Dash light bulbs

[ragtopkid]

Are the twist in little dash light flash bulbs # 158 or # 194. I need to disasemble the cluster to change them but I need to move the 73 ScoutII out of the shop to change my Daughters oil in here car. Being lazy and not trying to do things twice.

[Frankie Bagadonuts]

Either will work. I believe that bulb #168 is a modern replacement for 158. I just changed mine a couple of months ago. I used 194 at first, but then replaced them with 168 because they are brighter.

[ragtopkid]

Thanks, I didn't want to pull the panel out before I had the correct ones in hand as I have to pull it out to take care of a car.

[Architectdave]

aubuchon hardware seells the bulbs for pennies. I got 8 when I was there.

[Thomas]

---All auto parts should have the 158s I used to get mine at NAPA and sometimes you can even find them at Wal*Mart. Wal*Mart can order them for you, and you can also order them from Wal*Mart. 158s will last the longest. 168s will last longer than 194s and 194s will tick you off when you have to remove everything in a year, then every 3-4 months after, unless you replace them all while you're in there.

---194s will burn brightest, 168s will burn brighter than 158s and 158s will burn bright enough and last longest.

[DrMaserati]

Originally Posted by Thomas

--194s will burn brightest, 168s will burn brighter than 158s and 158s will burn bright enough and last longest.

That is not correct. 168s are the brightest commonly available wedge base bulbs but have a shorter lifespan than a 194.

Here is the tech info and life expectency on three commonly used bulbs plus the 3652.

161, 14V, 1 cp/13 lumens, 4000 hrs
194, 14V, 2 cp/25 lumens, 2500 hrs
168, 14V, 3 cp/38 lumens, 1500 hrs
3652, 13.5V, 6 cp/75 lumens, 700 hrs

As you can see, the 3652 is substantially brighter. The downside is cost and life expectancy. The 3652 is hard to find and expensive. The last ones I found were at NAPA and were almost $5 each.

[ragtopkid]

Well I bought a dozen 168's at Napa yesterday they were 0.79 ea. 1500 hrs is a lot of time on a not Daily Driver rig.

[Architectdave]

I find I have various dash lights go out when its really cold tehn come back on later.....wish i knew how to fix that one...

[S.H.A.F.T.]

I tore my dashboard apart 10 times cleaning, tightening terminals and replacing bulbs before I noticed one of the plastic "ears" was broken off two of the little plastic bulb holders. I replaced them and have driven with all the dash lights on since.

S.H.A.F.T.

[Frankie Bagadonuts]

While you have the board out, clean the contacts with a pencil eraser. You might also want to place a little solder on the base of the pins. I had a lot of loose pins or pins not making a good connection to the board which caused lights and guages to not work.