LEDs in gauge cluster question

Saleen0101 · September 13th, 2011, 02:13 PM

Hello, I swapped my incandescent #74bulbs to led #74 (the 5 lights in the back of the gauge cluster) as they look sweet , but when no lights are on, my odometer and clock in my stock radio are dim as if I had set the dimmer to the lowest setting. If I turn the lights on , the odometer and radio light up like normal. I dont really like this and wondering if any of you that have done this have found a remedy or if anyone who has swapped led themselves had this issue? My car is a 2001 by the way thanks for any input.

Saleen0101 · September 13th, 2011, 08:08 PM

Anyone?

WhiteNoise · September 13th, 2011, 08:24 PM

I recently installed the LED's but didnt have this problem. The only thing i found is that the LED's dont dim as low as the previous bulbs. But it seems that something is backwards. They should dim when lights are on and normal when lights are off... Did you only unplug the guage cluster? The cluster shouldnt have effected the stereo at all...

Saleen0101 · September 13th, 2011, 08:29 PM

interesting. Wonder what could be backwards then. I just unplugged both on the back of the cluster and swapped out 5 bulbs only, i put my incandescent lights back in ;( and it is normal again
Could It be that I didnt have the led correctly put it ?? I have no idea what to do man

Saleen0101 · September 13th, 2011, 08:42 PM

Or could reverse polarity cause this upon installing the leds? They all lit up fine the first time I put them in ,

Bangarang · September 15th, 2011, 05:33 PM

I don't know but what color did you get? I was thinking about get the 74 Blue blubs from SuperBrightLEDs.

Saleen0101 · September 15th, 2011, 05:54 PM

Well Im thinking it was because I had cheap china leds, they were left over from my gf buying them for her car. They were the super white color and only a single led on the head of the bulb so brightness wise it was the same as the incandescent lighting. I just ordered the #74hpx3 from superbrightleds.com and will let you know how it works out, im anticipating it to be very bright, as these are smd leds.

Bangarang · September 15th, 2011, 05:58 PM

Hey that could be it. Maybe the problem will be solved now that you're getting better quality.

Saleen0101 · September 15th, 2011, 06:01 PM

Yea, i agree. Or maybe one of them just wasnt in snug all the way, I noticed when I took one out it was loose so that probably was it.

WhiteNoise · September 15th, 2011, 09:09 PM

Dont get the cheap ones, bad quality. Iv got all of my LEDs from superbrightleds.com. That was probably your problem! And remember, the guage cluster has a blue tint to it already. I installed the "bright white" leds and they turned out the perfect blue. If you get a dark blue bulb, it might be too dark (unless thats what ur aiming for). If ur going for a different color, u might need to sand off the blue film on the cluster( its actually inside the cluster so ud have to take it farther apart that when u just install the lights).

Heres mine with the "bright white" LED's in.

You cant really tell, but i also did the HVAC lights too.

I also installed a blue LED in the dome light. Blue obviously..

Saleen0101 · September 19th, 2011, 06:00 PM

Well got the leds from superbright leds, installed them and still the same problem remains. When the lights are all on , everything works fine, however with the lights off and I turn on the right turn signal, my odometer and radio flash with the turn signal..wtf?? Im assuming not enoigh volts hitting my cluster and its causing issues.

97S281 · September 19th, 2011, 09:31 PM

I did this swap and did not have any issues at all. Except the dash lights don't really dim much with the led's, if at all.

sj408 · September 19th, 2011, 11:56 PM

heres a write up on how to do it How to Install LED lights in your Mustang Gauge Cluster

Saleen0101 · September 20th, 2011, 02:07 AM

Well you guys all have sn95 (mines a 2001 and plus I have the saleen gauge cluster) But I dunno why my odometer and radio flash when all lights are off and if I have have the turn signal on. If all lights are on at night, I have no issues, Any ideas guys? Sucks I cant have leds ;(
All lights on my exterior have been swapped out to leds.

97S281 · September 23rd, 2011, 05:13 PM

the saleen cluster is a stock cluster with a new overlay. All the guts are the same as a stock cluster so that should not have anything to do with it.

Saleen0101 · September 26th, 2011, 02:49 AM

Yes same problem with me too, I believe its the voltage , not enough hitting the cluster causing strange problems, with all my lights on , no issues, however when lights are off, the odometer and radio are dim. Like if I turn the dimmer all the way to the right to dim, and of course the blinker , everything blinks with the turn signal .

September 13th, 2011, 02:13 PM	#1
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	LEDs in gauge cluster question Hello, I swapped my incandescent #74bulbs to led #74 (the 5 lights in the back of the gauge cluster) as they look sweet , but when no lights are on, my odometer and clock in my stock radio are dim as if I had set the dimmer to the lowest setting. If I turn the lights on , the odometer and radio light up like normal. I dont really like this and wondering if any of you that have done this have found a remedy or if anyone who has swapped led themselves had this issue? My car is a 2001 by the way thanks for any input. Last edited by Saleen0101; September 13th, 2011 at 08:08 PM.

