308 QV Dash Lights

Glenn,

I also replied to your pm but here it is for all to see.....

http://www.nwrfca.org/faq/308instrumentlights.htm

 

Like I posted in the other thread, forget the LED idea.

Doesn't work at all (in fact results are even worse) unless someone has come up with a new idea in the past 6 months or so.

 

Someone from Fchat posted that this are type of bulbs he used to replace the old dash light bulb for the 308.
Anyone else tried this bulbs?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Yep they work but do not expect miracles. No others that I was able to find, work.

My dash illumination improved by about 25%. I also bypassed the dimmer switch.


You results may vary but my guess is they will fall somewhere in this area:

a) you will not be needing your flashlight to read the gauges any longer, and

b) you will not be needing your sunglasses either.


Try: http://www.servicelighting.com/General-27230-2723-12V-22W-OSRAM-T1-5-Miniature-Incandescent-Light-Bulb

and

Try: http://www.servicelighting.com/EiKo-40659-3893-T2-75-Miniature-Incandescent-Light-Bulb

 

****** DISCLAIMER ******

AGAIN I am ASSUMING the 308 and 328 are the same dash instrument design with different faces.

**********************


If you are referring to this page on that site:

http://www.v12s.com/indxcc.html

There is a potential problem. Several actually, for the 308 GTB/S.
1) The number of bulbs in the kit I believe to be short by 1, maybe 2. IIRC and I can check in a day or two, you need 2 in the tach, 1 in the oil pressure, 1 in the gas (maybe 2 here, 2nd for low gas light) and 1 in the H20 temp. PLUS you need 1 in the oil temp and 1 in the clock. That makes 7 - 8. AND I honestly think I am missing another idiot light somewhere, but not 100% sure. The kit package contains only 6. Bottom line, you would need 2 kits to complete the switch. I have never seen examples of these lit so I do not know how well they would work. "Regularly shaped" LEDs do not. The gauges count on light bouncing all around the inside of the gauge before exiting to equally illuminate the gauge face (no "hot-spots").

2) The speedo uses a completely different type of light (size and blub / socket interface). The bulbs in the kit pictured will not fit in the 5 (IIRC) sockets in the back of the speedo. Those use a smaller, lower wattage "push-in" type bulb very similar to stringed Xmas tree lights. Your speedo will likely ALWAYS be a bit dimmer than the tach and other gauges as the bulbs are of less wattage.


Unlesss something has changed recently, I recommend to go with what has been posted above or in your, and others, threads on the same subject for dash lights.


Now on to the rear liscense plate illumination lights. An F-Chatter here replaced his (328) with LEDs and they were so bright he is able to use them to see into the luggage and engine bays during low-light without use of a flashlight. His pics were a very bright change. THAT thread you might look into; so to speak.

Good Luck in whatever you decide to do!

 

As noted, there have been threads in the past re: bypassing the dimmer switch. Some have reported that this will brighten up the lights a bit.

 

Glenn, Just in case you didn't know, replacing or upgrading your fusebox will also improve the ilumination of the dash light.

 

Glenn,

What the heck. Give it a try. All you can lose is a few bucks and a few hours and you may become the new dash guru on F-Chat.

Nothing wrong with that.

Please read all the threads for tips and tricks on how to get your dash in and out. There are several tips in those threads that can save you LOTS of time and grief.

Take some BEORE and AFTER pics and post if you give the LEDS a try.

I'll try to get you the number of bulbs per each gauge you'll need on MON or TUE.

Good Luck and I AM hoping for you as I'd like my gauges brighter too and have run out of patience trying as I have MANY other fish to fry on my car.

V/r,

mwr

 

There's lots of threads on this topic in the archives.
I've replaced the bulbs on my cluster: '83 308. What I found is
1) the increase in brightness from replacing the bulbs wasn't significant: at all. What a waste.
2) cleaning the pot on the dimmer switch wasn't significant
3) bypassing the pot wasn't significant at all
4) Best bang-for-the-buck: cleaning the grounds
5) The best improvement came from thoroughly cleaning the power/ground leads in the molex connectors. I can now see the guages at night.

 

Clyde...do you happen to have a pic or diagram which shows this particular connector / harness? Appreciate your help!

 

Clyde,

Cannot argue. I did all those those things at the same time so I cannot tell what did and did not work at the individual level.



Greg,

try this thread for pics: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194186&highlight=dash+lights

It clearly shows the wite and red multi connectors. Look carefully and you can get the correct bulb count also. Again I may have missed one or two (on the tach in particular).

Each instrument is self-contained along with the initial wire runs. Each instrument's wires terminate in a multiwire connector. That connector then plugs into the car's wiring harness (back-bone if you will). All of my connectors on the instrument and on the wiring harness both male and female were heavly corroded with white powder. I carefully removed EACH and EVERY wire from the connectors and cleaned them including under the center tunnel. That took some time (several half days) let me tell you, BUT each wire end in my car is CLEAN.

As I said before, you will not ever need sunglasses as the lights will NEVER BE BRIGHT like today's cars, but at least you will never need your flashlight to read them again either.

It is not hard, just very tedious and time consuming. The results will NOT make you say "WOW," but in the end, I feel the project is modestly worth it.

 

Just the thread + info I've been needing. thanks for info, gents.

Had same problem with my 330 2+2, thought they'd improve in 20 yrs.

 

Nah. Come on man, after all it IS A Ferrari ..............