Dim dash lighting

[chris snell]

I replaced my unreliable stock temperature gauge with a VDO unit. The new unit works well but unfortunately, all of my dash lighting (including the backlight behind the clock) has dimmed. You might think that it is out completely, but it's not. It's just very, very dim. The grounds, I believe, are okay. My only guess is that the VDO's backlighting is drawing more amperage than the other gauges and sucking all of the power up.

I was thinking of installing a resistor inline to the gauge's DC feed, but this is just a stab in the dark, no pun intended.

Any ideas?

[Roadsiderob]

I'd first check that the dimmer switch didn't get unplugged while you were working on things. It will default to the dim setting when unplugged. I have never had any issues with dash brightness when installing VDO gauges.

[mikeybob2@msn.com]

Hey Chris.. Same thing happend to me on my 94 AA Yellow D-90... It was the dimmer switch.. reconnected and all was fine Mike... Ladco Houston

[DonFromWhitby]

Hey Chris.. Same thing happend to me on my 94 AA Yellow D-90... It was the dimmer switch.. reconnected and all was fine Mike... Ladco HoustonWhich one is the dimmer switch? The one with the little circle on it on the lower left hand side of the dash ? I've got two switches there, both of which don't move...

[Stmpede]

Yeah, one is dome light switch and the other is the dimmer switch for the dash. They are stiff even from the factory, but if they haven't been used they may be really difficult to move now. squirt a little electrical cleaner on them and try to move them. Anyway, the wires may have fallen off the one with a picture of what looks like a clock on it, and if they are not connected, the dash will default to dim.

[R. Kurk]

Chris,

As a point of reference, I replaced the stock water temp gauge on my NAS 110 with a VDO and in my case the new VDO guage was much brighter, but with no change to existing brightness of the remaining guages. The new guage light was connected to the existing circuit so it is 'dimmable' along with all the other guages. To get it to be at about the same brightness level of the rest of the guages I installed a resistor in the line to the light of the new guage. This is sort of a reverse issue than what you are dealing with, but in the event you get to this point this might be a solution.

Rich K.

[kellymoe]

Chris,

I know it's not an answer to you question but have you considered LED replacements? A guy I know locally replaced all interior and dash lights with LED and is very pleased with it.

[Stmpede]

That is what I am doing during my rebuild. I am curious though, do you retain the dim feature when you switch to LED's? I didn't think you would, but I seem to remember someone saying theirs still dimmed with the switch. Mine don't currently, but I only have half the gauges installed, so I am not sure if I have not yet connected something that needs to be connected...

[kellymoe]

That is what I am doing during my rebuild. I am curious though, do you retain the dim feature when you switch to LED's? I didn't think you would, but I seem to remember someone saying theirs still dimmed with the switch. Mine don't currently, but I only have half the gauges installed, so I am not sure if I have not yet connected something that needs to be connected...


I'm sorry but I dont know. I need to go see my friend and find out. On my truck I dont have a dimmer switch but my friends truck does.

[chris snell]

I'd first check that the dimmer switch didn't get unplugged while you were working on things. It will default to the dim setting when unplugged. I have never had any issues with dash brightness when installing VDO gauges.

Bingo. That was it! Thanks so much. It's nice to be able to see my gauges once again.

The VDO gauge is still much brighter than the others but I'm not sure if it's worth installing an in-line resistor on that.

Crappy spade connectors.