my Dash lights on my MazdaSpeed protege seem really dim

[lavishauto]

Does anybody else notice that there Dash lights seem to be really dull? they dont seem as crisp or bright as some cars. I had an 03 Civic and the dash lights were red and very crisp and bright. those were perfect. and id like to have my dash lights on my MSP to be like that. if i was able to get a dash light kit or something id either like it to be Orange like stock or red. id like to keep the original dash gauges themselves too. just change the lights. does anybody know what i could do to help with this? and the dial is turned all the way up so thats not it.

 

[nicholsspeed]

could be corrosion on the terminals in the switch. ive watched many YouTube videos of these cars, and i have noticed that they were never that bright. though,

 

[njaremka]

newer cars use led's behind the gauges, and a LOT of them, too. MSP has a few small filament bulbs. it is possible yours has a few bulbs out, and making it dimmer. but, yeah, they never really were all that bright to begin with.

 

[lavishauto]

I'll have to look at all the stuff u guys mentioned and see what's up. Thanks

 

[float_6969]

Probably burned out, or dim bulbs, although as the others have said, the stock gauges are pretty dim anyway.

I plan on doing and LED conversion sometime for this same reason. If you want to, I suggest going HERE. I've used them a bunch of times and they're a great company.

 

[lavishauto]

I'll check it out. This is for anybody reading this too, but I took my Cluster out of my dash and looked at the bulbs. And on the bulbs themselves there's orange covers on 4 bulbs. I took those off and it made it brighter and it's still orange because the cluster is orange BUT it's only bright where those 4 bulbs are. Everywhere else is still dim. Seems like I have a bulb out too but I'm not sure.

 

[lavishauto]

I had an 03 civic and the dash lights where the speedo and stuff was were perfect! They were bright red and very crisp and that's what I wanna do with this car. But the face of the gauges on these cars are just dull and that doesn't help

 

[njaremka]

yeah, the lighting distribution behind the gauges is not that great. it can be improved a little bit by using plug-n-play led bulbs, but it still won't be anywhere near as clear and sharp as any newer car. if you really want to get dirty, you could wire up a series of led's placed around the back of each gauge. that will make it REALLY bright.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

whats the bulb size for the gauge cluster bulbs again?

 

[njaremka]

two 194's, and two 74's... at least that's what i have installed into mine.

 

[lavishauto]

I don't have any clue

 

[lavishauto]

I'd do it. But it seems like to much work..

 

[lavishauto]

Since I took those covers off. I've noticed that my bulbs are very dim. So I need new ones

 

[njaremka]

have you adjusted the dimmer switch?

 

[float_6969]

He said he had in the OP

 

[njaremka]

fail on my reading comprehension

 

[float_6969]

No soup for you! [/Seinfield reference]

 

[chuck b]

I took my Cluster out of my dash and looked at the bulbs. And on the bulbs themselves there's orange covers on 4 bulbs. I took those off and it made it brighter and it's still orange because the cluster is orange BUT it's only bright where those 4 bulbs are. Everywhere else is still dim. Seems like I have a bulb out too but I'm not sure.

I did exactlly what you did a few years ago w/ the same result- all bulbs were fine BTW. I'm too lazy to improve this w/ an LED upgrade. yes- pretty lame, they seem completely out in certain light conditions. my old SE-R was much better.

 

[lavishauto]

Im gunna look again at the bulbs because some of them I monkeyed with, and im gunna see if the bulbs are turned all the way in because they might not be touching the medal strips fully

 

[VIPMSP]

Probably burned out, or dim bulbs, although as the others have said, the stock gauges are pretty dim anyway.

I plan on doing and LED conversion sometime for this same reason. If you want to, I suggest going HERE. I've used them a bunch of times and they're a great company.

those look legit... my bulbs are rather dim as well, may end up getting some of those when i do replace them.