Dashboard illumination lights - replacement..

[matt 74]

The bulbs illuminating the speedo on my 2000 Chimaera appear to have blown, has anyone replaced these?. Your advice will be appreciated before i curl myself up in the footwell!!

[tvrbob]

How long have you had the car? The speedo light (there's only one) is always very poor at illuminating the dial due to there being too much stuff inside the speedo. People here have tried many ways around this.

If there's light visible then there's nothing wrong, just poor design.

[Nick P]

i agree, mine is slightly dimmer than all the rest of the dials and noticeably different from the rev counter next to it

[2 Smokin Barrels]

Really daft question I know...is it just the speedo, or all the rest too? If so you haven't inadvertantly turned em off with your knee? I've done that before.

[anonymous-user]

On mine the fuel gauge and Speedo are both dim. It is normal,

[tello]

Is it just dimm or blown.My oilpressur gauge light was blown replaced it an now the rev counter light has blown will replace it this week.easy to doif you need adwise let me know

[Steve_T]

Re. Tacho brightness vs. Speedo, the Tacho is light with two bulbs and the Speedo is light with one. I think modwise can supply a bulb for the Speedo with twice the output, to compensate. No doubt you could get this from a motor factors too - if you knew what you were looking for.

Cheers,

Steve

[tahiti450]

Don't know if youve done work on the instruments b4 but if not you might want to have a look at the Chimaera Dash top - tips thread I started some time ago. This just summarises my experiences of this job and its idiosyncrasies.
Incidentally, all the instruments except the rev counter have 1 bulb each (rev counter has 2). You can get a variety of wattages for the bulbs and putting a higher output bulb in the speedo does overcome the difference in brightness largely.
I think the standard speedo bulb is 2w (cap type)and the rev counter uses 2 x 2.2w (capless). The bulbs (both types)come in a 5w version (a la side-light applications)(and some other ratings)and one of those in the speedo should do the trick.

>> Edited by tahiti450 on Monday 27th December 23:25

[tvrbob]

tahiti450 said:

...you might want to have a look at the Chimaera Dash top - tips thread I started some time ago.

Thread here. Just to add to this. I found that it was easier to access the front dash top nut by way of the audio system slot.

[matt 74]

Thanks for the responses, it is definately the bulb that appears to have blown on the speedo only as the other dials are illuminating fine.

[gaston]

Best to go for that higher output bulb while you're making the change.