Community Forums

grimb · 05-07-2018, 04:14 PM

My dash lights are not bright when driving in dark. All instruments are illuminated but not bright. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you fix it?

vito.a · 05-07-2018, 04:40 PM

I agree, they are not very bright. I had one instrument light that was very dim. I removed the entire gauge panel to access it. They are #161, 2.66w wedge base mini bulbs.

A #194, 3.78w wedge base bulb will fit, but it increases the load and heat on the small circuit board about 40%. I'm not sure it will withstand that increase. I looked for an LED replacement but at the time could not find one small enough (in size).

I gave up and installed a new long life 161LL and it is slightly brighter than the original bulbs. You could just install all new 161LL bulbs.

Ali · 05-07-2018, 05:51 PM

dumb question but have you tried adjusting brightness by twisting the headlights knob?

Rburian · 05-07-2018, 06:33 PM

Change the switch.

grimb · 05-07-2018, 07:29 PM

Switch is ok. All other items are bright but not the odometer. I was jokingly told at the place I purchased that most rvs are not on the road after dark which is mostly correct but I still would like this bright.

mlh2013 · 05-08-2018, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimb

My dash lights are not bright when driving in dark. All instruments are illuminated but not bright. Has anyone else had this problem and how did you fix it?

I have the same problem all are very dim. previous owner changed headlight switch hoping it would help. One thing I have noticed when the headlight is pulled out, the knob gets real warm almost hot.

nehog · 05-08-2018, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimb

... All other items are bright but not the odometer. ...

Ah, odometer! This is a design flaw in the speedometer/odometer design. The only time I fixed one of these I cut open the speedometer and added some LED lights.

dmastroluca · 05-09-2018, 03:45 PM

I had the same problem on my dash. I installed this blue led light array on the steering column pointing toward the dash. I wired it to the existing dash light pot. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Red Dixon · 05-11-2018, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vito.a

I agree, they are not very bright. I had one instrument light that was very dim. I removed the entire gauge panel to access it. They are #161, 2.66w wedge base mini bulbs.

A #194, 3.78w wedge base bulb will fit, but it increases the load and heat on the small circuit board about 40%. I'm not sure it will withstand that increase. I looked for an LED replacement but at the time could not find one small enough (in size).

I gave up and installed a new long life 161LL and it is slightly brighter than the original bulbs. You could just install all new 161LL bulbs.

I had trouble with dash lights and finally found that I had to place another groud wire in back of instrument panel and that fixed everything.

MSHappyCampers · 05-11-2018, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlh2013

I have the same problem all are very dim. previous owner changed headlight switch hoping it would help. One thing I have noticed when the headlight is pulled out, the knob gets real warm almost hot.

X2

nehog · 05-11-2018, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlh2013

I have the same problem all are very dim. previous owner changed headlight switch hoping it would help. One thing I have noticed when the headlight is pulled out, the knob gets real warm almost hot.

This is due to the poor design of the dash light dimmer system. Back in the 1940s and 1950s when a dash had perhaps five bulbs, a simple resistor dimmer would work fine. Today, our coaches have perhaps as many as 50 bulbs in gauges, switches and controls. The real answer is to install a newer design PWM (pulse-width modulated) dimmer, which will last forever and run cool and efficiently.