dash lighting

[CanDman]

 I have found that my dash board lighting seems to be a bit week. I am not sure if it is the bulbs age or whether if one or 2 of them are burnt out. How many bulbs should there be lighting the dash? and any suggestions on lighting it up better?
Kev

[FJmonkey]

I have found that my dash board lighting seems to be a bit week. I am not sure if it is the bulbs age or whether if one or 2 of them are burnt out. How many bulbs should there be lighting the dash? and any suggestions on lighting it up better?
Kev

Replace them all with LED, except the fuel warning one. Some of the tiny bulbs have likely burnt out, or you have been a welder with improper eye protection for many years. The fuel warning light needs to remain incandescent or it will be fully lit 100% of the time. Pull the upper fairing and then pull the dash out. I waited till I needed the fairing off for other reasons (new speedo) and fixed the lights at the same time.

[andyb]

I wonder if it'd be possible to use something like a zener diode on the fuel light with an LED?  I hate the slowly brightening effect, but I don't know enough to alter it to be a binary (on or off) sort of thing.

[rktmanfj]

I wonder if it'd be possible to use something like a zener diode on the fuel light with an LED?  I hate the slowly brightening effect, but I don't know enough to alter it to be a binary (on or off) sort of thing.

Do you know what the breakover voltage would need to be?

[andyb]

Not really.  Would have to decide where the minimum brightness of the analog bulb is (when it should come on) and measure, I think. 

[CanDman]

I have found that my dash board lighting seems to be a bit week. I am not sure if it is the bulbs age or whether if one or 2 of them are burnt out. How many bulbs should there be lighting the dash? and any suggestions on lighting it up better?
Kev

Replace them all with LED, except the fuel warning one. Some of the tiny bulbs have likely burnt out, or you have been a welder with improper eye protection for many years. The fuel warning light needs to remain incandescent or it will be fully lit 100% of the time. Pull the upper fairing and then pull the dash out. I waited till I needed the fairing off for other reasons (new speedo) and fixed the lights at the same time.

three questions........how many bulbs are there.....what size are they.......and where is the best place to buy them?

[Travis398]

9, Counting the indicator lights. They are regular 194 push in style

any automotive supply store should have them

[CanDman]

hey Trav......thx brother..... .....9 lights ? in the dash?? amazing...that would explain why my dash is a wee bit week.....I am guessing here....but around the tach and speedo......I think 2 are working....that would explain alot.......ok....off  to the automotive store ...thx trav........
Kev

[Travis398]

That was including indicator lights, blinkers, fuel etc...... I would think you would want to change them all, because another one is probably on its way.

[CanDman]

That was including indicator lights, blinkers, fuel etc...... I would think you would want to change them all, because another one is probably on its way.

Ok..........will do.........again  thx
Kev
ps........I am a carpenter........and hammering is all I do....lol.... 

[Ender22]

Not really.  Would have to decide where the minimum brightness of the analog bulb is (when it should come on) and measure, I think. 

I'd be interested in seeing what a multimeter would say when the tank has just enough fuel to start teasing the light.  Then compare it to when the tank is full(er)

Once you have those numbers you just need to know what the min and max volts are for your bulb and solder in a resister. As I type this out it seems like quite a bit of work compared to before i started typing

[FJ Flyer]

That was including indicator lights, blinkers, fuel etc...... I would think you would want to change them all, because another one is probably on its way.

Ok..........will do.........again  thx
Kev
ps........I am a carpenter........and hammering is all I do....lol.... 

Make sure you get the 194 LL (Long Life) bulbs.

[E Double]

Check this site out;
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fmini-wedge.html

I've replaced every bulb on my bike with LEDs and a HID for the head light.  Between all of them I've probably picked up 30 to 40 watts easy.

Change your brake lights and turns while you're at it. 

[Alf]

Check this site out;
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fmini-wedge.html

I've replaced every bulb on my bike with LEDs and a HID for the head light.  Between all of them I've probably picked up 30 to 40 watts easy.

Change your brake lights and turns while you're at it. 

There are a enormous leads variety. Please, which ones are the indicated to fit into the dashboard?
Thanks

Best regards
Alf

[JCainFJ]

 The only bulbs that I have found that last are the OEM Stanly bulbs P# 4G1-84744-00-XX. These bulbs have an extra filament support and are vibration resistant.  Automotive 194LL will not last in an FJ. All of the LED 194 bulbs I've tried die quickly too.