"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
06/23/2015 at 11:55 • Filed to: None
3
12|
"deekster_caddy" (deekster_caddy)
06/23/2015 at 11:55 • Filed to: None | 3
| 12 |
Going to try a photodump from a project I did last weekend. Took the speedometer and instrument panel out of my dash to replace all the bulbs, because I have a hard time fitting my hand up behind the cluster to turn the little bulb clips out. Half of the bulbs were out, had no idea how much gas I had left at night! Bonus, I took pictures!
I was fascinated by the simplicity of the whole thing. Need the bulb colored? Just put a lens in front of it! Need it to show a word? Just print the word on the lens!
tl;dr, replaced all the bulbs in the speedo. Link to flickr album, it’s the last 15 or so pics in the album: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Started taking apart, rubber covers and colored plastic lenses all over the place. Took me a few minutes to figure out what was going on...
Hole/Base empty with speedo cable and plug
Back of panel with lighting circuits
Back of display cover
Lighting panel without speedo or lenses
Closeup of HOT/Fasten Seat Belt cover - my car has no seat belt buzzer or fasten seat belt bulb. I wonder what would happen if I put a bulb in there. It’s lit just because it’s open behind the lens.
Speedo out of panel
Closeup of back, how to remove speedo cable - push in the metal tab under the hole while pulling the cable back. Very difficult to find this info, discovered it by trial and error. Really easy to do once you know this ONE SIMPLE TRICK...
Some lenses installed over panel bulbs
Lenses and covers loose
Lenses on and some bulbs lit
Installed with key on (no plexiglass cover)
Reassembled, most bulbs lit
(sorry about the reflections, best I could do!)
HammerheadFistpunch
> deekster_caddy
06/23/2015 at 12:04 |
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This could be a show on the “discovery” channel. Next week on Behind the speedometer...
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HammerheadFistpunch
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/23/2015 at 12:07 |
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I should point out that I’m not making fun;I think this is really cool. okay I AM making fun of the discovery channel a little, but not this post.
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deekster_caddy
> HammerheadFistpunch
06/23/2015 at 12:07 |
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Really, you think about how a modern dashboard doesn’t need any bulbs besides the display backlight, just a bunch of software driving a display panel and maybe a special bulb or two for Check Engine and Brake, but even those are going away.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> deekster_caddy
06/23/2015 at 12:11 |
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Its a funny trade off we’ve made: Less to break, but higher consequences for when it does.
lone_liberal
> deekster_caddy
06/23/2015 at 12:15 |
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Great pictures! I replaced the entire assembly in my Camaro and went from idiot lights to gauges while I was doing it. You’re right that there is precious little info out there about doing it and it also took me a bit to figure out the speedometer cable trick.
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deekster_caddy
> lone_liberal
06/23/2015 at 12:32 |
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Thanks! I was sick of not being able to see half my dash... now that I’ve done it, I might do it again with LEDs. Why not go bright...
uofime-2
> deekster_caddy
06/23/2015 at 12:33 |
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I visited a supplier who makes a lot of these for several manufacturers and they still look similar today
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lone_liberal
> deekster_caddy
06/23/2015 at 12:35 |
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True. I might do something like that too since once I got it all reassembled and installed back in the dash I realized that the one gauge besides the speedometer I was able to reuse, the fuel gauge, was broken.
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deekster_caddy
> lone_liberal
06/23/2015 at 12:54 |
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You can buy a 10-pack of 194 LEDs on Amazon or Ebay for under $10. Beats buying them individually for $8 each... Make sure the LEDs are at least “5 LED” bulbs, not 1 LED bulbs - the 1 LED replacements aren’t bright enough, or so I’ve read... I just ordered these guys from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00… - only $6!!!
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lone_liberal
> deekster_caddy
06/23/2015 at 13:03 |
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Nice! That’s cheap enough that even if I don’t like the result there isn’t anything lost.
Echo51
> deekster_caddy
06/30/2015 at 17:42 |
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Mine has the printed lens for glow plug pre-heating even when it’s a gas model! And i believe all speedos are prepared for the “extra” low fuel warning light low washer fluid levels too, with a seperate screw-on PCB and all!
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deekster_caddy
> Echo51
06/30/2015 at 21:31 |
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This is from a ‘73 Buick, no glow plug lens (although my dad had an 80’s diesel cutlass with all the lights...). I just saw a CL ad for one with a trip odometer! And some Buicks had a speed warning, literally a needle you moved on the speedometer face and when the needles met it set off a buzzer