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| Gauge cluster bulbs (84-85)... what are my options? (Page 1/2) |
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82-T/A [At Work]
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OCT 07, 02:38 PM
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Hey guys,
I just purchased a spare set of gauges for my daughter's 85 Fiero. I've already had my gauges professionally repaired and tested by Jack Gunsett, but what I want to replace is the rear plastic tracer (?) that provides connection to all the bulbs.
I bought this on eBay:
I plan to use the flexible tracer wire sheet (or whatever it's called) to replace the one I have, as well as the front gauge panel which fits better... but I'll be keeping the cluster that Jack repaired and tested for me. Quick question though... I really want to upgrade the lights in these. I want the lights to be bright, and dimmable. I want to potentially use LEDs.
I purchased a bulb upgrade kit from Rodney Dickman, but they're still bulbs, and I'm concerned about the heat they generate. I'd much rather use LED bulbs if I can... and I have several that I've purchased. So, a couple of questions:
- Is there a good schematic to tell me what's postive and what's ground, so that I can test each of the bulbs as I replace them? Some LED's are not designed to work when installed in either direction, so I have to be able to test them in the socket before I re-install the gauge cluster.
- I'm assuming everything on the back is 12v? (not the gauges themselves, just the bulbs)
- Anyone have any particular LED bulbs that they use and prefer?
- For some of the backlit gauges, has anyone replaced them with RED LED bulbs... or used those red rubber caps that some Pontiacs had? I'd like to make it as bright but "Pontiac-ish" as possible.
Thank you!
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Vintage-Nut
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OCT 07, 03:54 PM
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I replaced all of them with #194 Long Life Incandescent Bulbs... ------------------
Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles
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1985 Fiero GT
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OCT 07, 04:57 PM
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I used some generic dirt cheap 194 size red LEDs from AliExpress, they've lasted pretty well, are dimmable, don't have the additional heat generating resistors (run decently cool), and are a little brighter than stock. They only worked in one orientation, and I just did it all on the car one at a time. All of my interior lights are cheap AliExpress LEDs, it doesn't matter to me if they fail and aren't a safety issue, and so far they've been very reliable, with no failures except one brand of dome lights (all failed, I got a different set, they've lasted perfectly). All exterior LEDs are name brand/more expensive ones, simply because I won't necessarily see if they fail, and they could cause a safely issue.
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82-T/A [At Work]
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OCT 08, 08:37 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Vintage-Nut:
I replaced all of them with #194 Long Life Incandescent Bulbs...
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I think that's what I got in Rodney's kit... I'm just looking for a more pure looking light for the gauges.
| quote | Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:
I used some generic dirt cheap 194 size red LEDs from AliExpress, they've lasted pretty well, are dimmable, don't have the additional heat generating resistors (run decently cool), and are a little brighter than stock. They only worked in one orientation, and I just did it all on the car one at a time. All of my interior lights are cheap AliExpress LEDs, it doesn't matter to me if they fail and aren't a safety issue, and so far they've been very reliable, with no failures except one brand of dome lights (all failed, I got a different set, they've lasted perfectly). All exterior LEDs are name brand/more expensive ones, simply because I won't necessarily see if they fail, and they could cause a safely issue. |
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Hey, by any chance, do you have a picture of what that looks like? Are the red LEDs too red... I suppose? How do the gauges look, does it look decent, or do you think the gauges end up getting too washed out in red?
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Also, can anyone confirm that these are all 12v? I guess that should be obvious, but just want to make sure.
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Vintage-Nut
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OCT 08, 08:59 PM
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1985 Fiero GT
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OCT 08, 10:12 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
Hey, by any chance, do you have a picture of what that looks like? Are the red LEDs too red... I suppose? How do the gauges look, does it look decent, or do you think the gauges end up getting too washed out in red?
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Also, can anyone confirm that these are all 12v? I guess that should be obvious, but just want to make sure. |
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On camera it looks somewhat bad, but that's mostly my phone, it is very red, everything ends up looking red, the orange on the tach, all the white, etc. I can only compare it to my old 2008 Pontiac g5.
Interior lights on:
Interior lights off, bad camera haha
Good interior lights off picture of the climate control lighting (cheap red led), and the stock lighting in a 90s Pontiac radio.
I personally would like something in between original incandescent and red LEDs for the gauges, the extra non tinted light to distinguish oranges and whites, but more red then just the orangish paint on the light reflector. It is definitely completely monochromatic at night, but at the same time, everything is in my interior, with the red led climate control, and I put a red led in the cigarette lighter, when driving, everything is that specific red, there are no other colors, which when it's intentional, I like, but if I still had the factory radio with a different screen color, then I'd prefer the factory bulbs, all matching, or a complete variety, but 90% matching is just annoying.
Dome lights:
https://www.aliexpress.us/i...gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
194 size red and white:
https://www.aliexpress.us/i...gatewayAdapt=glo2usa
The tiny ash tray and climate control bulbs, red or white:
https://www.aliexpress.us/i...gatewayAdapt=glo2usa[This message has been edited by 1985 Fiero GT (edited 10-08-2025).]
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Patrick
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OCT 08, 11:55 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]:
- Anyone have any particular LED bulbs that they use and prefer?
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My only advice would be to not use el cheapo LEDs. I used them in my Subie's gauge cluster, and they looked great... until one by one almost all of them stopped working after a year. Unlike the Fiero's gauge pod, replacing the gauge cluster lights in the Subie is a major nuisance.  Lesson learned.
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1985 Fiero GT
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OCT 09, 09:03 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by Patrick:
My only advice would be to not use el cheapo LEDs. I used them in my Subie's gauge cluster, and they looked great... until one by one almost all of them stopped working after a year. Unlike the Fiero's gauge pod, replacing the gauge cluster lights in the Subie is a major nuisance. Lesson learned. |
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My cheap bulbs above were more a temporary experiment, but after more than a year, none have failed and the dome/floor lights have gotten a lot of use haha. I still wouldn't trust them for a turn signal, but for non safety related stuff, the failure rate has been none so far of the ones linked above.
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Patrick
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OCT 09, 04:44 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:
My cheap bulbs above were more a temporary experiment, but after more than a year, none have failed...
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That's great! I suspect that the LEDs I used were probably a heckuva lot cheaper/crappier than the ones you used.  Seriously, they cost next to nothing years ago (when LEDs were pricier than they are now)... and the results I experienced indicated why they were so inexpensive. 
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jdv
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OCT 09, 06:33 PM
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