Why is the lighting so dim on my gauges?

[sprewell17]

Why is the lighting so dim on my gauges? I have noticed that with a lot of 944/968. Is there any fix? Is it just a matter of changing the bulbs? How hard is it to pull the instrument cluster? Has anyone tried the white face gauges or indiglo gauge faces with their car?

[Scott R]

Dirty or old optics are usually the root cause. The light from the bulbs is dispersed through optic lenses, when they get dirty and old the light dims. Here is a link for a place that sells a repair kit for the problem:

http://www.9xauto.com/cluster.html

[41V]

... but save your money, this can be fixed free. It's all time consuming labor. Lots of great posts here on this, so search the history.

Basically, pull the steering wheel, pull the cluster, and wrap the light posts with tin foil, or some reflective material (not reflective spray paint, on the un-exposed side it dries non-reflective) also same treatment on the bottom of the posts, and change the bulbs. Half a day job, worth it, pretty easy. That web site gives a good diagram to give you an idea.

[Roger Hall]

someone wrote on another post that you can replace the 2 watt bulbs with 3 watts and home depot has some metalic tape I thinks its for heating ducts that will resist the heat and do a good job as a reflector. Pulling the gauges is easy just a socket to remove the steering wheel and a screwdriver to remove the turn signal, wiper leavers, and guage cluster. Just make sure to label the wires as you remove them.

[944pete]

You don't have to pull the steering wheel. Just disconnect the three wiring connectors (very carefully) and the whole cluster will slide out to the right with a little coaxing. Remove the three bulbs and clean them real good. Make sure you remove whats left of the original reflective coating from the light tunnels. I used some brake cleaner on a soft rag and it came right off. Cover the tunnels with aluminum foil, shiny side in, and then use duct tape to secure it and protect the foil. My gauges are super bright now. (I know, I know, DUCT TAPE?? Hey who's gonna know?)

It really works.

Pete

[gixer02]

I also used the foil trick... worked wonders