Help with dash LEDs

s-seriesguy · 11-08-2005, 06:44 PM

I bought a pair of the #74 leds for my dash to light up the areas I have circled. I found this picture on this site, so somehow someone got them to work.

I twisted the stock plug out and removed the bulb, then I placed the new led into the plug and put it back in. I tuned the lights on and nothing, they would not light up at all. I switched them around thinking I had them in the wrong way, and the still did not light up. I pressed the metal contacts on the plug more on to the LED to get a better contact, still nothing. So now I'm getting frustrated thinking they are bad to begin with, I tested them with a 9V battery and they lit up.

Does the instrument cluster not supply enough power to the indicator lights to light up these LEDs, or do I need to do some modification to them? Can anyone shed some light on this and help me? Thanks

Kevin94SL · 11-08-2005, 09:11 PM

LED's take almost no power to function. I can't see any reason why they wouldn't light up if correctly biased (correct polarity is retained...). Why they aren't working, I am not sure. If you have a meter, I would check that you are still getting power at the contacts that you have there for those bulbs...

Low Saturn · 11-09-2005, 12:02 AM

Are they bare LED's or LED bulbs? If they are bare LEDs and you are plugging them directly into the light socket, you're giving them too much voltage. You also need a resistor.

s-seriesguy · 11-09-2005, 01:32 AM

No, they are the wedge LED bulbs that are supposed to be direct replacements for the stock 74 size bulbs.

The same as these.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/74-37...QQcmdZViewItem

sps SOHC · 11-09-2005, 10:56 AM

You have them in the wrong way. Turn them again, turn them again, make sure it's getting contact.

oh, and now that I look at the picture... THOSE AREN'T THE RIGHT BUBLS! At least not for the instrument cluster. You need different ones. Go to www.superbrightleds.com

s-seriesguy · 11-09-2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sps SOHC

You have them in the wrong way. Turn them again, turn them again, make sure it's getting contact.

oh, and now that I look at the picture... THOSE AREN'T THE RIGHT BUBLS! At least not for the instrument cluster. You need different ones. Go to www.superbrightleds.com

Why are they not the right bulbs? For the two areas I have circled, a #74 bulb is used. This led is supposed to be a replacemnet for it, and it is the same size as the stock bulb.

geartooth94 · 11-10-2005, 12:09 AM

I am the author of that pic, thank you very much!

And I got those LEDS from superbrightleds.com also. I just got the LED "bulbs" without the base (because I re-used the stock bases) . The resistor is either built into the LED base (reason it's called a "bulb") or the LED is a special 12 volt one.

It is a tight fit to get them in the stock lamp base, but they will go. Just use another LED. Maybe it is bad for some reason. Or you could clean the conacts on the circuit sheeting @ the back of the cluster.

Of those 5 or 6 top floodlight LEDs, only 3 or 4 are working. I think the LEDs are poor quality.

I have a fix in mind that involves EL glow wire to be the floodlight. Just have to get some $$$ together though.

s-seriesguy · 11-10-2005, 05:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geartooth94

I am the author of that pic, thank you very much!

And I got those LEDS from superbrightleds.com also. I just got the LED "bulbs" without the base (because I re-used the stock bases) . The resistor is either built into the LED base (reason it's called a "bulb") or the LED is a special 12 volt one.

It is a tight fit to get them in the stock lamp base, but they will go. Just use another LED. Maybe it is bad for some reason. Or you could clean the conacts on the circuit sheeting @ the back of the cluster.

Of those 5 or 6 top floodlight LEDs, only 3 or 4 are working. I think the LEDs are poor quality.

I have a fix in mind that involves EL glow wire to be the floodlight. Just have to get some $$$ together though.

I'll have to give this a try again. I know it was a pain to get them to fit to begin with. If they lit up with a 9V, surely they will work in the car no problem. The stock bulbs light up still, so I'll just jam them in next time.

