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Post by legendaryacura8 on Feb 25, 2012 17:54:52 GMT -5
I actually have two questions regarding the speedo. First, when I turn on the headlights, the lights and everything work fine, except for the speedo cluster. Is this an easy enough fix? Also, when driving, and I hope this comes out descriptively enough, the needle sways back and forth. It's not smooth and also makes it incredibly difficult to tell what my actual speed is. Any assistance in these matter would be great!
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Post by tk826 on Feb 25, 2012 17:58:35 GMT -5
Are there any other dash lights out, or just the speedo?
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Post by legendaryacura8 on Feb 25, 2012 18:06:44 GMT -5
It looks like all of the caution lights work (oil, battery, etc) The radio lights work. The clock doesn't illuminate either. I don't know if it's supposed to, but the clock itself isn't working either.
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Post by tk826 on Feb 25, 2012 21:14:22 GMT -5
At one time I had my dash lights go out, but at the same time, so did the radio lights and the heater/ac control lights. The only lights that remained were the lights behind the word "Headlights", "Wipers", and the blue high-beam indicator, in the center of the speedometer.
I tracked it down to being a bad headlight switch, even though the headlights themselves did work. I also had a good idea where to look because the lights first went out as I was twisting the knob to brighten the dash lights.
Yours sounds like it is isolated to the speedometer only. It seems to be more than a simple "burnt bulb" problem as they are all out. (Maybe it is simply a loose connection).
My first suggestion would be to check out the threads sigmfsk has posted about the inner workings of the speedo. I'm also sure that he will be along shortly. He is the resident guru on the workings of the speedo (and the speedo needle).
I'll also look through my copy of the service manual, perhaps there are some clues in there.
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Post by legendaryacura8 on Feb 25, 2012 21:35:20 GMT -5
Now that it's dark I went out and checked again. no lights come on at all when the headlight switch is turned on. The radio lights work when the radio is on though... Where did you get your new headlight switch from? And how much was it?
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Post by tk826 on Feb 25, 2012 21:40:00 GMT -5
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Post by sigmfsk on Feb 27, 2012 20:18:52 GMT -5
when I turn on the headlights, the lights and everything work fine, except for the speedo cluster. Is this an easy enough fix? Hi Legendary: Here some info from: www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum/topic/7238-140mph-certified-speedo-restoration-feedback/page__view__findpost__p__106318> Here's a pic of mine from the front, then the back. Each of those > black handles is for a light-bulb, and each light-bulb, other than > the bottom two, illuminates through the plastic. The bottom two > light the openings for the gas gauge an anmeter. > > From left to right, top to bottom, while looking at the back: > > speedo (around 100mph), speedo (around 30mph) > right turn arrow, washer fluid, brake, high beam blue dot, door ajar, left turn arrow > hot, oil > alternator illumination, gas gauge illumination > > I attach a pic of me shining a flashlight through the opening for > the 30mph, and then for the "door ajar". The reddish tint is due > to me covering the camera flash with my thumb. It was easier > than figuring out how to turn off the camera flash. So there are many bulbs that handle the "dash lighting when the parking lights are turned on". It sounds that none of yours in the speedo are working. It would be unlikely that all your bulbs burned out. Especially since it seems that all your dash lights aren't working: > The clock doesn't illuminate either. TK has good ideas about the headlight switch. I suggest turning on the parking lights (remember I don't have a working monaco, but its probably something like pulling the headlight switch half way out), and seeing if any of your outside parking lights come on. And then see if your dash lights come on. With the parking lights on, the headlight switch probably rotates from full counter-clockwise (all dash lights off), to full clockwise (all dash lights at full brightness). Maybe you just need to rotate it clockwise. when driving, and I hope this comes out descriptively enough, the needle sways back and forth. It's not smooth and also makes it incredibly difficult to tell what my actual speed is. The only thing that makes sense to me here is that your speedo cable is binding. So at constant speed X1, the transmission is driving the speedo cable at rate X2, but the cable binds up, and is spinning faster at the trans side than the speedo side. Eventually, it wraps up enough that it bursts through and gives a big pulse to the speedo. My guess is that the speedo is fine, and replacing the speedo cable is the thing to try. your friend in trying to guess the likely culprit, arthur
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Post by Mr Mercer on Feb 27, 2012 21:14:32 GMT -5
I have undone my cable at the transmission , then pulled out the inside cable and cleaned it with LPS lube . Then reinstalled it and worked out good . But this past summer I'm thinking it might have been the speedo . When I first start out driving it stays at zero until I smack the dash or hit a bump or floor it , then it comes to life .
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Post by legendaryacura8 on Mar 4, 2012 22:20:11 GMT -5
Another quick question about that switch. It says at rockauto that DS146 is fr 74 applications, but in 75 it changes to a different part number. Is this true? Arthur, do your parts catalogs have different part numbers for headlight switches between the years? Or do you only have the '74 parts catalog?
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Post by sigmfsk on Mar 5, 2012 5:42:56 GMT -5
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Post by legendaryacura8 on Mar 9, 2012 22:23:24 GMT -5
Does anyone have any pictures or info on how to remove the switch? I tried to get into it, and I was able to remove the whole gauge/ A/C/ radio bezel, but I couldn't get the lower metal piece off. Anyone know where the screws/fasteners are that aren't obviously noticeable?
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Post by legendaryacura8 on Mar 31, 2012 23:10:51 GMT -5
Got the switch swapped out the other day and, low and behold, everything illuminates! (almost) There are dark parts in the speedo, which I would assume are burnt out bulbs. Are all of those black clip-looking pieces on the back of the speedo in Arthurs pic individual bulbs? If so, how much of a pain is it to access them to swap out the bulbs?
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Post by sigmfsk on Mar 31, 2012 23:23:02 GMT -5
Are all of those black clip-looking pieces on the back of the speedo in Arthurs pic individual bulbs? > Each of those > black handles is for a light-bulb, and each light-bulb, other than > the bottom two, illuminates through the plastic. The bottom two > light the openings for the gas gauge an anmeter. > > From left to right, top to bottom, while looking at the back: > > speedo (around 100mph), speedo (around 30mph) > right turn arrow, washer fluid, brake, high beam blue dot, door ajar, left turn arrow > hot, oil > alternator illumination, gas gauge illumination Read more: bluesmobiles.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=maintenance&action=display&thread=611#ixzz1ql8adUEJ
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Post by tk826 on Apr 1, 2012 11:27:49 GMT -5
Nice. Almost there.
I had intended to post a diagram, (real life got in the way and I forgot about the request) Sorry about that.
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Post by legendaryacura8 on Apr 1, 2012 12:35:14 GMT -5
Arthur, thanks for that info! Any chance there's another post somewhere detailing how to get to those bulbs to replace them, or do I have to actually remove the instrument cluster? TK, thanks, but I eventually figured it out without having to drop the lower portion of the dash. It was a lot easier than I expected!
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