**HELP** Changed LEDs / NO GAUGES WORK

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jus10inbrla

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Long story short. Took cluster apart, sanded down the rear, changed to new led bulbs. Put everything back together, put needles back where they were. Now i dont think ANY of my gauges are working! I drove down the road to pick up daughter, speedometer or tachometer never moved. But trip meter / odometer changed… where do i start??
 

Frank Enstein

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I would start by making sure the needles aren't touching the gauge face. When I fixed the speedo on Momma's Astro the needle touched just a little and it stuck. Also double check the firewall connector. They are a known problem. Just be gentle with all of it the dash stuff is surprisingly fragile!
 

GoToGuy

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Nothing works, no lights, no gauge response? When you insert key and turn key to " on " position, not start, do you get warning light test? Are you sure the molex connectors are fully and square seated in recepticles?
 

GoToGuy

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So you took off without oil pressue indication and never got water temp indication?
 

jus10inbrla

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I got the normal warning lights with key on, the once i cranked it and dash lights came on.

I wiggled the backing plate ; and i might have found the culprit. It may possibly be touching the needle ina few spots. When i mashed the plate flat The fuel level and battery life shot up to where it should be . I did feel the speedo touching for sure.
 

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Erin

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May be a dumb question as I’m not familiar with the bulb locations on the cluster, but why is it bright in some spots & not in others?
 

delta_p

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Because they get the ones that are brighter than a regular bulb and are directed light straight onto the backplate of the cluster. They don't get diffuse ones, or scuff up the plastic bulb to make the light diffuse.
 

Frank Enstein

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I got the normal warning lights with key on, the once i cranked it and dash lights came on.

I wiggled the backing plate ; and i might have found the culprit. It may possibly be touching the needle ina few spots. When i mashed the plate flat The fuel level and battery life shot up to where it should be . I did feel the speedo touching for sure.
Woo Hoo! Free fix!
 

jus10inbrla

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Because they get the ones that are brighter than a regular bulb and are directed light straight onto the backplate of the cluster. They don't get diffuse ones, or scuff up the plastic bulb to make the light diffuse.
cant diffuse these and i didnt see any plastic bulb models that didnt have terrrible reviews.
 

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jus10inbrla

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Well i couldnt fix the backplate all the way. It still touches in a few spots. Had a spare cluster from junkyard; so took the plate from it. Was a pain getting the needles right, and even on this one thats never been adhesive removed, the needles hit in a spot or two. Primarily gas gauge & oil temp.
 
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