Also, I've got another question for you. How have your LEDs been holding up in the areas circled? I've seen on other boards where people have done the LEDs and they have burned out in a very short period of time. How long do these usually last? Thanks

dansl2 · 11-10-2005, 10:46 PM

Don't know if this applies to you, but the bulbs I replaced in my 2K had contacts for both inside & ouside of the circuit board. I got some aftermarket (Sylvania)bulbs that fit, but only had contacts for the outside of the board. They worked ok for my "opera" lights, but didn't for any of the others on the cluster-all those have underside board connections.

thoroxin · 11-11-2005, 08:09 PM

I was wondering what kind those lights(blue) that are behind the speedometer and tach?
please and thank you

11-08-2005, 06:44 PM	#1
s-seriesguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,844	Help with dash LEDs I bought a pair of the #74 leds for my dash to light up the areas I have circled. I found this picture on this site, so somehow someone got them to work. I twisted the stock plug out and removed the bulb, then I placed the new led into the plug and put it back in. I tuned the lights on and nothing, they would not light up at all. I switched them around thinking I had them in the wrong way, and the still did not light up. I pressed the metal contacts on the plug more on to the LED to get a better contact, still nothing. So now I'm getting frustrated thinking they are bad to begin with, I tested them with a 9V battery and they lit up. Does the instrument cluster not supply enough power to the indicator lights to light up these LEDs, or do I need to do some modification to them? Can anyone shed some light on this and help me? Thanks

11-08-2005, 09:11 PM	#2
Kevin94SL Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,602 Kevin94SL's Photos 2006 ION-3 Sedan	Re: Help with dash LEDs LED's take almost no power to function. I can't see any reason why they wouldn't light up if correctly biased (correct polarity is retained...). Why they aren't working, I am not sure. If you have a meter, I would check that you are still getting power at the contacts that you have there for those bulbs... ... Kevin

11-09-2005, 12:02 AM	#3
Low Saturn Super Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 15,308 Low Saturn's Photos 2007 AURA XR 2001 SC2	Re: Help with dash LEDs Are they bare LED's or LED bulbs? If they are bare LEDs and you are plugging them directly into the light socket, you're giving them too much voltage. You also need a resistor.

11-09-2005, 01:32 AM	#4
s-seriesguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,844	Re: Help with dash LEDs No, they are the wedge LED bulbs that are supposed to be direct replacements for the stock 74 size bulbs. The same as these. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/74-37...QQcmdZViewItem

11-09-2005, 10:56 AM	#5
sps SOHC Master Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 4,036 sps SOHC's Photos 1996 SC2	Re: Help with dash LEDs You have them in the wrong way. Turn them again, turn them again, make sure it's getting contact. oh, and now that I look at the picture... THOSE AREN'T THE RIGHT BUBLS! At least not for the instrument cluster. You need different ones. Go to www.superbrightleds.com ... -96 SC2 gets 35 mpg mix city/hw.

11-10-2005, 12:09 AM	#7
geartooth94 Master Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 3,879 geartooth94's Photos	Re: Help with dash LEDs I am the author of that pic, thank you very much! And I got those LEDS from superbrightleds.com also. I just got the LED "bulbs" without the base (because I re-used the stock bases) . The resistor is either built into the LED base (reason it's called a "bulb") or the LED is a special 12 volt one. It is a tight fit to get them in the stock lamp base, but they will go. Just use another LED. Maybe it is bad for some reason. Or you could clean the conacts on the circuit sheeting @ the back of the cluster. Of those 5 or 6 top floodlight LEDs, only 3 or 4 are working. I think the LEDs are poor quality. I have a fix in mind that involves EL glow wire to be the floodlight. Just have to get some $$$ together though. ... 1996 Dodge Avenger ES: 2.5L V6

11-10-2005, 10:46 PM	#9
dansl2 Advanced Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oakland CA Posts: 963 2000 SL2	Re: Help with dash LEDs Don't know if this applies to you, but the bulbs I replaced in my 2K had contacts for both inside & ouside of the circuit board. I got some aftermarket (Sylvania)bulbs that fit, but only had contacts for the outside of the board. They worked ok for my "opera" lights, but didn't for any of the others on the cluster-all those have underside board connections. ... Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

11-11-2005, 08:09 PM	#10
thoroxin New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 6	Re: Help with dash LEDs I was wondering what kind those lights(blue) that are behind the speedometer and tach? please and thank you

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