My dash lights are really dark

[Tommyk]

Hey guys,

Just got my skyline yesterday, but while driving at night I noticed I couldnt see how fast I was going, nor at what rpm or anything else. The back part of the dash lights up green, but its not very bright at all, and the red pointer things dont light up at all ?

I dont have a dimmer switch, looks like the workshop didnt fit them.

I've taken the dash apart, but I really have no idea what to do.

Any ideas ?

Thanks heaps

[blx]

You sure that you do not have a dimmer switch? I do not mean to make a fool of you or me but just in case, The dimmer on a R33 is on the right indicator stalk. From memory it is just beside the lights switch.

Does that make sense.

[Tommyk]

The right hand stalk itself only has the parking lights, low beam, high beam options. No dimmer switch on there.

Ive checked everything, pulled the whole dash apart, and nothing - no dimmer

Are the red thingies which indicate which speed you're goin at, rpm, etc, meant to light up ?

Coz mine dont come on AT ALL (i dont think ?) Or if they do, theyre really dark

[blx]

sorry about that... Just trying to help.

And yes i believe the red pointer things are suppose to light up! Fuse?

[Tommyk]

I havent checked the fuse

But then the back of the dash lights up green, albeit a very poorly illuminated green, so I dont THINK its the fuse.

Keep the ideas coming though

Id probably just need to find the right wire for the power/illumination to the dash, and rewire it with a different impedance ?

Although I really dont wanna do that in case i f u k things up

Cheers

[rs73]

the dimmer in R33 is fitted on compliance. if you don't have one, the compliancer must be a bit dodgy. check the bulbs behind the dash (need to take it apart) could be one of those aftermarket bulbs with coloured bulbs or even coloured rubber sleeves on.

[xaero1]

Have you checked your alternator and battery?

[Anquetil]

Sounds odd? My dashlights are controlled by a dial not on the stalk, but on the right side below the dash? Just above the side mirror retractor switch.

Do you not have this turnable dial?

[(B1) MR_fanny]

i always thought that they came standard on 33's well 95 and upwards anyways.

and the dimmer switch thingy should be on the left hand side under the wiper stick right next to 3 small rectangular holes used for climate control not the right. well mine is anways.

[(B1) MR_fanny]

mines actually in the dash indent underneith the temp guage in that pic

[Tommyk]

I think i'll just leave it at - my compliancer is dodgy :headspin:

No dimmer switch anywhere to be found. Trust me on this one.

rs73 - I noticed that the bulbs had green 'condoms' over them. When the dash lights up, its dark green. What colour is it meant to be normally ?

Thanks for all the help so far guys

Tom

[(B1) MR_fanny]

i think its ment to be the crappy yellow colour that the wedge bulbs normally make.

[rs73]

In mine it has a blue 'condoms' which makes the lights turn a bit towards white when it's on.... that's a standard one. I've seen someone fitted with a painted one. Depends what paint, sometimes it's so bad that it didn't transmit enough light. the stock rubber condoms will be transparent enough so you can see the dials properly. You can try taking them off and see if it's not too bright or too yellow for you.

[Tommyk]

Ah ok

Thanks guys

I think I'll do that then. Id rather drive with the yellow coloured bulbs, than something which is so dark that you cant see

Are the red pointer things meant to be illuminated as well ?

[rs73]

Yes. There's various bulbs behind the speedo face that's been positioned on "strategic" location, so that it can illuminate evenly even the needles as well. The needles are like transparent plastic that will somewhat "glow" when being backlighted. You might find yours do when you take that green 'condoms' off....

[Kaido_RR]

hey my dash is the same, think it might be a problem with some r33, that dash lights r bright enough

[gatty]

my 33 ( 93 model) has no dimmer - and my spedo let hand side appears to have a bulb out - as it's very dim from about 0-60 km's zone on the speedo...

but deffienetly no dimemr for me either!

[sewid]

Ok what you need to do is go down to Supercrap autos or Autobarn and buy some 5watt wedge type globes. They are also known as parker globes. The standard ones are dim at 3.8 watts.

Take your dash cluster out and replace the bulbs with the 5 watt types. Make sure you do use the blue covers on them as it makes the light more "white" as opposed to orangy yellow crap the wedge bulbs emit.

There are some brands of whiter brighter globes available like Phillips blue vision parkers but I dont know where to buy these.

If this doesnt help there is a fault somewhere.

[Tommyk]

All fixed

I havent checked to see the colour of the globes - they look a bit yellowish.

But theres definitely light illuminating the dials, which is all I really need

If I get bored of this ill either get covers for the globes or go EL

Cheers guys