1972 dash illumination

[Roger Zimmermann]

The first time I drove into a tunnel with my "new" '72 CdV, I saw nothing at the dash even with the lights on. By playing with the headlamp knob, I could get a very weak illumination.
By discussing with 2 friend in Europe who have also a '72 Cad, they have the same problem, the dash light is marginal at best. Is that situation known and what could be done to have a decent dash light?
I suppose this situation is not restricted to the '72 models; '71 and before may also be affected, later models too.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Same here, I rely on WAZE to tell me how fast I'm going at night.
When I got my 2008 GMC Acadia I thought it was too dark inside the cabin
at night so I changed all the lights in it to LED, now its blinding.
With the Caddy, the headlight switch could be part of the issue, its old and not throwing
enough power to the dash lights. Also 50 years of dirt/dust behind the dash panel, could
use a nice wash to help. As long as I'm there, I'll just replace all the dash lights with LED.

That's a not a priority with me now, but that's how I'll attempt to make it brighter: new
headlight switch, a good cleaning, and LED bulbs.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

G'day Roger,

I had the same thing, and replaced my dash lights with Narva P/No. 70715  12V 5W globes which are halogen globes, designed for dash lights, and they work beautifully.

I tried to bring them up on the NARVA site, but nothing comes up, so I have sent them an email for more information.

Bruce.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

After what happened when a previous owner put halogen headlights into my car, the chances of
me using halogen anything are somewhere between 0 and -2%. I'll stick with the cooler burning LED.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks for the reply.
Laurie, the light switch is on my desk, it's looking like new! The car has just 20'020 miles and the inside of the dash is really clean.
Bruce, you may have the solution with those halogen bulbs. If you have more data or a link from your supplier, I would like to buy 10 to 12 bulbs. I don't know if they are sold in Europe, I may import them from Australia!
I will do a search in Google, I may come on the right track. Otherwise, I would tell you. Thanks for the tip!

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Hopefully, they will reply tomorrow, as it is after closing time now down here.

But, in the meantime, here is their Application Guide.

https://www.narva.com.au/resources/globe-application-guide

Bruce.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Bruce, no luck with that link. The bulb (or globe) 70715 does not exist in their listing.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Yes, I know.   That is why I have emailed them.

But it does have a good application guide.

Bruce.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Some people are more clever than me when searching something. I got this link from a Frech guy: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-5-smd-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/206/
It seems that they can be dimmed and the heat is not a problem as our plastic dashes are not immune to deformation.

[Big Fins]

For those of you insistent on using LED's in dash lighting, please do a follow up as to how fast you change them back to incandescent lighting. They are insanely bright, many are not dimmable and they cast too much lighting into the cabin for safe vision out of the windows.

Been there, done that, put the correct bulbs back into the dash. I like very subdued lighting on the dash anyway.

Get some Deoxit and spray the rheostat on the switch to clean it up.

[J. Gomez]

Some people are more clever than me when searching something. I got this link from a Frech guy: https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature-wedge-base/194-led-bulb-5-smd-led-tower-miniature-wedge-retrofit-car/206/
It seems that they can be dimmed and the heat is not a problem as our plastic dashes are not immune to deformation.

Roger,

Just a note, although the LED bulbs are dimmable for these to work they would require the electronic type dim control, they will NOT work with the older traditional rheostats controls.

You may be able to find a higher CP (candle power) bulb as a replacement, but you need to be aware that the rheostat will be working a bit harder if you leave yours in the dim mode most of the time, just something to considered.

Good luck..!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks Jose.
I just ordered some; when they are there I will see how they improve or have an exagerated illumination. On all my cars, I have the illumination from the dash at the maximum output, therefore its not a big deal if they don't react to the standard rheostat. And I will report the results, especially for Big Fins!

[Big Fins]

I said that mostly tongue in cheek, Roger. The LED's looked garrish in this era of car. It was my former '76 Eldorado. They were very out of place in the way the rest of the car was illuminated with the softer incandescent bulbs. Even in my newer other make vehicles that use the LED's for interior lighting, I like them as low as they will go.

[cadillactim]

Roger

The problem may be the rheostat in the switch not the bulbs. When there is a bad connection between the coil and the contacts you will lose brightness and at times no dash lights at all. The 60s and older dash illimination would diminish not so much because of the bulbs but the reflective paint in the housing would fade and rust would not allow the light to reflect enough. But the 70's models had the plastic housing that helped reflect the lights. With no illimination as you say I would first check the rheostat in the switch.

Tim

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

For those of you insistent on using LED's in dash lighting, please do a follow up as to how fast you change them back to incandescent lighting. They are insanely bright, many are not dimmable and they cast too much lighting into the cabin for safe vision out of the windows.

Been there, done that, put the correct bulbs back into the dash. I like very subdued lighting on the dash anyway.

Get some Deoxit and spray the rheostat on the switch to clean it up.

I live and die by Deoxit, great product. SuperBriteLEDS is 'the' company for these bulbs, its where I get all mine.

[Big Fins]

I restored my near 100 year old Hammond Organ with DeoxIT D-5 cleaner then followed up with the G-5 Gold protectant.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

I restored my near 100 year old Hammond Organ with DeoxIT D-5 cleaner then followed up with the G-5 Gold protectant.

B3? Do you have a Lesley to go with that Hammond?
The Gold is great stuff.

[Roger Zimmermann]

The problem may be the rheostat in the switch not the bulbs. When there is a bad connection between the coil and the contacts you will lose brightness and at times no dash lights at all.

Tim, this is why I will check the voltage at the connector to the cluster when I'm that far. The rheostat is looking like new (could however still have an issue) and I doubt it's the culprit.
According to the various comments about dash light I read, it was an issue at that time. As people in the US generally don't make light when they go in a tunnel, it does not matter because when it's getting slowly dark then the eye is adapting to less outside illumination. When the headlamps are on, the light was/is probably sufficient.
To make my tortuous explanation clearer: when I'm entering a tunnel with my 2011 DTS, after a while the dash illumination is dimming and sufficient for the situation. When getting out of the tunnel, it takes a certain time for the light to get back to normal. During those seconds, I see almost nothing especially if the weather is fine.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Bruce, no luck with that link. The bulb (or globe) 70715 does not exist in their listing.

Roger,

Received the reply today, and they have some left in the warehouse, and the part will be discontinued once stock has been exhausted.

The replacement is not as good as the replaced globe, so I am going to try and buy what they have left.

Bruce. 

[Highwayman68]

Roger,

Received the reply today, and they have some left in the warehouse, and the part will be discontinued once stock has been exhausted.

The replacement is not as good as the replaced globe, so I am going to try and buy what they have left.

Bruce. 

Did they say why the part is being discontinued? Obviously there is a larger market these days for products like this.