Dim instrument panel lights

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Fnlowrider

Not-quite-so-new-guy
Feb 23, 2020
35
36
18
Myrtle beach
I have a 1987 Caballero and my instruments we're very dim at night so I opened it up and found two bulbs were out I replaced them with what I was told were brighter bulbs I now have very little improvements during the day my amp gauge runs at about 12 o'clock at night with the headlights on and the radio on it goes down to about 10 o'clock. I figure this is about normal however the instruments are still not as bright as they should be. I'm thinking this is probably either a dimmer switch issue or a charging issue but I don't think it's a charging issue because I have no problems with battery draining or anything like that any thoughts?
 

Texas82GP

Just-a-worm
Apr 3, 2015
7,981
18,676
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Spring, Texas
Make sure you have a good ground path for the dash light circuit. You could clean the rheostat on the headlight switch with deoxit and see if that helps. It is available from Amazon and is sold locally through Guitar Center. Great stuff......
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006LVEU/?tag=gbody-20
 
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TURNA

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
Jul 24, 2009
10,941
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Socialist NY
Put a volt meter on the battery and have someone turn on one accessory at a time and see what happens.
That will tell what problem you have.

Harbor Freight has a small one for like 5 buxx and it works very well

Sears sells a Craftsman one for about 20


th
 
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79 USA 1

Royal Smart Person
Sep 2, 2011
1,062
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Cheektowaga, New York
Also check the ground running from the battery to the alternator bracket and look for corrosion at the base of the bracket to the intake manifold. If all else fails I recently did a LED upgrade on my Monte Carlo's due to the dim dash lights. These shots are from my 88 SS:

Before:
P1012138.JPG

After:
P1012154.JPG
 
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Longroof79

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
G-Body of the Month
Oct 14, 2008
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Also check the ground running from the battery to the alternator bracket and look for corrosion at the base of the bracket to the intake manifold. If all else fails I recently did a LED upgrade on my Monte Carlo's due to the dim dash lights. These shots are from my 88 SS:

Before:
View attachment 138026

After:
View attachment 138027
Wow Bob! That's like a night and day difference. :cool:(y)
 
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79 USA 1

Royal Smart Person
Sep 2, 2011
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Cheektowaga, New York
Wow Bob! That's like a night and day difference. :cool:(y)


Thanks Jack.
With the SS being a t-top car I thought it was just a problem to live with but when I did the LED's ......Problem solved!
 
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88AZSS

Master Mechanic
Mar 13, 2018
433
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I did LEDs as well in my Monte Carlo. Its a major difference from before. Also, make sure that the bezel is sitting correctly and flush on the cluster as to not "lose" any light in the cracks. I haven't checked my grounds yet, wouldn't be surprised if cleaning them up and making sure theyre good doesn't improve it even more.
 
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Gonzo1970

G-Body Guru
Sep 30, 2018
898
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Clean your grounds.

-Gonz
 
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Longroof79

Rocket Powered Basset Hound
G-Body of the Month
Oct 14, 2008
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Thanks Jack.
With the SS being a t-top car I thought it was just a problem to live with but when I did the LED's ......Problem solved!
Nice upgrade, Bob,
I should really consider doing it to mine. Where did you acquire your LED's? These cars all have dimly lit gauges.
I guess one thing to take into consideration, you can't adjust the brightness using LED's from what I've read in the past.
 
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