Has anyone used LEDs in the instrument cluster on a 2nd Gen XLT?

[spta97]

One of my instrument cluster bulbs went out last night (near the gas gauge - I guess the X was embarassed about the mileage ) so I'm going to have to replace it. I did some searching and found some good instructions as well as some talk about using LEDs behind it.

Has anyone ever used the LEDs in the instrument cluster? A few people spoke about it but didn't seem that anyone actually did it. On my 2000 XLT it has a green color on the cluster which is probably filtered but I'm thinking if I use white LEDs at least my needles won't have a yellowish color.

From what people said the cluster bulbs are 194 but that was for earlier years. Can anyone confirm this on a 2nd gen?

 

[rollinstone]

Haven't heard about using LEDs...might look cool. I recently replaced a #194 for the gas gauge. Took awhile to get to the back of the instrument cluster on my '97...lots of trim, etc. to remove, including the radio. Re LEDs: would they simply fit into the existing slot used by the 194, or do you have to use some kind of adapter? Good luck.

 

[huskyfan23]

There are LED's with the 194 wedgebulb base so you can replace them easily.

 

[spta97]

Yea the ones I was looking at were these:

Single LED Wedge Base Bulbs

Scroll down to the bottom of the page. They have two, one single one and one 4-in-one. However, the 4-in-one is a very narrow pattern. The singles are not very bright.

 

[huskyfan23]

I've always like those festoon bulbs.

Why would you change to LED? The color wouldn't change as it's part of the overlay.

 

[LOGJOCKY]

aint they a little bright to use in the cluster...may go blind from those things...lol

 

[spta97]

I've always like those festoon bulbs.

Why would you change to LED? The color wouldn't change as it's part of the overlay.

I don't expect the green to change, but I was hoping the needles would be whiter than they are now. Now they are a yellowish color that is typical from an incandecent bulb. I was thinking about the PIAA bulbs but they are too much $$$.

edit: having said that I don't know if the needle lights are the same as the 194s I want to replace?

 

[spta97]

aint they a little bright to use in the cluster...may go blind from those things...lol

Some LEDs are pretty bright, these ones aren't. Also, since it would be covered by the gauge overlay I don't think much more light would pass through than from a regular bulb. I'm going to take it apart next week and I'll give it a try.

 

[huskyfan23]

I heard the PIAA can get too hot and melt the plastic..

 

[spta97]

I heard the PIAA can get too hot and melt the plastic..

Ack! They have just been crossed off my list offically. I'm hoping if I replace all the bulbs with new 194s that I'll get a whiter light. After all, these are 5 years old.