Instrument Cluster Bulbs

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DieselDan

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Hey guys,
I was just wondering, since I have never had to replace any bulbs in my instrument cluster, do they have the common twist lock bulbs that most other fords have? I ask because I wondered if you could replace them with white LEDs, just thought it would update the look of the cluster a litttle.

Thanks
 
they are standard 194 bulbs that push into a plastic collet, which in turn twists into the cluster for a contact.
 
IIRC, 194 bulbs are what like is in the yellow part of our turn signals, right? Oh and also the rear gen 1 light bar...?
 
DieselDan said:
Hey guys,
I was just wondering, since I have never had to replace any bulbs in my instrument cluster, do they have the common twist lock bulbs that most other fords have? I ask because I wondered if you could replace them with white LEDs, just thought it would update the look of the cluster a litttle.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I've been thinking the same thing. The only problem is that those 194 LED's are $10 bucks or more a pair at the parts store. And the only parts store I've seen that carries them is AutoZone. But I was thinking blue LED's myself. I want to eventually replace all my incandescent bulbs with LED's. I have LED rear turn signals now. I haven't gotten around to replacing the marker lamps or trunk light strip though.

DieselDan said:
IIRC, 194 bulbs are what like is in the yellow part of our turn signals, right? Oh and also the rear gen 1 light bar...?
Click to expand...

Yes. I think pretty much every light in the whole car except the headlights are 194's.
 
Good idea/find.

I think the blue is a good idea, also..

Dan.. yeah, let us know how they turn out if you would., and maybe post before/after pics so we can see what difference there is with the same camera. Not really a long process just FYI, I think I took mine apart and detailed them and got them back together in 2 hours taking my sweet time and doing other things in the process.
 
Will do, im interested to see how it effects the lighting... Im suprised nobody has done this yet?
 
Blue is a bad idea. The only time the lights are on is when it's dark outside. When it's dark outside, you need to have the best night vision you can. Blue doesn't illuminate well and it ruins your night vision. I'd do red, it's the least bad for your night vision (although it might end up looking like a Pontiac cluster.)
 
i might try it too on my 97 because with my white face overlays it kills the lighting having to go through two layers now, i already have red needles, so i might put white led's inside the cluster, that should light it up nice!
 
well forget that gen 2 cluster doesnt have 194's like a gen 1, it has them tiny toshiba #37 bulbs. i am gonna change all my interior bulbs to led though, my father in law did it in his old vette and it was awesome.
 
well i take that back, the gen 2 cluster uses 10 # 37 bulbs for the actual illumination, for the tach, the speedo, the temp gauge, the fuel gauge, and the cruise control ON light, and High beam indicator, all the other lights in the cluster are all for dummy lights and traction control, so i ordered 10 #37 led's to change the illumination on my cluster. i will take pics from start to finish when i get them in.
 
I got the bulbs in and replaced the bulbs on one side of the car. I'll take pictures tomorrow. They arent as bright as the incandescent bulbs, but they do look cleaner.
 
Cool beans! I just got done replacing the bulbs in the trunk light strip and rear marker lights on my '96 and the map lights on my '97 with the #194 LED's. It's cool as hell in the '97 map lights. But they are not as bright in the trunk light strip as the incandescent bulbs were. But no matter, I still like 'em. So now my entire light strip (minus the backup lights - got 20 more LED's on the way) on the back of the '96 is LED. The '97 will be next. I don't know if I'm going to do the instrument cluster, but I am going to put the blue LED's in the under dash, door panel, dome lights, and rear reading lamps. That should look very interesting. I should have most of it done by the end of the week.
 
Don't know. I've never pulled the cluster out of either of mine. But I may find out. Depends on how cool the blue LED's look on the interior. I would guess it's not that hard. The steering wheel would be the biggest obstacle I would think.
 
Well, i put the bulbs inthe cluster and I didnt take pictures because I dont like how it came out. It makes the cluster look bright blue, and because the bulbs are not wide spectrum, there are dim spots in the cluster. I think I am going to give green LEDs a shot so it looks the stock color still.
 
I should be getting at least 10 more blue LED's in the mail today. If I get them installed this evening, I'll take some pictures and post them tonight. I'm probably going to try them on the '96 first.
 
Okay. Here is my '97 LSC with white LED bulbs on the interior. I have replaced all the bulbs except the instrument cluster and the door panel lights. These pictures were taken tonight just a few minutes ago with no flash. Sorry if they are a bit blurred. If you take pictures with my camera with the flash off, you have to hold the camera perfectly still.
SDC14420.JPGSDC14423.JPG
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SDC14429.JPG

SDC14420.JPG


SDC14423.JPG


SDC14424.JPG


SDC14426.JPG


SDC14427.JPG


SDC14428.JPG


SDC14429.JPG
 
I love LED's! I had to order a different kind of bulb for the door panel lights. They should be here in a couple of days. And I totally forgot about the CHMSL bulbs. Gotta get them too. Also put all LED's in the interior of my '96. When I'm done, the only incandescent bulbs in either of my Marks will be the halogen headlights.
 
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