Help w/ swapping out dash light bulbs on 86 cutlass

[Droop408]

I've been searching looking for how to's and links on how to get to my dash lights, speedo, tach, fuel, etc. I'm wanting to swap them out to cool blue led's. Are they 194's and how many? Any help would be good, thanks.

 

[nsharma]

Keep in mind that if you change your dash lights to leds you lose the ability to turn down the brightness, if that even matters to you. I'm thinking of doing the same to my 81 Grand Prix because I find that even at their brightest they are kinda dull. Anyone who has done this please reply preferably with some pics.

 

[Droop408]

So the dimmer switch wouldnt work anymore?? I've switched to led's on other cars and it still worked. Good to know tho.

 

[nsharma]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was told that with leds they're either off or on. You can't vary the intensity but for me that's not a big concern. The factory lights in the dash and center console are really dull.

 

[1979Calais]

All the lights are 194s and the dimmer will still work with them. Here is a video that I watched to do my car.
Part 1 and 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d6OpuIxJJA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jACXkf6MJN0

 

[Droop408]

Good looking out!!!I'll see if I can get a chance to try it 2mro. Thing is, is I have the round gauges so I hope this will at least get me started.

 

[Evan11]

Super simple to change the bulbs. First take out the center woodgrain vent piece & there will be a few screws behind that hold the dash gauge surround on as well as screws all along the bottom of it.Then take the screws out that hold the gauge cluster, then you will have to gently move the cluster forward & feel for the speedo clip on the back of the cluster. Once you push in on the speedo clip, the cluster should come right out once you disconnect the electrical connectors. Once it's out, simply take out the bulb connectors & replace the bulbs. Hope this helps. It's the same process to change the bulbs for both style clusters. Here's a pic of the back of a rallye cluster like yours.

 

[Droop408]

Awesome. Thanks alot. I think some led's would look good with my style gauges. Maybe when I get to doing this project, I'll take some pics and post them up.

 

[Dripz1985]

How do you remove the speedo cable

 

[85blacksalon]

It can be a bear, find the cable under the hood at the fire wall if it has a clip holding it to the master cyl., take it off. That should give you enough cable to pull the cluster out far enough to get your hand behind to the cable. There is a spring clip that holds the cable to the cluster. The trick is not to have the cable pulling away from the cluster as you push on the spring clip. Hope this helps