Dash started smoking using led light bulbs...

[Robert Kyle]

If it lasts thousands of hours, one less opportunity to break my back reaching under the dash to change bulbs

[ray_]

Fine. But I've never seen the indicator bulbs fail.

 

 

[tech71]

They could be useful as reverse lights as long as they didn't start melting stuff.

Probably should get my reverse lights working first. Hoping they magically start working again when I plug my hazard switch back in?

[Tsingtao_1903]

15 minutes ago, Robert Kyle said:

If it lasts thousands of hours, one less opportunity to break my back reaching under the dash to change bulbs

With some practice, you can sit in the driver seat, unscrew the two knurled knobs, screw out the speedo nut, and disengage the speedo cable.  Feel for the big connector from the wire harness; disconnect it.  Perhaps the connector from your clock, disconnect it. Wiggle and pull out the whole cluster assembly toward you.  Be mindful of any grounding wires.  Can be done without breaking your back.   

 

It would be best if you disconnect the battery first in case you have any live wires hanging loose back there.

[ray_]

Even faster if the knurled knobs are in a box in the garage

[Mike Self]

15 hours ago, Robert Kyle said:

L Charge (Red) (I think I'll change this back to incandescent; I don't think LEDs should probably go here???)

You're correct.  The incandescent bulb in the charge socket is vital to the charging system.  If it's burned out or replaced with an LED, the alternator won't charge the battery.

 

Were it my car and I had the cluster out, I'd change all the illumination bulbs for new incandescent ones and you'll (probably) be good for 30 years or so...Incandescent bulbs do get dim with age, so new bulbs will be brighter than the old ones.

 

mike

[rcf925]

I've had my cluster out so many times it's about 2 minute job to get out

[zambo]

On 4/16/2020 at 4:18 AM, rcf925 said:

I've had my cluster out so many times it's about 2 minute job to get out

 

Same - an easy job once you've had it in and out a few times. I've got a bag of LED's I've come by in the past, but I am not sure I need more illumination than this - with a fully operational dimmer function.

 

[Mike A]

On 4/14/2020 at 6:22 PM, adawil2002 said:

 

Edited April 17, 2020 by Mike A

[Mike A]

I needed an incandescent in the battery slot for the tach to function 

[SASH_2002]

Ive just pulled my cluster out to fix the Tach.  Thought I'd replace all the bulbs whilst I'm at it.  So purchased these:

Osram W5W Original Line 2825 12V

 

Now I've re-installed and when I switch the main headlights on, there's smoke coming from that general direction??  

 

Should I have stuck with 3w bulbs?  confused now......