P38A Dash bulbs

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Dopey

Dopey

Well-Known Member
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Heathrow
Can you replace the dash bulbs with LED's? if you can what do I need for the dash and the heater controls, can you help me out as to exactly what I need to replace them all please?
Also the vents at the top of my dash seem to be misshaped, the plastic is poking up and its not as it should be, (its old and its probably the heat from the sun has warped it) has anyone done anything to fix this so it looks a lot better? thanks
 
I also have a crack on the plastic the one that goes around the speedo anyone know what that called? I need a replacement
 
@martyuk has replaced his with LEDs, I think. Might be worth a try.

My vents are doing the same although not as bad as yours yet. Must be that balmy hot weather you enjoy down there ... or the jet-wash from the 747s.

Instrument surrounds seem to be like rocking horse droppings. The PO of mine has snapped every single fixing it attaches to. I'm still scratching my head wondering how to get it to attach. I'm thinking of maybe using gorilla glue to glue something to the arched bit of the dashboard so I can screw it into that.
 
I think the dash just goes brittle and bits snap off every time you undo it, not a lot can be done about that but fix or replace, think I can fix it, its a simple enough job to do tbh, just being lazy and wanting to do a swap, I also think the vents are warping because of the heat, but I have had the dash out at least twice now, and that wont help, was wondering if anyone had any luck solving how to put it right
 
I don't think I've seen a single binnacle which hasn't had at least one of the fixings cracked or missing... Maybe if Land Rover start doing new parts for P38 under their Heritage program, then it should be one of the first bits they remake... I'd have 3... one for each of my P38's

As Grrrr says, I have LED converted my dash, and the LED's do dim with the dimmer switch on top of the indicator stalk. My conversions aren't a simple replacement of the lamps - they are more of a complete rework of the lighting for the message center and the gauges, but the result (I think) is worth the effort (and the time... takes about 8 hours to do one from start to finish!)
 
They would probably work for the warning lamps, and look the same as what the message center is lit by

The ones that light the back of the gauges and the needles are 5W capless lamps in the bases. The only problem is how the light is distributed inside the cluster - LED's are very directional, and the standard lamps emit light 360 degrees, which is how the factory lighting works. It uses 'light pipes' to channel the light to where it's needed, which come off the side of the tungsten lamps.

All of the LED's I retrofit are all SMD and fitted to light the individual needles - and edge-light the back of the gauges and the message centre screen.

Also from the factory, the back of all the gauges and message centre have a green coating which needs to be removed if you want to get white for example - as even if you refitted with white LED's the green coating would still make everything shine green. (though blue LED's seem to come through as a shade of blue - but not the brightest from when I was playing with them.

The reason I went and edge lit everything was because just replacing the lamps with LEDs originally gave me very dim, and patchy spots of light, as the light was just shining in the cluster, and not through the light pipes to actually illuminate much. It's very clever how they've done it, but doesn't make it easy to retrofit!
 
martyuk said:
They would probably work for the warning lamps, and look the same as what the message center is lit by

The ones that light the back of the gauges and the needles are 5W capless lamps in the bases. The only problem is how the light is distributed inside the cluster - LED's are very directional, and the standard lamps emit light 360 degrees, which is how the factory lighting works. It uses 'light pipes' to channel the light to where it's needed, which come off the side of the tungsten lamps.

All of the LED's I retrofit are all SMD and fitted to light the individual needles - and edge-light the back of the gauges and the message centre screen.

Also from the factory, the back of all the gauges and message centre have a green coating which needs to be removed if you want to get white for example - as even if you refitted with white LED's the green coating would still make everything shine green. (though blue LED's seem to come through as a shade of blue - but not the brightest from when I was playing with them.

The reason I went and edge lit everything was because just replacing the lamps with LEDs originally gave me very dim, and patchy spots of light, as the light was just shining in the cluster, and not through the light pipes to actually illuminate much. It's very clever how they've done it, but doesn't make it easy to retrofit!
Click to expand...

Dash illumination needs to be green so as not to emit white light which maybe could be seen from behind through the rear window. In which case it would be illegal.
 
I don't see how lighting an instrument cluster, which is in front of the driver, and shrouded would cause that.

I've been in a fair number of vehicles where the factory instrument back lights are done in white, green, red, orange etc as they shipped from the factory, so also don't see any reason why they have to be green.

I had a quick look in the vehicle lighting regulations and also couldn't see anything that said you weren't allowed to do it.
 
martyuk said:
I don't see how lighting an instrument cluster, which is in front of the driver, and shrouded would cause that.

I've been in a fair number of vehicles where the factory instrument back lights are done in white, green, red, orange etc as they shipped from the factory, so also don't see any reason why they have to be green.

I had a quick look in the vehicle lighting regulations and also couldn't see anything that said you weren't allowed to do it.
Click to expand...

They can be any colour you want but not white if visible from the rear, it is illegal to show white light to the rear.
 
wammers said:
They can be any colour you want but not white if visible from the rear, it is illegal to show white light to the rear.
Click to expand...

I know that used to be the law regards rear lights with cracks etc and even traveling with interior lights on.
Changing tack slightly, the number of trucks I've seen with red, blue, orange, green LED logo's illuminated on the cab bulkhead would also fall into the 'offense' bracket.
So should one presume that it's either not high on plods list of priorities or has slipped from the legislation.. ??? Probably the former.
I will also add my 2007 Yamaha has an illuminated white instrument cluster that can actually be adjusted so that it's too bright to look at (Stupid). It's also very standard!
So perhaps manufacturers are just cocking a snook at the legislature. .
 
Martin H said:
I know that used to be the law regards rear lights with cracks etc and even traveling with interior lights on.
Changing tack slightly, the number of trucks I've seen with red, blue, orange, green LED logo's illuminated on the cab bulkhead would also fall into the 'offense' bracket.
So should one presume that it's either not high on plods list of priorities or has slipped from the legislation.. ??? Probably the former.
I will also add my 2007 Yamaha has an illuminated white instrument cluster that can actually be adjusted so that it's too bright to look at (Stupid). It's also very standard!
So perhaps manufacturers are just cocking a snook at the legislature. .
Click to expand...

I know it is being pedantic but showing white lights to the rear is illegal. Unless it is of course a reversing lamp. I personally can't see the point in going to all the trouble of fitting LED lamps. The standard lamps are not expensive do the job and last a very long time. But each to their own i suppose.
 
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