emunder Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 My instrument panel lights are a really dim green. Is this a pretty easy fix? Thinking just pull the panel & replace w/ better lights or are their other causes for this? The small lights under the pull switches for the headlights & dimmer are bright but these are really hard to see even at night time, in the day you can't even tell they are on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorsai Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 My instrument panel lights are a really dim green. Is this a pretty easy fix? Thinking just pull the panel & replace w/ better lights or are their other causes for this? The small lights under the pull switches for the headlights & dimmer are bright but these are really hard to see even at night time, in the day you can't even tell they are on. The usual cause for this is the colored lenses over the bulbs darkening with time. If you like the green color you can just remove the lenses and replace the white bulbs with colored LEDs, or you can do like I did and remove the lenses and leave the bulbs white - and now I have very easy-to-read instruments at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emunder Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 My instrument panel lights are a really dim green. Is this a pretty easy fix? Thinking just pull the panel & replace w/ better lights or are their other causes for this? The small lights under the pull switches for the headlights & dimmer are bright but these are really hard to see even at night time, in the day you can't even tell they are on. The usual cause for this is the colored lenses over the bulbs darkening with time. If you like the green color you can just remove the lenses and replace the white bulbs with colored LEDs, or you can do like I did and remove the lenses and leave the bulbs white - and now I have very easy-to-read instruments at night. Ok good to know. I'll have to pull the panel and see what's going on back there. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Ok good to know. I'll have to pull the panel and see what's going on back there. Thanks! There are 5 bulbs [194] behind blue filters. Over time, the blue plastic filters become opaque. I have gone the LED route, but later decided to remove the blue filters and replace the clear bulbs with 194B [blue tint] and the result is what I imagine the dash looked like when new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 My instrument panel lights are a really dim green. Is this a pretty easy fix? Thinking just pull the panel & replace w/ better lights or are their other causes for this? The small lights under the pull switches for the headlights & dimmer are bright but these are really hard to see even at night time, in the day you can't even tell they are on. The usual cause for this is the colored lenses over the bulbs darkening with time. If you like the green color you can just remove the lenses and replace the white bulbs with colored LEDs, or you can do like I did and remove the lenses and leave the bulbs white - and now I have very easy-to-read instruments at night. Or, I'm told you can polish the blue filters/lenses and remove the oxidation that is causing them to be dark. I've not tried it, but I wonder how long it lasts. On Big Blue I'm running blue LED's w/o those filters and don't particularly care for it. Too much blue. David/1986F150Six is running blue-tinted incandescent bulbs w/o the filters, if I remember correctly, and really likes the setup. EDIT: David beat me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1986F150Six Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Or, I'm told you can polish the blue filters/lenses and remove the oxidation that is causing them to be dark. I've not tried it, but I wonder how long it lasts. On Big Blue I'm running blue LED's w/o those filters and don't particularly care for it. Too much blue. David/1986F150Six is running blue-tinted incandescent bulbs w/o the filters, if I remember correctly, and really likes the setup. EDIT: David beat me. We were typing at the same time, Gary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emunder Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 We were typing at the same time, Gary. Cool! Where are you guys getting the LED bulbs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 There are 5 bulbs [194] behind blue filters. Over time, the blue plastic filters become opaque. I have gone the LED route, but later decided to remove the blue filters and replace the clear bulbs with 194B [blue tint] and the result is what I imagine the dash looked like when new. I went with green LED's with out the filters on the gauge panel. The head light / wiper light I left stock as I could not find a LED to fit in that space, same for the HVAC control panel factory stock. Or, I'm told you can polish the blue filters/lenses and remove the oxidation that is causing them to be dark. I've not tried it, but I wonder how long it lasts. On Big Blue I'm running blue LED's w/o those filters and don't particularly care for it. Too much blue. David/1986F150Six is running blue-tinted incandescent bulbs w/o the filters, if I remember correctly, and really likes the setup. EDIT: David beat me. That work be fine to try if they did not turn to dust in your hand when pulled I had 1 set that's what happened an dif not then the little ears broke off turning it to junk. Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emunder Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 There are 5 bulbs [194] behind blue filters. Over time, the blue plastic filters become opaque. I have gone the LED route, but later decided to remove the blue filters and replace the clear bulbs with 194B [blue tint] and the result is what I imagine the dash looked like when new. I went with green LED's with out the filters on the gauge panel. The head light / wiper light I left stock as I could not find a LED to fit in that space, same for the HVAC control panel factory stock. Or, I'm told you can polish the blue filters/lenses and remove the oxidation that is causing them to be dark. I've not tried it, but I wonder how long it lasts. On Big Blue I'm running blue LED's w/o those filters and don't particularly care for it. Too much blue. David/1986F150Six is running blue-tinted incandescent bulbs w/o the filters, if I remember correctly, and really likes the setup. EDIT: David beat me. That work be fine to try if they did not turn to dust in your hand when pulled I had 1 set that's what happened an dif not then the little ears broke off turning it to junk. Dave ---- Nice! That looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emunder Posted August 12, 2019 Author Share Posted August 12, 2019 Found a bunch of sets on ebay. I kind of like the ice blue...ordered! Can't wait to swap them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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