Instrument lights...how to change them.

[silverback mike]

Hello again folks.
I brought the Chim out of hibernation last night, re-taxed it and took it for a drive. I realised I had never driven it in the dark until now. So, remembering my previous Chim, I had a prod under the dash, found the button and the green glow of instrumentation lighting came on. However.......they are not of the same brightness. This clearly will do my head right in...

I presume it's the usual top of the dashboard off with the nuts underneath? Are the bulbs accessible to the clocks and instrumentation or will it be out with them first?

Thanks.

Mike.

[ukdj]

Mike,

with the dash top off it's a 5 minute job to change the bulbs for something brighter/led's etc

you'll probably find that you need at least two different kinds of fitting push fit/bayonet

[silverback mike]

Thanks Paul, Thought it may be something simple but you never know. I'll whip the top off and have a look prior to buying new ones.

[Goaty Bill 2]

I presume you expected the speedometer to be different to the rest and you are speaking of other instruments?
Because the speedo is always different level of brightness.

It was 'damned annoying' when new, but at this age it's known as 'part of the charm'

[phazed]

Goaty Bill 2 said:

I presume you expected the speedometer to be different to the rest and you are speaking of other instruments?
Because the speedo is always different level of brightness.

It was 'damned annoying' when new, but at this age it's known as 'part of the charm'

All bulbs should be 2w.

The rev counter has 2 bulbs and the speedo 1, typical TVR so looks dim.

Replace the speedo one with a 4w and they are practically the same, result!


Removed the puny 2 watt speedo bulb and fitted a 4 watt bulb to even up the dial lights.

Edited by phazed on Monday 5th January 17:21

[silverback mike]

Nice one fellas

[Richard 858]

I always thought the rev counter was brighter as TVR (and from a driver focused point of view I suppose) regarded it as providing more important information than the speedo ! All well and good if you don't regard your speedo as too vital.

[rickprice]

The difference lies in the plastic cowling into which the clever bits are mounted - different number of holes for bulbs.

Anyone know whether you can swap the plastic surrounds for one with the greater number of bulb sockets?

Rich

[Goaty Bill 2]

phazed said:

All bulbs should be 2w.

The rev counter has 2 bulbs and the speedo 1, typical TVR so looks dim.

Replace the speedo one with a 4w and they are practically the same, result!


Removed the puny 2 watt speedo bulb and fitted a 4 watt bulb to even up the dial lights.

Damned modifiers!

Nice call Peter.
I always thought it was down to this;

rickprice said:

The difference lies in the plastic cowling into which the clever bits are mounted - different number of holes for bulbs.

Anyone know whether you can swap the plastic surrounds for one with the greater number of bulb sockets?

Rich

But then, to be fair, I have only seen my dash top off once, and that was years ago for a hot start kit install that I observed.