White Tach Cluster - Needle Lights??

[hckrphil]

Where do the cluster NEEDLES get their light from? My newly installed Speedometer w/ tach lights up fine, it is just the NEEDLES that do not light up properly.

Do the needles light up from TOP down?

See pic...



Thanks!
~Phil

[1988festivazoom]

yeah its the lights on top. last time i took my cluster out the poped out and i cant see the needels verry well now.

[Roboskittle]

Sorry bout the lights dude. Looks like everything else is working good though.

[hckrphil]

Everything else is working great.... lights should be an easy fix Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I lubed my speedo cable while I had it all torn down..... really seemed to help.... no more jumping needle

I also love the buzzer to let you know your lights are on if the key isn't in the ignition That will be a major help

Sorry bout the lights dude. Looks like everything else is working good though.

[DrMaxwellEdison]

are the gauges supposed to be backlit like that on Non-tach clusters as well, I mean with the lit up numbers? my mom has a Non-tach cluster in her Festiva (mine has a Tach, which is perfectly lit) and her cluster is solely lit by the lights for the needles above the cluster... is there anyway to fix this?

[marinepolice03]

replace the bulbs. yes as far as i know that are all lit.

[blkfordsedan]

I believe Tach clusters are the only ones that are back-lit. That's one of the things that makes them desirable. IMO, you can always add an aftermarket Tach, but the back-lighting and headlight reminder buzzer are wonderful!

[DrMaxwellEdison]

i could do without that (arena only language) buzzer

[25Horseplay]

A nice upgrade on the tach cluster lighting is to replace the light bar at the top with the light bar from a non tach unit. The non tach unit has 4 bulbs and the tach unit only has 2 bulbs.

[TominMO]

A nice upgrade on the tach cluster lighting is to replace the light bar at the top with the light bar from a non tach unit. The non tach unit has 4 bulbs and the tach unit only has 2 bulbs.

There is also a long rectangular plastic piece that fits between the lights and the gauges, which severely limits the light. It is mostly black except for small sections which are green, above the speedo and tach. You can remove it completely, or replace it with something that is all green, or whatever color you want. I used a small piece of a green translucent plastic folder I found at Office Max for a buck.

I am also wondering if it would be possible to get some type of reflective paint to put on the needles themselves. Or radium paint, like that on gunsights or watch faces.

[blkfordsedan]

I've used Testors model paint in flourescent orange before when "restoring" speedos & guages on older cars. Seemed to work well.
I suppose you can still get it, although I haven't seen plastic models in any stores for a long time.

[hckrphil]

I know what I'll be doing when I tear it apart again haha

A nice upgrade on the tach cluster lighting is to replace the light bar at the top with the light bar from a non tach unit. The non tach unit has 4 bulbs and the tach unit only has 2 bulbs.

[TominMO]

I am going to buy some luminous paint for the needles:

http://www.thefind.com/crafts/info-luminous-paint

[ejp2fast]

or use LED's like this