Dimming gauge lights
- Thread starter dan
- Start date
Krazykraut
Active Member
I have not seen any dimmer so far. The gauge lights are either on or off on mine. A quick search through the shop manuals didn't turn up anything, but that doesn't mean that it wasn't available as an option at some point.
feetforbrains
Active Member
Dimmable dashboard lights are a US-market DOT requirement, not required in Japan, and are rare on '90s JDM vehicles (including luxury 4WD people-movers made from delivery vans).
Daniel Stern says:
"FMVSS101:
S5.3.2 Brightness of illumination of controls and indicators
S5.3.2.1 Means must be provided for illuminating the indicators, identifications of indicators and identifications of controls listed in
Table 1 to make them visible to the driver under daylight and nighttime driving conditions.
S5.3.2.2 The means of providing the visibility required by S5.3.2.1:
(a) Must be adjustable to provide at least two levels of brightness;
(b) At the lower level of brightness, the identification of controls and indicators must be barely discernible to the driver who has adapted to dark ambient roadway condition;
(c) May be operable manually or automatically; and
(d) May have levels of brightness at which those items and identification are not visible.
(1) If the level of brightness is adjusted by automatic means to a point where those items or their identification are not visible to the driver, means shall be provided to enable the driver to restore visibility."
On my van I've replaced the dashboard lights with LEDs. I've also scraped the green tint off the back of the instrument panel- I much prefer white instruments.
Daniel Stern says:
"FMVSS101:
S5.3.2 Brightness of illumination of controls and indicators
S5.3.2.1 Means must be provided for illuminating the indicators, identifications of indicators and identifications of controls listed in
Table 1 to make them visible to the driver under daylight and nighttime driving conditions.
S5.3.2.2 The means of providing the visibility required by S5.3.2.1:
(a) Must be adjustable to provide at least two levels of brightness;
(b) At the lower level of brightness, the identification of controls and indicators must be barely discernible to the driver who has adapted to dark ambient roadway condition;
(c) May be operable manually or automatically; and
(d) May have levels of brightness at which those items and identification are not visible.
(1) If the level of brightness is adjusted by automatic means to a point where those items or their identification are not visible to the driver, means shall be provided to enable the driver to restore visibility."
On my van I've replaced the dashboard lights with LEDs. I've also scraped the green tint off the back of the instrument panel- I much prefer white instruments.
Last edited:
Jumbo_shrimp
Active Member
I took the green covers off those little cluster lights. I don't think they are bright enough when stock.
dimming option would be nice tho
dimming option would be nice tho
Empty42
Active Member
Me too! I’d like a brighter glow of that retro green!!!! I used LED bulbs for my fun guages and they are now super bright. I’ll post photos soon. I have enough to replace my dash lights too, I’m hoping and suspecting they’re the same.....once my next set of projects pile up enough to justify digging into the instrument cluster while I’m in the dash.
NYCMIKADOZ
Active Member
Anyone know what lightbulbs to use for the gauge cluster?Specifically i am looking at the gear indicator lights, my neutral and drive bulbs are out.Would be nice to pre order before ripping out the cluster, and any links to purchasing them, say amazon or?
feetforbrains
Active Member
The back of those bulbs says "Toshiba V2" as best as I can tell. I'd take a picture but my phone just died, I think the color is black or brown, but again I can't tell cause my eyes are old.
NYCMIKADOZ
Active Member
Thanks - I will look them up
Empty42
Active Member
I replaced several of my pod gauge lights with these LEDs and they’re nice and bright. BUT...you must save the little green rubber boot that goes over the bulb. I was able to stretch them over the LED bulb with a little coercing. I plan on doing the rest of my dash lights too, once I have a couple other things lined up to do while I’m in there. I got a dozen of these bulbs for like $5 on amazon.
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feetforbrains
Active Member
Thanks Empty42. I took another look at the bulbs from my old cluster and I still can't tell what color the plug thing at the base is. It's important if you're going to use the Toshiba V2 replacements because it denotes the diameter of the plastic bit around the bulb. I'll break out the calipers tomorrow or take a picture and maybe some of you young bucks can see it better.
NYCMIKADOZ
Active Member
Do you have a link to those bulbs?
Jessey Dearing
Member
I replaced my Wheel Lock light a few weeks ago and if I remember right most of the bulbs back there were the same size. The bulbs for all the warning/indicator lights are the #2721 sized ones. I bought the Sylvania Long Life ones, there are probably LEDs out there for this as well. This is not the same bulbs that go in the dash pod with inclinometer/altimeter/etc.
CodyHennigan
Active Member
Jessey-
Are these the same bulbs you would use for the D,R,1,2,3 in the dash pod? I'm replacing the fuel gauge here soon and would like to have the bulbs on hand before ripping apart the dash. Thanks!
Jessey Dearing
Member
I believe these are the same lights if I remember correctly, it's been a while since I was back there. There may be some images online showing the back panel to better determine this. Sadly I didn't take any of the actual back of the panel when I had it off.
Shamus
Active Member
did the #2721 lights work for you?