Very Dim Intrument Panel Lights

[Razor]

Hi

Are the lights on your instrument panel really dim?

Mine is very dim hardly see the instrument at night time

can you replace this with higher rating bulb to make it brighter?

[MikeW]

It's possible that the rheostat (dimmer switch) is defective. You might try shorting it out to see if that makes a difference.

[Razor]

I gotta buy a manual!

I dont know most of the stuffs are

[TomoHawk]

Using a brighter bulb isn't going to make things easier to see. The real probblem is in the connectors and wiring. Connectors are all corroded and that means resistance and less voltage, which is what really makes the 12V bulbs brighter. This problem impacts every circuit in the car from the dome light to the fuel level gauge to the fuel injection system (on 280Zs).

An old dimmer switch might be the problem. You could bypass it by pulling off the connector on the back and shunting the two pins.

There are several, if not many, people here working on improving voltage and current flow through the wiring. I have some secret rust-potion on order and I will be trying it .

[Razor]

are there generic dimmer switch? is it available off the shelf or do I have to get the specific one for my car.

[TomoHawk]

I suppose you could use a dimmer rheostat. You'd have to bodge it in there. It might even be mounted to the bracket. Just the control rod has to be long enough to stick out. (about 15cm, I think).

[MikeW]

Originally posted by Razor

are there generic dimmer switch? is it available off the shelf or do I have to get the specific one for my car.

It really doesn't matter. A dimmer switch is just a resistor. It's actually a rheostat which is a variable resistor. The less resistance the brighter the dashboard lights. If you simply bypass the dimmer switch the lights should be as bright as possible. If doing so makes the lights acceptably bright then you might consider getting a new switch; otherwise there's simply no point; the problem is not in the switch The switch in question is beneath the tachometer. The equivalent switch beneath the speedometer resets the trip odometer.

[Razor]

cool I'll have a look later

thanks

[JMT240KGTR]

Razor,

The dimmer switch on the K's is next to the choke cable, left of the steering wheel; well all I've seen are located there anyway.

James

[Razor]

thanks that will help me a lot as I dont have a manual yet

[ZmeFly]

That all your bulbs are working. I though mine was bad in a 71 I had. Well with only 3 bulbs working I suppose it would be rather dim.

Once I replaced all the bulbs it was nice and bright.

You can find a rheostat at any Radio Shack.

[Razor]

all the bulbs are working just dimmed but would be good to replace them as they are old anyway or a good clean