012, 08:54 PM	#2
DreamN Post Whore! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SoCal - 818 Age: 40 Posts: 10,692 Trader Rating: (54) Rides Gallery: DreamN Feedback Score: 54 reviews	Bulb or charging system isn't at 100%. Either way, get some LEDs for the dash. __________________ - Jimmy Wanted: TBD For Sale: TBD

10-27-2012, 02:00 AM	#7
XsirousX Join Date: May 2012 Location: upland Age: 32 Posts: 39 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I would check for voltage on the wire supplying power to the cluster with a DMM. If voltage is low then you have resistance, check for a burnt wire if not exposed wire, even a wire that is torn. Get specs for your dimmer switch, it actually makes resistance so the lights can go dim, idk what the specs are but it can possibly be that your dimmer switch has a lot more resistance then normal, you also check that with a DMM. Last edited by XsirousX; 10-27-2012 at 02:01 AM.. Reason: Typo

10-19-2012, 11:44 PM	#3
wangan_cruiser kouki man Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: downtown oakland,ca Age: 40 Posts: 3,539 Trader Rating: (36) Feedback Score: 36 reviews	how can you tell if its the charging is not 100%?

10-20-2012, 12:21 AM	#5
MrSanchez925 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Martinez, Ca Age: 36 Posts: 412 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	take a Multi meter to the battery terminals with the car RUNNING. Should be around 14v if your alt is working. also you can check your bat with the car off. Should be around 12.6v

10-20-2012, 12:21 AM	#6
240SilviaX Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2012 Location: HB / OC, CA Age: 38 Posts: 120 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	LED's is the only way to go, and check your alternator and see if its charging. The cluster takes (if its non digital) 3 T10's and 3 T5's to light your dash. Search ebay for those size LED's and they come in many colors. I did all of the back lighting ones blue and the clock white and took out the color filters on the indicator lights and customized with the colors.

10-28-2012, 02:48 PM	#9
240SilviaX Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2012 Location: HB / OC, CA Age: 38 Posts: 120 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	No, those lights up the cluster but you replaced them with LEDs, you wouldnt have any of those, the indicator lights dont have those bulb condoms ( brake, oil,seat belt, ect ect lights) you have to take the cluster apart and take a small flat head to where the indicator lights are and carefully pry the layers apart and 1 of the 3 layers is the color filter. yellow for the gas light side and red for the brake oil and battery side. Once you remove those you can put any color LED you like in it. if you look closely to my avatar you can see the colors.

10-28-2012, 02:52 PM	#10
240SilviaX Leaky Injector Join Date: May 2012 Location: HB / OC, CA Age: 38 Posts: 120 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	When i mentioned the light sizes" 3 T10's and 3 T5's to light your dash" those arnt counting the ones for the indicator lights. The Gas light and battery (both T10 or 194) i recommend to leave the stock bulb cuz it works off of resistance and if there LED they will always stay on.. but the rest are T5 size

11-01-2012, 12:22 AM	#11
soryu Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Socal, I.E. Posts: 1,199 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	Is it hard to remove the layer for the gauges? I got some white led's but when I drop them in the light is blue.