Happy
LoveMyBus Radical
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Location: Knoxville TN
Type: 1969 "DELUXE" Bread Loaf
Name: BETTY
Posts: 490
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« on: August 17, 2007, 03:57:37 PM » |
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Hey you all! I tried searching for this topic and did not get an answer so I am asking. I bet this will help a lot of you... I lack dash board illumination. The Bentley book is on order...the other two books don't help...there are four screws that hold the front of the dash in place but I am (as usual) scared to take them out to take a peek. All the other bulbs work (so far) and I would like to see how fast (or slow) I am going at night. I turned on the ignition and the headlights and adjusted the dimmer but no luck. Let me know what to do...hopefully it's EASY!
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GostaBerling
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« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2007, 04:54:09 PM » |
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Well you should be able to reach all of the light bulbs from underneath, thereby negating the need to remove the instrument cluster. If you do need the cluster out, then you have to remove the air vent handles as well, be careful not to lose the tension clamps. You will also need to disconnect the speedometer wire from the back of the gauge and remove the 4 screws. Otherwise it's an easy job to remove the instruments.
I would check to make sure you have power coming out of your switch to the bulbs, make certain that your grounds are all good. When I first bought my bus the dash lights would only come on when the ignition was not in the on position. I ran an additional ground from the back of the cluster and it works great now.
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Check out Willy's blog: Life and Adventures of a bus named Willoughby http://willoughbus.wordpress.com/Life isn't about waiting for the Storm to pass... It's about learning to Dance in the rain! |
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rotorimp
LoveMyBus Recruit
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Type: 76 Camper
Name: Diego
Posts: 29
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« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2007, 06:09:51 PM » |
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Do you have voltage at the fuse?
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Happy
LoveMyBus Radical
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Location: Knoxville TN
Type: 1969 "DELUXE" Bread Loaf
Name: BETTY
Posts: 490
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« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2007, 11:19:00 AM » |
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You know I bought a bunch of "BUSS" 8 amp fuses...maybe a good idea to replace them all. I think in 1969 they were all 8 amp. I need to buy a cheap volt meter and check.
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McFly
LoveMyBus Radical
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Location: Sunny Melbourne, Australia
Type: 74 Semi-Camper
Name: Huey
Posts: 363
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« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2007, 06:23:21 AM » |
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Before you unscrew your cluster (I made this same mistake myself when I first got my bus), you do know that you can dim/turn on the instrument light by turning the headlight knob?
Hope you get it sorted
Marty
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Happy
LoveMyBus Radical
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Location: Knoxville TN
Type: 1969 "DELUXE" Bread Loaf
Name: BETTY
Posts: 490
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« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2007, 08:22:25 PM » |
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Yea I turned the dimmer like crazy to try to clean it but still no dash lights. I get the Bentley book this week and maybe that will help...
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McFly
LoveMyBus Radical
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Location: Sunny Melbourne, Australia
Type: 74 Semi-Camper
Name: Huey
Posts: 363
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« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2007, 04:49:14 AM » |
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this might help, it's from www.ratwell.comthe arrows show where the bulbs go You are not allowed to view images. Please register or login |
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Trios
LoveMyBus Grunt
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Type: '71 Westy
Posts: 83
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« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2007, 06:16:01 PM » |
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Something that I'm going to try and will suggest to you is using LEDs versus the stock light bulbs. It shouldn't be hard to find some 12v LEDs online, and you can even choose colored ones (I'm plain and will be going for white). Your dimmer will still work for them, and they will have a lot more illumination than the puny original bulbs.
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GostaBerling
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« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2007, 06:48:31 PM » |
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There is an upgraded light bulb that plugs right in and increases the luminosity factor. I just can't remember what it's designation number is.  |
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Check out Willy's blog: Life and Adventures of a bus named Willoughby http://willoughbus.wordpress.com/Life isn't about waiting for the Storm to pass... It's about learning to Dance in the rain! |
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eMergenCy
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Location: Sydney, Australia
Type: '79 kombi (2L type4 with two carbies)
Name: Bessie
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"puttputtputtputtputt"
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« Reply #10 on: August 21, 2007, 09:24:28 PM » |
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I replaced the 2 bulbs with 4 LEDs, so now I have a pimped out blue backlight. It would also be a good idea to layer the inside of the panel with aluminum foil, because it is a backlit display, worked for me  |
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GostaBerling
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« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2007, 08:22:28 PM » |
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Finally tracked down what I think is the correct bulb but brighter than the stock number (for anyone who is interested)
-Sylvania 2723-
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Check out Willy's blog: Life and Adventures of a bus named Willoughby http://willoughbus.wordpress.com/Life isn't about waiting for the Storm to pass... It's about learning to Dance in the rain! |
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Happy
LoveMyBus Radical
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Location: Knoxville TN
Type: 1969 "DELUXE" Bread Loaf
Name: BETTY
Posts: 490
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« Reply #12 on: September 05, 2007, 06:10:01 PM » |
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Thank you for your responses. Let me just ask you this:
I have small hands but there is NO WAY I am comfortable forcing my hand under the dash through the 40 year old spaghetti. It is THICK! Can't I:
Unhook the vent controlls
Remove the four screws
Unhook spedo cable and carefully pull things away to get at the bulbs?
Has anyone ever done it this way?
IF SO...what dangers are there to goofing things up? Any springs going to fly out???
Let me know what you think. I really want to replace ALL the bulbs as a PM and make my dash light up.
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GostaBerling
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« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2007, 07:08:42 PM » |
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Basically what you listed is what you have to do. I have had my instrument cluster out several times and it's not that hard. If you still have the white nylon clips on the vent controls then you will need to carefully pry them out. Other than that the only slightly difficult part is reinstalling the vent control spring/clip thingies (yes that is the offical gosta termnology). Oh and make sure that you remove the negative cable before starting this project, you don't want to short anything out.
Good luck.
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Check out Willy's blog: Life and Adventures of a bus named Willoughby http://willoughbus.wordpress.com/Life isn't about waiting for the Storm to pass... It's about learning to Dance in the rain! |
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Recycle
Administrator
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Location: Oregon, USA
Type: 72' Westy
Name: Blues
Posts: 2468
Just Sittin' here on group "W" Bench...
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« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2007, 11:16:45 PM » |
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yup thats how I did it, the clips that hold the vent levers disintegrated and seem to work fine without them.
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You are not allowed to view images. Please register or loginI got electric light, And I got second sight. Got amazing powers of observation... |
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June 30, 2007, 07:45:53 PM
