So, I was inspired by this thread to replace my faded dash lights today - best $10 mod ever!

Below are some pics:

The dash before, with no lights on:


There are 5 Phillips screws you need to first remove to get the dash bezel off:







Disconnect the 3 plugs from the dash to the dash bezel:





There are 4 more screws that hold the gauge cluster on:








When you pull the gauge cluster toward you, there are 3 plugs that connect, as well as the speedo cable, which you see in the photo below:



To get the speedo cable off pinch the plastic tab and pull away from the gauge cluster, as you can see the tab on the cable below:



Gauge cluster is OFF:





The OLD bulbs...covered in green plastic skin:




The NEW bulbs:





AND THE NEW DASH WITH AMBER BULBS:






Unfortunately, for some reason, the right side of the gauge lights fade in and out randomly....still need to figure out why that is and how to fix it :/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy_112zW5ZI

 

Phil... that looks really good! I have to admit, ...when watching your video, being exhausted and a bit silly in the head at the moment... I couldn't stop laughing at your commentary at the end, hahaha. I know it's not funny... I feel bad you've got a glitch... I PROMISE I wasn't laughing at you or your sitch... just that I CAN TOTALLY RELATE! It's that syndrome of "It missed like a cam'd 454 bored .60 over running on alcohol, for 5 years straight! ...then, I drove into the mechanic and POOF, it WOULD NOT mess up! Ahhhhhh!" lol. I know, it's slightly different...but you get my point. Either way, I know you'll get it worked out and IT LOOKS GREAT, GUYS!

PS> Might try pulling the cluster again and shooting some dielectric grease on the circuit sleeves, see if it gives you the contact you're needing. I had to gently pry mine out a lil on my 86, .... never did it again. It was like that from new, according to the original owner. I guess they mashed the leads in the connector at the factory or something?

 

thanks

What do you mean about the dielectric grease? I have some....

there is the blue film with the connectors inside it - like a PCB for a computer part. What would I do with the grease exactly? Didn't quite follow you there

 

Just slather it on the connectors before you plug them back in to the cluster. However, re-reading your issue and watching the vid again.... seems equally possible(maybe even more likely) that it could be a wire hanging on by a thread, ... That's getting into Chassis Electrical which I'm just learning myself. However, I'm sure you could unplug the one connector that controls the lights to that side of the cluster, turn on the lights and check for voltage fluctuation on that terminal. If you have access to an FSM, I bet you can find that section in no time. Could just be a connector bung backing out of the connector housing? ... You know, a type of 'JUST BAAAAAAARELY TOUCHING' condition? ORRRRR< is it possible that the bulb, itself, is just not getting a good contact on the platform where you're inserting it? (It did this before you changed out the bulbs, right?) Maybe you can turn it on with it plugged in and press or wiggled the actual bulb to verify/rule out that theory? I've had other types of bulbs... but bulbs nonetheless, DO JUST THIS! Especially in the Brake light area. I kept blowing bulbs.... it was the ding I'd gotten in the rear, it moved the contact spot for the bulb and made it flicker on and off when driving down the road(said the CHP officer, ahhaha). I'd try that first!

Just throwing it out there. As far as the grease... i just meant on the connector, where it plugs on to the plastic-like flaps(with the copper contact strips on them) that are some what 'risen', inside the cluster itself, ya know?

 

thanks Chef - I tested voltage on the circuit board with the guilty bulb in place and lights on - 12 volts. That makes me think it's a loose Yazaki bulb carrier connection....so I took out all 4 bulbs and carriers, bent the 2 contacts out a little more on each carrier, and then used CNC electrical contact cleaner and dielectric grease for all the connections.

After hooking it up again, and letting the lights stay on for a minute or two, it seems to be holding with no flicker...I guess time will tell if that did the trick

I'm going to stop hijacking Cougar's thread now...

Thanks!

 

Add the bulb change to your sig Phil. Your write-ups are awesome with the detail and pictures. Too good to be hidden in someone else's build up thread! Just a thought...

 

Thanks!

I just created a new thread and copied/pasted most of the content from this section, with photos.

My signature is limited to 1,000 characters, including the hyperlinked URLs, so I had to really cut it down to fit the extra DIY...guess that's the cap!

 

Good stuff Phil! Helps the newbs like myself out a ton!