September 13th, 2011, 08:24 PM	#3
WhiteNoise Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 691 iTrader: 0 reviews	I recently installed the LED's but didnt have this problem. The only thing i found is that the LED's dont dim as low as the previous bulbs. But it seems that something is backwards. They should dim when lights are on and normal when lights are off... Did you only unplug the guage cluster? The cluster shouldnt have effected the stereo at all... __________________ Mods: MAC o/r H, SCT tuner, CAI, short throw shifter, dash LED conversion Upcoming: Suspension build (Spring/Summer 2012)

September 15th, 2011, 05:33 PM	#6
Bangarang Enthusiast 2000 Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 520 iTrader: 0 reviews	I don't know but what color did you get? I was thinking about get the 74 Blue blubs from SuperBrightLEDs. __________________ 3.73 Gears, Flowmaster 40's, CAI, 1.5" drop, Diablo Tune, Cosmetics. TOTALED We can rebuild her, we have the technology...

September 15th, 2011, 05:58 PM	#8
Bangarang Enthusiast 2000 Mustang GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Springfield, VA Posts: 520 iTrader: 0 reviews	Hey that could be it. Maybe the problem will be solved now that you're getting better quality. __________________ 3.73 Gears, Flowmaster 40's, CAI, 1.5" drop, Diablo Tune, Cosmetics. TOTALED We can rebuild her, we have the technology...

September 15th, 2011, 09:09 PM	#10
WhiteNoise Enthusiast 1997 Mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 691 iTrader: 0 reviews	Dont get the cheap ones, bad quality. Iv got all of my LEDs from superbrightleds.com. That was probably your problem! And remember, the guage cluster has a blue tint to it already. I installed the "bright white" leds and they turned out the perfect blue. If you get a dark blue bulb, it might be too dark (unless thats what ur aiming for). If ur going for a different color, u might need to sand off the blue film on the cluster( its actually inside the cluster so ud have to take it farther apart that when u just install the lights). Heres mine with the "bright white" LED's in. You cant really tell, but i also did the HVAC lights too. I also installed a blue LED in the dome light. Blue obviously.. __________________ Mods: MAC o/r H, SCT tuner, CAI, short throw shifter, dash LED conversion Upcoming: Suspension build (Spring/Summer 2012)

September 13th, 2011, 08:08 PM	#2
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Anyone?

September 13th, 2011, 08:29 PM	#4
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	interesting. Wonder what could be backwards then. I just unplugged both on the back of the cluster and swapped out 5 bulbs only, i put my incandescent lights back in ;( and it is normal again Could It be that I didnt have the led correctly put it ?? I have no idea what to do man

September 13th, 2011, 08:42 PM	#5
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Or could reverse polarity cause this upon installing the leds? They all lit up fine the first time I put them in ,

September 15th, 2011, 05:54 PM	#7
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Well Im thinking it was because I had cheap china leds, they were left over from my gf buying them for her car. They were the super white color and only a single led on the head of the bulb so brightness wise it was the same as the incandescent lighting. I just ordered the #74hpx3 from superbrightleds.com and will let you know how it works out, im anticipating it to be very bright, as these are smd leds.

September 15th, 2011, 06:01 PM	#9
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Yea, i agree. Or maybe one of them just wasnt in snug all the way, I noticed when I took one out it was loose so that probably was it.

September 19th, 2011, 06:00 PM	#11
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Well got the leds from superbright leds, installed them and still the same problem remains. When the lights are all on , everything works fine, however with the lights off and I turn on the right turn signal, my odometer and radio flash with the turn signal..wtf?? Im assuming not enoigh volts hitting my cluster and its causing issues.

September 19th, 2011, 09:31 PM	#12
97S281 Rollin' 18/ pushin' 2 1997 Saleen S281 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The lost highway Posts: 6,673 iTrader: 13 reviews	I did this swap and did not have any issues at all. Except the dash lights don't really dim much with the led's, if at all. __________________ MODS IN GARAGE NCMM ORIGINAL BLOWN 96-98 CREW MEMBER # 1

September 19th, 2011, 11:56 PM	#13
sj408 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,055 iTrader: 0 reviews	heres a write up on how to do it How to Install LED lights in your Mustang Gauge Cluster

September 20th, 2011, 02:07 AM	#14
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Well you guys all have sn95 (mines a 2001 and plus I have the saleen gauge cluster) But I dunno why my odometer and radio flash when all lights are off and if I have have the turn signal on. If all lights are on at night, I have no issues, Any ideas guys? Sucks I cant have leds ;( All lights on my exterior have been swapped out to leds.

September 23rd, 2011, 05:13 PM	#15
97S281 Rollin' 18/ pushin' 2 1997 Saleen S281 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The lost highway Posts: 6,673 iTrader: 13 reviews	the saleen cluster is a stock cluster with a new overlay. All the guts are the same as a stock cluster so that should not have anything to do with it. __________________ MODS IN GARAGE NCMM ORIGINAL BLOWN 96-98 CREW MEMBER # 1

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September 26th, 2011, 02:49 AM	#16
Saleen0101 Regular 2001 Saleen 281 #0101 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 174 iTrader: 0 reviews	Yes same problem with me too, I believe its the voltage , not enough hitting the cluster causing strange problems, with all my lights on , no issues, however when lights are off, the odometer and radio are dim. Like if I turn the dimmer all the way to the right to dim, and of course the blinker , everything blinks with the turn signal .