i post this more as an informative thread. some people were asking about the gauge cluster, the bulbs, and how dim those bulbs are. so tonite i took them apart. i'm posting these pictures so that others can see what sort of bulbs we are dealing with back here. it's really not that hard at all. there are 2 types of bulbs behind the gauge cluster, both the same size but different wattage. if you look closely at the 2 similiar bulbs, one has a BROWN base and the other has a BLACK BASE.

BLACK = THREE (3) WATTS
BROWN = 1.4 WATTS.

the bulb at the far left is the actual bulb itself, separated from it's base. really closely, it reads that the bulb is a T-14 type bulb. the orange bulb in the picture is simple a 194 size bulb and it is in the picture to provide comparison so that others can see how small this T-14 bulb is. i've also provided a picture of the back of the gauge cluster so that you can see where these bulbs are mounted.

hopefully, this will help some of you in gettin brighter bulbs. "but polo, what do we do now". i'm glad you asked that. as of now, i just finished taking the pictures, so my next step is to find out the equivalent to these T-14 size bulbs, because a 194 will NOT fit(some websites say it does, but these pictures can obviously confirm this) and i'm sure google will be flooded in about 2 minutes with the search of "t-14 superwhite bulb" j/k......or am i. well anyway. here you go. hopefully this will help those that were curious as to what lights up our gauge cluster.

 

so is there a total of 7 of those bulbs back there then?

 

4 black along the sides
3 brown on top.

 

Polo can you post some additional pics. I don't understand exactly what we are looking at here. I am very interested in modifing the lights behind the gauge cluster (possibly blue or LED).

Since you have already started the process, can you inform us on what exactly causes the difference in light output across the speedo?

Work like this is GREATLY APPRECIATED!

 

this picture should show more of what we're looking at
the 3 top brown sockets are for the signals, airbag, and high beam illumination. the other 4 (along the sides) black sockets are for the speedo gauges. if you cant notice it by now, you need to turn on your monitor

now to answer why our light is different. i think it's obvious. the placement of the bulbs is so off center that only the corners light up. i do not understand why nissan chose to place the bulbs there. it really doesn't make sense at all. but wahtever, i'm not about to make a new cluster . if the top 2 black bulbs were lower and closer to the middle, the light would illuminate better throughout the gauges. this is why i think stronger bulbs would help, more light would be able to travel throught the cluster.

 

i been lookin for t14 hyper whites for atleast 4 months now on and off, let me know if your successful

 

Would mirrors behind the gauge cluster help? From what you can tell, is there anyway to "tie in" additional lights to help with the illumination?

 

mirrors won't help much, cuz the light really isn't placed well.. for a mirror to work well the bulb has to b face'n the mirror.. but i tried to paint my 2k gauge cluster silver and it didn't do much at all.. wut did help tho a lil bit, i sprayd the backing with tripple clear coat (u can get it at wal-mart or some thing) made it a lil brighter.. but after putting in the hyper needle kit it just don't look right.. cuz the needles look sweet.. really bright.. but the numbers look really dim.. so i'm work'n on it now and i'll post pics on it when its done.. but like polo said its really ez to make it brighter.. just have to find a way to place the bulbs in the t-14 house'n... i try'd shave'n some 194 bulbs and and it work'd but after hit'n a hard bump 3 of them feel out.. haha.. so i'm still try'n to find a way...

 

heres a pic of the hyper needle kit **didn't use timelaps**

 

spent most of the nite looking up various types of lights that would fit this. some stuff i learned. getting stronger wattage bulbs will not really help. brings us back to what the cluster can handle. too strong of a wattage will melt the area around the cluster, the gauges, etc....

one size i saw getting mentioned throughout many of the sites is Sylvania size 168 (also euro 2825) bulbs. these produe 5watts w/minimal heat and supposedly are the closest match to these. now i havne't seen a 168 bulb upclose, buti do know that 194's are like twice the size. so after looking at my 194, i'm thinking maybe we're onto something. i'm gonna go check out some 168 or 2825 size bulbs. if anyone has free time and wants to check it out for me, go right ahead. the ONLY other choice we have, which may work, is superbrightleds.com...they sell an LED instrument cluster bulb, with the base and all. it looks like it may fit. my only problem is how wide of an angle it has. i don't watn my cluster to have only 50mph lit up while everything is dull.

anyone else find anything out?

 

Me and a friend just replaced the dash bulbs in his galant with 78 and 194 LED's. WE made sure to by the concave LED's which are supposed to create a larger arc of light. We used blue bulbs in his car and there was no fade anywhere on the gauges. Everything was lit up a nice, very sharp blue color. We got the bulbs off of eBay, btw.

 

These should work with ur low watts theory... Polarg M4 US Type 168 Super White but they're the same size as 194's...

off topic but why aren't our sig working???