Vintage GPS gages

[Malibu46pt]

The GPS Vintage gage instructions refer to a knob on the gage dial light cable to adjust the gage light face. It says turn this up full so the gage light can be adjusted by the head light switch. I do not have this knob??? The dash light stay on full bright or off???

Also the turn signal indicator lights in the speedometer do not blink (Note) only the rear light are connected— any ideas

[Papa]

The headlight dimmer function will not dim the gauges. You turn the headlight dimmer full bright, but not to the courtesy position where it clicks. The gauges come with a separate dimmer. At least this is how mine work. I know there have been a few updates to the gauges since I received mine.

[edwardb]

If you have the newer version of the gauges, they've switched to LED backlighting. So won't have the separate dimmer knob or an inverter (which you didn't mention). They should dim using the headlight dimmer switch. The instructions obviously haven't kept up with that change. Which was at least a year or two ago.

The turn signal indicators don't blink unless your lights are blinking. Are they? Using LED lights? If so, you need to change the flasher in the fuse panel to a solid state flasher. LED's don't draw enough current to flash a traditional thermal style flasher. Factory Five is including the solid state flashers in some kits were LED's are used. But I don't know how consistently.

[Malibu46pt]

I do have the new gages but the gage lights do not dim with the headlight switch. Full on or off only. Full on also turns on the courtesy light.

The turn lights are working but I have only connected the rear. Maybe when I connect the fron turn light there will be enough current draw to cause the indicator lights to work. Will try this when I receive my back ordered fromt turn lights

[edwardb]

I do have the new gages but the gage lights do not dim with the headlight switch. Full on or off only. Full on also turns on the courtesy light.

The turn lights are working but I have only connected the rear. Maybe when I connect the fron turn light there will be enough current draw to cause the indicator lights to work. Will try this when I receive my back ordered fromt turn lights

This thread confirms from Speedhut that the newer LED backlit gauges won't dim with the variable voltage provided by the dimmer function of the headlight switch. I was hesitant to confirm that before because I don't have experience with the new version. The thread also provides a solution if it's really important to you that they actually dim. https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?38593-Vintage-gauges-and-wiring. BTW, just to also confirm, at full on (turned counterclockwise) there's a detent that you push past to turn on the courtesy lights.

For the flashers, now I'm confused. Are you saying the tail lights you have installed blink normally (e.g. turn signals) but the indicators don't blink? If so, that's weird. Something is wired wrong. The indicators are piggy backed onto the wires that go to the turn signal lights and should flash along with them. If neither are flashing, then it goes back to my original post asking whether you have LED or regular incandescent bulbs. If LED's, you'll have to switch to the solid state flashers as I indicated. If incandescent, it is possible that with only the rear lights, you don't have enough current to make the standard thermal flashers work. A simple solution is to change to the solid state flashers in any case. They're not expensive, work with any bulb type, and are generally more reliable.

[Papa]

This thread confirms from Speedhut that the newer LED backlit gauges won't dim with the variable voltage provided by the dimmer function of the headlight switch. I was hesitant to confirm that before because I don't have experience with the new version. The thread also provides a solution if it's really important to you that they actually dim. https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?38593-Vintage-gauges-and-wiring. BTW, just to also confirm, at full on (turned counterclockwise) there's a detent that you push past to turn on the courtesy lights.

For the flashers, now I'm confused. Are you saying the tail lights you have installed blink normally (e.g. turn signals) but the indicators don't blink? If so, that's weird. Something is wired wrong. The indicators are piggy backed onto the wires that go to the turn signal lights and should flash along with them. If neither are flashing, then it goes back to my original post asking whether you have LED or regular incandescent bulbs. If LED's, you'll have to switch to the solid state flashers as I indicated. If incandescent, it is possible that with only the rear lights, you don't have enough current to make the standard thermal flashers work. A simple solution is to change to the solid state flashers in any case. They're not expensive, work with any bulb type, and are generally more reliable.

Thanks, Paul. I'd forgotten all about chasing down the LED dimmer for Chris.

Dave