Question about tach cluster lights.

[zoe60]

The thread about led's in an orange tach cluster got me wondering if a person could use 168 bulbs (4.9 watts) for the four illumination bulbs instead of 194's (3.7 watts)? I got some and put them in one I have on the bench and they are quite a bit brighter, which I like a lot, but they also get hotter. Has anyone else done this and if so will it burn up the cluster eventually or will it be alright? Thanks for playing!

[Team Lightning]

I believe that some of the leds that size are listed for both 168 and 194. I think you would be alright using them.

[w4rkry]

When I wrote that, I used LEDs for both the brightness and lower heat output. Do you have a certain aversion to using LEDs?

As far as a High-Output incandescent, you have to make sure the base is T10 and that the bulb will physically fit inside those white internal bulb surrounds. As you probably saw, they sit very close to the plastic. If it is too close and too hot over time, you may start to brown and crack the Plastic. I would definitely keep a careful eye on it if you are going to run hotter bulbs.

[theastronaut]

What is the fascination with extra bright gauge lights? Every forum I get on has people asking about brighter lights or LED's. The stock headlights on a Festiva are just barely adequate at best, and even with a relay harness and higher quality headlight bulbs the stock gauge lighting will be more intense than the headlights. Your eyes will adjust to whichever is more intense, so you won't be able to see as far down the road if the gauges are too brightly illuminated. I think it's more important to see where I'm going, than seeing how fast I'm going there. The dimmer is there for a reason, to keep from overpowering the headlights. I replaced the factory bulbs with the original style bulbs, and repainted the "light hood" white so it reflects more light from the bulbs onto the face of the gauges. After doing that I have to run them nearly fully dimmed to keep from being brighter than the headlights, but I can still see the gauges enough to read them.

[ryanprins13]

What is the fascination with extra bright gauge lights? Every forum I get on has people asking about brighter lights or LED's. The stock headlights on a Festiva are just barely adequate at best, and even with a relay harness and higher quality headlight bulbs the stock gauge lighting will be more intense than the headlights. Your eyes will adjust to whichever is more intense, so you won't be able to see as far down the road if the gauges are too brightly illuminated. I think it's more important to see where I'm going, than seeing how fast I'm going there. The dimmer is there for a reason, to keep from overpowering the headlights. I replaced the factory bulbs with the original style bulbs, and repainted the "light hood" white so it reflects more light from the bulbs onto the face of the gauges. After doing that I have to run them nearly fully dimmed to keep from being brighter than the headlights, but I can still see the gauges enough to read them.

The first festiva i had for 9yrs i could never see the dash very well. I replaced the bulbs but it was never easy to see.
The festiva i just bought has great dash lights! I have to dim them, but the problem i have is that stupid blue high beam indicator light doesnt dim and ends up blinding me anyway. It quit working the other day but the problem with removing that bulb or putting tape over it is its sometimes hard to tell if you have your high beams on as they hardly light up the road, lol.
So is there a low output bulb for that? Or some translucent cover thats safe to go over the bulb that will dim the output without melting stuff?
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[zoe60]

I would actually prefer led's, but I don't feel like modifying my cluster much. If there is a specific led bulb that will be brighter than a 194 incandescent I would be interested but I would rather just replace the existing four bulbs with plug in replacements. When I look at the specs the lumens tend to be lower on leds. Like I say, I am happy with the look of the 168 incandescent bulbs but I am afraid they may get too hot. I drove with my orange cluster for years and only switched to white because I got a white radio. Now I have an orange radio and will probably switch back over to orange instruments but I do like the brightness of the white cluster. A 161 bulb may dim the high beam indicator. They are dimmer that 194's. I'm open to suggestions, please chime in!

[w4rkry]

I would be interested but I would rather just replace the existing four bulbs with plug in replacements.

If you read through my LED thread again you will see that I am using drop in replacements. Just buy them (T10) in the color of your choice and ignore the rest of the steps.

Or some translucent cover thats safe to go over the bulb that will dim the output without melting stuff?
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The Factory Green bulbs use a form of rubber/latex to tint them, so you may be able to buy replacements in blue or black that would dim the output. Or just color the Blue plastic with a black sharpie on the backside.

[william]

What is the fascination with extra bright gauge lights? Every forum I get on has people asking about brighter lights or LED's. The stock headlights on a Festiva are just barely adequate at best, and even with a relay harness and higher quality headlight bulbs the stock gauge lighting will be more intense than the headlights. Your eyes will adjust to whichever is more intense, so you won't be able to see as far down the road if the gauges are too brightly illuminated. I think it's more important to see where I'm going, than seeing how fast I'm going there. The dimmer is there for a reason, to keep from overpowering the headlights. I replaced the factory bulbs with the original style bulbs, and repainted the "light hood" white so it reflects more light from the bulbs onto the face of the gauges. After doing that I have to run them nearly fully dimmed to keep from being brighter than the headlights, but I can still see the gauges enough to read them.

I totally agree here, my factory headlights are about as good as they get without retrofitting and I keep my dash dimmed all the way! My housings are in great shape and Ive got some good replacement bulbs and my headlights are aimed well , up a bit higher then try should really be and the dash lights still. Bother me.
I don't understand why people what them brighter

[Rick the Quick]

I totally agree here, my factory headlights are about as good as they get without retrofitting and I keep my dash dimmed all the way! My housings are in great shape and Ive got some good replacement bulbs and my headlights are aimed well , up a bit higher then try should really be and the dash lights still. Bother me.
I don't understand why people what them brighter

I'm with you Willy. Ever notice how bright the dash lights are on other peoples cars? I'm more for putting the brightness where I need it.....on the road.

[w4rkry]

For me, it was primarily about the even-ness and color. I like the ability to have it bright enough to see it on in the daylight, to emulate a modern dash that is either always lit or LCD based.

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[zoe60]

Well, I ordered some Phillips X-treme vision T10 LED bulbs and put them in today. They are 6000 Kelvin and supposedly 50 lumens. They look brighter and whiter on the bench. I have some T5 led's coming for the top lights as well but don't have them yet. To me it's a big upgrade without a lot of modification. So far I like them quite a bit. About $40.00 for four though.

[zoe60]

For me, it was primarily about the even-ness and color. I like the ability to have it bright enough to see it on in the daylight, to emulate a modern dash that is either always lit or LCD based.

- Korean Note 4 via Tapatalk -

Your modification looks really good, and with my new bulbs the tach looks just slightly dimmer than the speedo. I will drive it for a while and I may get into it again. I'm looking forward to putting my orange stuff back in. White is OK but I think I prefer the original. Got a good looking orange radio now.

[w4rkry]

Your modification looks really good, and with my new bulbs the tach looks just slightly dimmer than the speedo. I will drive it for a while and I may get into it again. I'm looking forward to putting my orange stuff back in. White is OK but I think I prefer the original. Got a good looking orange radio now.

Yea, due to the factory bulb placement , it is very hard to get perfectly even light. That was the primary motivator for my mod!