Dim dash lights?

[Dennis]

Does anyone else think the dash lights are too dim? In a dark garage when I pull out the knob to turn on the running lights the dash lights on the gauges are not very bright. You can turn the knob to change the brightness, but it doesn’t even go a quarter of a turn so the improvement is pretty slight. I have the Auto meter gauges, not the vintage ones. Driving at night might be hazardess if I can barely see my gauges. I wonder if there is something wrong with my switch. It seems like it should rotate further. It comes to a very hard stop at about 1/8 of a turn.

[JohnK]

I don't know anything about Autometer gauges but the fact that your dimmer knob only turns 1/8 of a turn sounds like a problem. Try pulling the knob off and see if the stem turns further. If so, then perhaps the knob is getting hung up on the bezel or somehow being prevented from turning further.

[Dennis]

John, Thank for responding. The knob is not getting hung up on anything. Where it is located, there is not else there. If a 1/8 turn is not normal then there must be something wrong with the switch.

[JohnK]

I'll let someone that's familiar with Autometer gauges chime in on whether 1/8 turn is normal, but that doesn't sound normal to me.

[Blitzboy54]

I have auto meter gauges. I have the red light covers on mine so it dims them a bit but they seem bright enough. What knob are you using for dimming? Is it the FFR supplied headlight switch? Lets start there.

If yes, the switch should rotate further than 1/8 turn. Mine goes almost 360. That is the first thing that needs to be fixed. If you want to eliminate the switch pull the white wire and bypass the switch. If your gauges are much brighter the switch is the issue. It sounds like the rheostat is either bad or the switch as something physically keeping it from turning all the way.


https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=149355&d=1623372668

[Dennis]

Yes I'm using the FFR supplied headlight switch to dim the dash lights. But I don't think I can do the test you suggest. All the wires, (except the black ground) are in an L shaped connector.

[Blitzboy54]

I'm sorry, I didn't explain myself very well. The lights simply run on 12v. I don't know what state your build is in but if you set up your wiring per the manual you can pull the connector and apply 12v to the white wire. This will fully power your dash lights. This can be done by any number of ways. Either make a wire jumper from a 12v keyed source so you can turn it on and off for installation and removal or I used a $12 power supply I purchased on Amazon to test all my dash functions before I put it on the car. Any 12v power source will do as long as your ground is connected. Disconnecting your battery and using an external source might be the safest but that's up to you.

If your dash lights are bright, its the switch. If they are the same something else is going on. From there I would check all my grounds but based on what you said about the switch it sounds like a likely culprit.

[JohnK]

I didn't realize you're using the FFR-supplied headlight switch as the dash gauge dimmer. The Speedhut gauges have their own dimmer knob so I assumed the Autometer gauges had something similar. This being the case, the FFR-supplied headlight switch is simply a cheap knock-off of an AC Delco D1588 headlight switch. I'd replace it with a better quality part. They're not that expensive, and IMO will save headaches down the road.

[Dennis]

Blitzboy
I guess I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Your followup explanation was great. I ran the test and the gauge lights are much brighter running off a 12 volt supply. I will contact FFR and ask them to send me another switch. Thanks man you're awesome.!!!!

[Dennis]

John,
I'm certainly open to getting a better switch. It would need to be oriented exactly like the FFR one to receive the RF harness connector. Would Speedhut be the place to find such a switch?

[JohnK]

Any auto parts store should have it. It's a standard AC Delco D1588. You can check Rock Auto (they're a forum sponsor so I'll give them a plug), or you can even find it on Amazon here (https://www.amazon.com/ACDelco-D1588-Original-Equipment-Headlamp/dp/B000C9SAJC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=YHY3BTDQRMDR&keywords=ac+delco+d1588&qid=1646174525&sprefix=ac+delco+d1588%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-3).

If you want one with a different bezel and knob you can also check Ron Francis here (https://www.ronfrancis.com/product/663) or here (https://www.ronfrancis.com/product/664).

[Blitzboy54]

Blitzboy
I guess I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Your followup explanation was great. I ran the test and the gauge lights are much brighter running off a 12 volt supply. I will contact FFR and ask them to send me another switch. Thanks man you're awesome.!!!!

You’re welcome!

[Dennis]

John,
I will check out Rock Auto. Thanks for the part number and for helping me on this. You're awesome too!!!!!