Gauge cluster lights

[motox-010]

How do I access the gauge cluster lights? I just lost all the lights back there so I cant see them at night! Is there any brighter lights than the stock ones? Cause even with them I had a hard time seeing the gauges.

[KaiserMan]

If you reach around the back of the cluster you will find several little plastic plugs 9one for each guage I think). Just turn them (can't remember which way) and they will come right out. Bulbs just pop in and out.

[chrisnsarah]

Sone of them are spring clipped too. The heater ones come to mind.

For some reason, my '79 cluster is much brighter and evenly lit than the 75's I got.

[motox-010]

So I dont need to remove the trim panel from the front? Can I just reach up behind it just like that?

[j20brett]

It depends on how big your arm/hands are. It took me all of 5 min to get the panel out. I am having the same problem with my dash lights. It could also be the headlight switch making a bad contact internally. Im going to buy a new one here in a few days.

[motox-010]

I dont think it is a bad connection. One went before the other one. And it kinda blinked at first.

[KaiserMan]

It might be a bad connection. I know mine have copper tabs that touch the circut board on the back of the instrament cluster to get power, and I've had to bend them a bit to get a proper contact.

[chrisnsarah]

They are strange because there are a few grounding points. If one is bad, 2 bulbs may go out on one side.

[Menace]

How do I access the gauge cluster lights? I just lost all the lights back there so I cant see them at night! Is there any brighter lights than the stock ones? Cause even with them I had a hard time seeing the gauges.

In my opinion, if you "just lost all" your dash lights at one time you have another problem rather than bulbs. Headlight switch, fuse, ground, etc.
Bulb don't usually all go bad at the same time.
Just my 2 cents.
Dennis

[CustomWag]

Mine went out one at a time too and I pulled the cluster to replace the bulbs.
Was told you can reach up from behind to get them, but ain't no way I could snake my arms through everything while contorted upside down with my head against the brake pedal:D

Six screws I think hold the cluster panel, then pull it out as far as you can & unscrew the speedo cable to let you pull it out further. I tilted the wheel down as far as it would go which helped, but some have dropped the column to make it even more accessible. Put a cloth on top of the column if it's still nice cause you're likely to scratch it with the cluster. Turn the bulb sockets 90* ccw and pull them out. pull out the old bulbs and push in new ones. Might want to clean the metal contacts on the bulb sockets while they're out.
I think stock bulb is 194, but after I had it done someone here said there was a brighter bulb that fit, seems like it was 158, but can't remember for sure.
If you search there are quite a few posts with tips.

[motox-010]

Well, one of em came back tonight. But I dont really want to mess with that, so I am going to make an external light that I can turn on and off from the column.