Are the 1969 Ford Mustang gauge lights dim?

[Purple Stallion]

Hey all, I've got a 1969 Ford Mustang with an aftermarket streetrod wire harness by Haywire. I had this harness installed and the dimness didn't go away. I have spoken to another person regarding this situation and he told that my year mustang interior were always dim and told me I had to get brighter light bulbs and put on new wiring to make them brighter. Is this true or did something go wrong on the harness installation? Please let me when convenient.

 

[Pakrat]

The few times I drove my car at night the gauges were in fact ridiculously dim, I believe that is just the way they are.

 

[Stang_1973]

I am assuming that with the harness you did put on new bulbs. If not, get some new bulbs. And when you replace them clean out the guages. Dust can cause alot of dimness.

 

[charlies]

you know the knob turns to the right and left to adjust the dimness, right?

just checkin!

 

[69 302/351c]

Both my 69s are dim. At dusk you can't tell the stock gages are even lit. My aftermarket gages are fine, but the stock ones don't show until it's really dark out.

 

[Hack]

The guage lights on my '70 are dim. I had always chalked it up to "oldness". Now I'm worried.

 

[Old Blue]

both my 69 and 70 are dim

 

[mr-fixit]

My '69 dash lights improved dramatically with a new headlight switch, you might want to try that.

 

[DarkBuddha]

I'm not surprised everyone says their '69-'70 lights are dim, but I am surprised no one posted the main reason why and how to fix it. One of the primary reasons the dash lights appear dim is that there are little blue caps that cover the bulbs in the dash. These little blue caps are translucent and create that greenish glow to the guages. Remove the caps and you'll get a noticeably brighter (and whiter) dash. A second option is to step up to LEDs or brighter aftermarket bulbs that replace stock bulbs... I've seen 'em somewhere, but heck if I can remember where.

Hope this helps.

 

[bnickel]

you can actually buy the LED version of the 194 bulbs at autozone, just look in the ricer section

 

[sportsroof69]

I put a 100 amp alternator in my car and the guages are nice and bright, now.