Gauge needles don't illuminate

[tugasi]

Mga bossing, my car is a 94 corolla. I just want to know if the gauge needles in my instrument cluster lights up because of the bulbs in the cluster or the needles are "bulbs" themselves?

I already replaced the cluster bulbs with a brighter LED, but the needles are still dim, with almost no illumination.

Looking forward to your replies.

[impulzz]

did you clean the inside of the cluster meter? since your car is already 16 years old the inside of the gauges have turned a bit dark due to dust and the burned residue of the green bulb "condom"

also what kind of LED did you use??? LED's have different focus ranges better to use something like this


for the 360 degree light output

[tugasi]

Thanks for the quick reply! Yes, i cleaned the gauges and installed the exact LED you posted. I saw a better variant of the LED in Concorde with more rows of LEDs, don't have a picture though, but I'm planning to purchase those.

As far as the needle light is concerned, do I just have to clean the cluster well or have the needles replaced, or maybe have them painted???

If cleaning is the solution, can you suggest what cleaning agent I can use? Alcohol maybe??

[impulzz]

you can just wipe it with a damp cloth also if you can remove the needle from the gauge it would be better so you can clean the underside of the needle where light goes thru.

do not use alcohol it may remove the orange color of the needle.

[tugasi]

Thanks again sir impulzz! I'll just post an update and a picture of the gauge when I'm done cleaning, most likely this weekend.

[tugasi]

i finally had the chance to clean my cluster. unfortunately, the needles are still dim, but the numbers got brighter. there might be something blocking the light going to the needle, but i don't want to clean the middle thoroughly because i might hit something that will break the gauge.

i guess that's it for me, at least i have a brighter cluster now.

[batusai_jr]

ipalinis mo. they usually blow it clean with air pressure...