86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Topic: 86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim (Read 1147 times) previous topic - next topic

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

March 28, 2014, 06:37:53 PM

Hey you people!

I have a little bit of a problem. I bought my bird about 3 weeks ago. Kind of like a project to try to understand mechanics and learn to fix cars. So now im starting off with the speedometer. Which is too dim. Can see almost nothing. Thought it was a bulb behind it which was worn out, but no. I had someone look at it and kind of understood i have to replace the whole speedo? I did read it could be something wrong with the fuse ignition. I'm confused. Really confused, hehe.

Anyways! Has somebody else had the same problem and know how i can fix this?

Thanks in advance! :D

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Reply #1 – March 28, 2014, 07:26:12 PM

Maybe a bad dimmer switch

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Reply #2 – March 28, 2014, 08:24:22 PM

Is everything else lighting up with the lights on? Make sure you dimmer thumb-wheel is all the way up, not to the point that the dome light comes on though, just before that. the 85+ digital speedometer (or everything in the cluster if you have the full digital one), are lighted LCD's, so yeah, you can still read them when light is shined onto them.

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Reply #3 – March 29, 2014, 12:54:20 AM

With the exterior lights on, the LEDs are powered through the dimmer control.
With the exterior lights off and the ignition in RUN, the LEDs have full power.

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Reply #4 – March 29, 2014, 05:35:23 AM

The dimmer switch is at the brightest, and it works just fine. Its only the speedometer which i can barely see. =/

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Reply #5 – March 29, 2014, 06:45:05 AM

I had this issue on a 87 I had. Have you had the radio out recently? On mine when the radio was reinstalled it somehow pinched a wire or such and my speedo although it was still faintly visable couldnt adjust. I removed the radio, re-routed the wires in back and all was good.

86 T.bird digital speedometer too dim

Reply #6 – March 29, 2014, 09:03:17 AM

Quote from: Dansbirds;431499

I had this issue on a 87 I had. Have you had the radio out recently? On mine when the radio was reinstalled it somehow pinched a wire or such and my speedo although it was still faintly visable couldnt adjust. I removed the radio, re-routed the wires in back and all was good.

I don't know if the radio've been out lately. But im gonna try what you said. Thanks!