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Unscrewing my dash

69conv

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
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Motor City
Just got the car of my dreams but like everything there is a little worm in the apple. Seller told me the speedo cable was disconnected so sounds like an easy fix, right? Discovered the speedo was loose in the dash, none of the dash lights worked, the dimmer switch wiggled and the headlight doors don't work. So here we go.

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Found out the speedo was loose because there was only 1 screw and it was cross threaded. Dash lights didn't work because 2 were missing and 1 was burned out. Dimmer switch was wiggling because 1 screw wouldn't titen.

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Dug through my box of misc fasteners and found the correct screws and un cross threaded the hole. Incidently tested the speedo and it works fine, so why was he trying to take it out?
 
Found the dimmer switch was pretty badly corroded and hit it with some contact cleaner. Afterwards the resistance was smooth and linear so I think I ok there.
 
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Heard about some led replacement dash lights that are a little brighter, non polar and dimmable, so those are on order. This also seemed a perfect time to replace all the indicator lights while its open so #57 bulbs here we come.
 
leds from superbrightleds.com

194 LED Bulb with Socket - 5 SMD LED - Miniature Wedge Base - Cool White - 10-Pack
SKU: 194-CWHP5-PC-10PK
1
168/194/921 (T3-1/4) Twist Lock Wedge Base Socket - T3.25 Socket
10 x 168/194/921 (T3-1/4) Twist Lock Wedge Base Socket - T3.25 Socket $0.00
194 / 168 / T10 LED Bulb - 5 SMD LED Tower - Miniature Wedge Retrofit - 95 Lumens - 6500K Cool White - Single
10 x 194 / 168 / T10 LED Bulb - 5 SMD LED Tower - Miniature Wedge Retrofit - 95 Lumens - 6500K Cool White - Single $0.00
 
Dug through my box of misc fasteners and found the correct screws and un cross threaded the hole. Incidently tested the speedo and it works fine, so why was he trying to take it out?
Clean gauges or roll Speedo back or line. Who knows. You ask him?
 
He was a flipper and pretty uncooperative, so probably trying some tricks with the speedo.
 
New led's arrived, pretty happy with them. Non polar and dimmable.

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Next up is the headlights. Lights work fine, doors dont, so I thought I would take a look at the relay.
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Cant imagine where the problem might be! Looks like water sat in the bottom of the can and rusted everything.
 
Got in there with a wire brush and got started cleaning it up. Tested it with a power supply and vom and it now functions the way it should. Gonna use a little dielectric grease, and I drilled a couple airholes in the housing hopefully preventing the condensation that led to this problem.Resized_20241110_164447_1731285623810.jpeg
 
Relay isn't getting the signal to close when the lights go off, so next is checking the light switch. Also the motor doesn't turn off at the end of the run to open the doors, so a little attention to the motor is in the future.
 
Think I have a bent speedo cable too, so 1 is on order. Hope its not the speedo!
 
Relay isn't getting the signal to close when the lights go off, so next is checking the light switch. Also the motor doesn't turn off at the end of the run to open the doors, so a little attention to the motor is in the future.
Getting into this post
 
Installed the relay and checked the light switch. Next is some attention to the motor. The contact at the end of the run for opening doesn't disconnect the power. Hoping some corrosion on the contacts and a little lube will take care of it. Speedo cable arriving soon.
 
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