Let there be light ..

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norseman

norseman

Well-Known Member
Posts
3,259
Location
Essex - UK
With the complete instrument cluster currently out of my RRC ('87 3.5efi) to rectify a faulty speedo, can I ask if anyone has been successful in retro-fitting brighter bulbs/LEDs to improve the pathetic level of instrument back-lighting on a Classic?

Also, Speedy Cables have confirmed that they can recon. the speedo. but their turn-around time is currently being quoted as 6-8 weeks.
Can anyone suggest an alternative specialist? Having mine fail at just 63k miles doesn't give me the confidence to have a used unit fitted.

Thank guys.
 
norseman said:
With the complete instrument cluster currently out of my RRC ('87 3.5efi) to rectify a faulty speedo, can I ask if anyone has been successful in retro-fitting brighter bulbs/LEDs to improve the pathetic level of instrument back-lighting on a Classic?

Also, Speedy Cables have confirmed that they can recon. the speedo. but their turn-around time is currently being quoted as 6-8 weeks.
Can anyone suggest an alternative specialist? Having mine fail at just 63k miles doesn't give me the confidence to have a used unit fitted.

Thank guys.
Click to expand...

If it's like most 80's Landies, the bulbs will have a plastic 'sheath' over the bulb, sometimes just removing that helps
 
Thanks guys, I wasn't aware of any 'sheath' over the bulbs but will investigate that before re-installing the cluster.

nb: what was the purpose of them anyway .. heat containment perhaps?
 
I never found the dash illumination an issue and sometimes used the dimming function, also some items have a fibre optic for illumination the for the associated master bulb could be iffy.

For genuine illumination there only four bulbs, and white if I remember correctly, also because of the design of LED bulbs are viewed end on, so single LEDs don't give much light to illuminate the area of the dash…speedo- rev counter.
LEDs are ok for the warning lamps in the dash and are a lot brighter if thats what you’re after.
 
martyuk comverted all his dash to LEDs but there was a lot of soldering required. I think he installed them in the original bulb caps. He went for blue but they worked really well with his black trim.
 
Grrrrrr said:
martyuk comverted all his dash to LEDs but there was a lot of soldering required. I think he installed them in the original bulb caps. He went for blue but they worked really well with his black trim.
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Appreciate that, but the moment I read that soldering was involved I decided to suffer the dim dash lighting that I've put up with for the past 16 years ;)

Cluster is at the repairers since yesterday, hopefully a fairly quick turn around. The RR is only a second car, but you can bet your bottom dollar that when it's VOR the need to use it will arise.
 
Ratae said:
If you do need to use the car & have a satnav or an iphone use that as a temporary speedometer.
Probably a lot more accurate than the one in the car!
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Good idea but the entire cluster is out of the car, so no gauges or warning lights either.
The car is used to being idle for anything up to a month sometimes, so I'm not under pressure.
 
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