 

Dang I go away for the weekend and my thread gets Jacked!!!. JK that looks good Phil. I was going to mention the tabs on the bulb holders but you did that. the reason I would think that is because all the bulbs are on the same circuit so for only one to have a problem its either not making good contact or the trace on the back of the cluster is damaged.

 

Cougar - in hindsight that makes absolute sense now...duh

 

Welp its been a little while since I have added anything to my thread. I think philbert has added more than me!!!. I got bored today and decided to do some work on the truck, plus I had a break from the wifes car. thats a whole nother issue. I had bought some ignition wires and stuff for a project car I am working on but since its so far from done I decided to use then on the runner.



I also had a set of wire organizers or what ever they are called

so off too mount on the truck.

this is a before pic of the wires, was really not very nice.

that is the cap, a month ago I found the center wire loose. the contacts inside are good, but i will replace with a yota oem later.

I had to cut the strait ends off of me own and put them on the new wires because all I had were the 90deg. ends for the v8 and they worn work on the yota.


there is the first wire on. the words were backwords so i twisted them to the bottom out of site.

got wires 2,3,and 4 on just one left
got all the other ends on cut to length, custom set of wires.

that was alot of work, took a few hours too do but I think they look awsome. I am still waiting for my fan control from dc controls, suppost to take about three weeks and its going on 4 so i need to call down there and see whats up. also I think the tps is on the way out, my idles been jumping around a little and when i move the connector the idle changes. may be a loose wire in the connector. I may just get a new tps just for peace of mind. Headed to courtwright resevour after church tommorrow, coming back monday. gona check out chicken rock on the dusy ershim trail.

 

SWEEEET! Looking great, Cougar. Looking forward to the next set of pics from up there this weekend. Happy Holiday, have fun!

 

It's nice seeing a clean 22R-E!

I like the wire holder bracket thingy too, bet I could make one...hmmmmm...

 

sweet build, dude. You have put a lot of work in. Like the tires, too, I have the same one in a 16

I saw you said you didn't have a lead for a new tailgate piece. I have a spare one, in perfect shape, if you want it. I just hope you saved the old one for the key to match. PM me if you are interested.

Keep up the good work!

 

Kiyobrown- thanks for the Offer. I guess I havent put it up here I did find one finally at the wrecking yard. It had the switch and everything and the lady only charged me 7.50 for it. got a deal. I cleaned it up, put fresh bulbs in and had it rekeyed to match my door locks. I love it. no more going to the cab to lower the window in the rear.

BigBluePile-You can buy those for fairly cheap, they are made for v8 wires for a hotrod or muscle car. I have one more, If my friend dont want it you can have it for shipping cost. I will let you know.

 

Sweet. Glad you found it. On with the build!!!

 

Yeah man, let me know! Thanks!!!

 

went on a trip up too courtwright sunday afternoon and came back down monday afternoon, My Friend from church SPCMike went with me in his toy and brought his brother, I had the family so I was loaded, looked loaded for a week long trip.

My daughter was so happy after a 2.5 hour trip to the trail head.


Airing down to 15psi before going down the trail

shes a little happier now. but doesnt know about the road, or lack there of ahead

Headed down the trail to camp.. it gets easier every time.

unloaded and setup camp, had to leavel out the rig so me and the wife could sleep in the back, kids got the tent.

next generation Rock crawler..

My make shift pancake flipper, cardboard wrapped in aluminum foil, worked like a champ.

I caught 2 before breakfast, mike caught one the night before.

Mike coming up chicken rock, 70%grade, 30degree incline, was a little nerve racking at first, the wife and daughter were scared, a tire slipped toward the bottom and make the runner start hopping a little, but it finally smoothed out, going back down was way eaisier.

poser shot on top of chicken rock

me coming down chicken rock, you can see the rear lifted slightly.

the lake was lower so we took a drive around to check it out.

just me foolin around. over all the trip was lots of fun. just wish we had more time to explore. I want to take a trip to bald mountain or to shuteye peak, malteserunner went there and it looks like a nice ride. my fan control is going to ship out this week, got the email today. cant wait to get that in and another mod off the list. BigBluePile I will get a price for shipping and ypu can have that wire holder, my buddies truck is carbed and the aircleaner is in the way, wont work for his rig.

 

Looks like a good time! We're going to hit Bald Rock pretty soon...after the Pismo trip. I'll PM you when I know the dates.

 

sounds good, I wish I could make Pismo, thats my favorite beach, but got family event that weekend so cant.. when you are going let me know, hopefully I will be able to join you guys.