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Dim instrument lights for GM trucks

k5guy on Sun November 02, 2003 1:32 PM User is offline

Year: 79-91
Make: Chevy/GM
Model: Truck

I have several GM trucks and one annoying problem that hasn't gone away is the dashboard lights are always too dim. For years this problem has bothered me. I've changed lamps in the dash, to no avail.

Yesterday, I did a mod that keeps the original look, but greatly improves the dash lighting without adding extra wiring or lights. This isn't my link, but thank you so much for posting this...

Making dashboard lights brighter.

It works great! I was skeptic about it until I tried it. But I can tell you that all my trucks are going to get this mod.

I used a generic Chrome paint that I found at WalMart for 4 bucks. A silver paint isn't good enough. Use a chrome and give it a few coats until you can see your reflection in it. Oh, why didn't GM do this years ago?????


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Edited: Sun November 02, 2003 at 1:36 PM by k5guy

George Bray on Tue November 04, 2003 11:55 AM User is offline

You might also consider replacing the existing light bulbs with ultra-bright LEDs - clear or coloured type as required, with a current-limiting resistor fitted for use with 12v from a car's electrical system.

Or simply remove any coloured film which might have gone brown through heat over the years'.

Another thought is that it becomes more difficult to read close up in dark conditions as one becomes long sighted with age!

Regards
George

NickD on Tue November 04, 2003 12:26 PM User is offline

My problem with lighting are these electronic displays that are washed out in the rising or setting sun. Driving east or west doesn't help with the sun in my eyes the pupils close and the dash is to dim to read, with the sun at the sides or rear, washout occurs. Shading with my hand helps a little just to read the speedometer that is a shade brighter. My own three cars have analog dashes and I have to dim them down at night so I can see the road. Interesting that K5 just has the opposite problems.

I detest these aftermarket radios, not only the display you can only read in pitch black darkness, but the tiny multifunction buttons where you have to key in a long sequence just to change the radio station bands. I don't see where these are any better than OE radios that most of them, you can still read.

k5guy on Wed November 05, 2003 11:32 PM User is offline

GM did a poor job of designing the lighting on this dash. They positioned the bulbs behind the gauges that they were intended to illuminate, and use reflection to provide some indirect lighting. Just imagine trying to read page 22 of a book with a mag-light positioned behind the book shining on the front and back covers. Sure you can read it from the light bouncing around the room. But it's a prescription for eye strain.

The mod about uses chrome paint to create a mirror of every surface behind the gauges. I am still impressed with it.

George, I had considered using LEDs and different bulbs. But the ones in there are adequate for the task. If I need to rip the dash apart again to replace the bulbs, I may reconsider the LED solution. However, I would change the placement for the lights, which is the real problem. My mother used to tell me to put the light behind me when reading.


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Edited: Wed November 05, 2003 at 11:34 PM by k5guy

NickD on Thu November 06, 2003 7:49 AM User is offline

In the same vehicle, some of the guys at GM do a very good job, while others do a very poor job.

What I would like like to know is, is it the guys that are doing a very good job or is it the guys that are doing a very bad job that are the guys smoking crack?

Bigchris on Thu November 06, 2003 8:27 PM User is offline

I don't know. Why don't you pass some joints around and we'll give it some serious thought?

k5guy on Thu November 06, 2003 11:36 PM User is offline

Nick, I really think it's "design by committee". Different people have different trade-offs that they are willing to make, some to cut costs, some to really make things better. Sometimes they think that things are just good enough.

Here are a couple examples of what I mean by Dispair.com





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