dash light question

[228jeeper]

I have an 86 CJ7 . The speedometer works but at night it does not light up. The turn signals work and light up on the guage. Is there a separate light bulb to light the speedometer? If so, how do I get to it to replace it? Thanks.

 

[BusaDave9]

Yes there are lights in the speedometer but I wonder if they are all out. Are the other dash lights on, such as the heater?

If none of these are on it could be the light switch. As you rotate it the dash lights should dim and brighten. Sometimes those switchs need to be cleaned. Try rotating the knob. If you can get the lights to come on sometimes then spay some contact cleaner on the switch. You may need to remove the switch.

 

[IOPort51]

If you do have problems with the light switch, replace it.
I think dash lights have a fuse all their own. do they not??

 

[BusaDave9]

If you do have problems with the light switch, replace it.
I think dash lights have a fuse all their own. do they not??

A fuse. That would be too easy.
Yes there is a fuse for the dash lights. That should be the first thing to check.


When I first got my CJ the dash lights didn't work. I would rotate the light switch and they would flicker or turn on. Someone on this site, I think it was Brock Grimes, told me to use contact cleaner. Very cheep and easy. Most light switches are just on and off but the dimmer for the dash is a contact that rotates around a coil. It is common to have problems with this contact.

 

[228jeeper]

The only lights that work with the switch are the headlights. Could the switch still be bad if it turns the lights on and off but I have no dash lights? How do you change out the switch? As far as the fuse is concerned, does anyone have an idea of which fuse controls these lights? i guess I could just check every one but where would the fun in that be?

 

[cerrajero]

If you do have problems with the light switch, replace it.
I think dash lights have a fuse all their own. do they not??

X2

My dash did the same but i would still clean the contacts as well,
electrical cleaner is good to have around with thtese old CJs

 

[nctom]

I just replaced all of the bulbs behind my dash. There were about 12 of them total and three different types. The speedo unit itself has probably 6 bulbs. Spend 2 hours and $10 on new bulbs and I bet you will be back in business.

 

[228jeeper]

OK, I did find one bad fuse and replaced it. There are two undersah lights that now work. Small victory, but not the one I am looking for. How do I take the ligtswitch know off to clean and/or replace the switch? Also, how do I take the bezel off of the speedometer in order to take it out and check the bulbs? Thanks.

 

[228jeeper]

I have removed the knob and lightswitch and I am on my way to get some contact cleaner. Is the indicator above the lightswitch that says "LIGHTS" supposed to light up as well.

 

[nctom]

All of those little white markers have bulbs behind them. Could be the light switch that is preventing them from working. You might pull the wire off the back of one and see if you get 12v.

Getting the speedo out is a dash removal project. It's not too bad of a job.

 

[IOPort51]

the bulbs come out from the back, you should be able to reach them with out removing the dash or the speedometer. I don't think they push in and twist, I think they just pull straight out. If they put up a fight try twisting them. Your service manual has a pretty good picture of the back of the speedometer and what all the wires and lights go to. Some of the lights in the dash won't come on with out the emergency brake or the high beams.

OK, I did find one bad fuse and replaced it. There are two undersah lights that now work. Small victory, but not the one I am looking for. How do I take the ligtswitch know off to clean and/or replace the switch? Also, how do I take the bezel off of the speedometer in order to take it out and check the bulbs? Thanks.

 

[228jeeper]

So you have to take out the entire dash to take out the speedometer? I thought that there was a way to remove the bezel and cover then unscrew the speedometer from the dash. I just don't know how to remove the bezel, but I thought there might be a trick to removing it without breaking it. Any tricks or thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[BusaDave9]

All the dash lights, including the indicator signs above are adjusted by rotating the light switch. If some are off then you need to replace those bulbs. If they all turn off as you rotate the light switch then clean the light switch.

If you have to replace the bulbs don't remove the speedometer. I know it's a real pain but you should replace the bulbs with the speedometer installed. To remove the Speedo you still have to disconnect the bulbs.

 

[IOPort51]

No you don't, there are four nuts, that hold the speedometer on from the back, the bolts/studs are attached to the dash. The speedometer comes loose from the back.
Do not be afraid to pull the dash, it is not as big a job as you may think. have a piece of string or wire handy to hang the passengers side from the windshield and there is enough play at the wheel you can get to pretty much anything on the back side of the dash.
Pulling the dash is a lot easier than trying to work behind it unless you pull the seats and can lay down under the dash on the floor board. And even then it is tight.

So you have to take out the entire dash to take out the speedometer? I thought that there was a way to remove the bezel and cover then unscrew the speedometer from the dash. I just don't know how to remove the bezel, but I thought there might be a trick to removing it without breaking it. Any tricks or thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[228jeeper]

Thanks for all of the info. I planned on checking the bulbs today, but had to change an alternator on my 16 year old sons truck. I will let everyone know how it works out.

 

[Rescue Diver]

If none of your dash lights that are controlled by the dimmer in your headlight switch are working, I'd lean towards replacing the headlight switch. They don't cost much and only take a few minutes to install. The switch that came with my Pile O' Parts looked pretty bad, so I put a new one in before anything else.

When I first powered up my jeep after building it, none of my speedometer lights worked. It turned out that there was a little corrosion on the contact for the bottom of the bulbs in every single light socket. I took a small piece of fine wet or dry sandpaper to each socket contact and cleaned them one at a time. With the bulb removed from the sockets, the wire and contact push right out so you can get to it. I about drove myself crazy trying to track it down thinking there was no way that it could be a problem at every socket, before realizing it was. Once cleaned, all my lights worked. I haven't had any problems with my dash lights ever since.

 

[dadsdream85]

I'd replace the switch ($15), clean the contacts on the wiring harness to the switch and apply di-electric grease. Its odd that all the lights in the cluster don't work at all so the fuse/new switch should correct. If you go to replace bulbs, I'd remove the 12 bolts and pull the dash away from the cowl....way easier because.....as you pull the rubber/metal light sockets out they are probably brittle and you'll ruin them. NAPA LS6225 is the socket PN. It's a single wire so you need a good ground to the speedo cluster. Suggest you run a separate ground wire from a clean connection on the dash, through the firewall to a fender wall mounted ground post (lead a ground wire from the battery to this post). Check/clean the (4) mounting bolts at each corner of the cluster.
Since your doing this suggest www.superbrightleds.com If I'm correct there are (3) clear bulbs for the cluster illumination, (1) high beam (blue) top center, (2) green turn signals, (1) red E brake at 8 oclock and (1) (amber?) 4WD light at 4 oclock. They never burn out, draw less amperage, are brighter etc. Even If you dont have to replace the sockets, be sure to clean connections and apply di-electric grease.

 

[228jeeper]

After installing a new headlight switch and dimmer switch, all of my dash lights work exceot for the headlight indicator above the headlight switch, but it is obviously broken. I can now see how fast I am going at night. Thanks for all of the help. It is most appreciated.