Dash Light Improvement

[billymagfhloinn]

It's been mentioned casually by a few people here, so I took the advice and removed the less-than-useless blue shrouds around the lightbulbs on the dash illumination. My god, the improvement is ridiculous.

I highly recommend it.

It's not too difficult, just a bit fiddly with screws and taking the speedo and oil meter off etc., but it makes all the difference, especially on these dark winter nights.

Takes less than an hour, so if you haven't already, go for it.

[capri dave]

This is one of the 1st modifications i do to all my capri's ive owned

[hollowaykid]

dont wanna sound stupid but i dont know much about the gauges, what do i take off to get these shrouds off?
its horrible driving through variable speed limits on a motorway not knowing what speed your doing until you get over taken and someones headlights illuminate your dash!

[billymagfhloinn]

To be honest, it's pretty self evident once you start pulling everything apart. Just go slow and make a note of everything, what goes where etc.

Start by taking the fascia off the dash. This usually involves removing the bottom pnels below the dash first, and sort of stripping the whole lot away. Remove the radio front and the dimmer switch first if possible, and some folks recommend dropping the steering column too. It's a bit if a jiggle if you don't, but I don't bother.

next, begin taking the clockbox out by undoing the screws holding it in. Make notes as you go of what goes where. Before you remove it, loosen it, and then disconnect the wires at the back. The main block of wires come out in one box-clip thing (name anyone?)

Then remove the speedo cable by gently but firmly pulling the cable from the back.
Then unbolt the oil temp/pressure guage, if you have a six clock dash.

Take out the main clockbox, and unscrew from the back to open it. You'll see where all the bulbs are in the back, as they're held in by big protruding red holders. Any not directly lighting up a signal light, such as handbrake or indicator, is an illumination light. The first two are obvious, and you'll see the blue shrouds straight away,. Unclip them, take them out, and burn them on an altar, offering them to the Dark Lord.

Next, remove whatever clocks are blocking the remaining blue shrouds. I'm not sure, but I think there's six in total, although it might be four. This is delicate enough, as you have to undo the speedo clock, and possibly an oil gauge meter or whatever you have yourself. Take your time, it's all very obvious. there are little nuts holding on the gauges. Take them off and the clock just comes away. The speedo has some screws as well as nuts, but it will be immediately apparent as to what needs doing.

Don't tinker with the mileometer while you're in there, clocking cars is bad.

Once the completely superfluous, annoying bastard, pointless blue light shrouds are gone, reverse the process. Put everything back together, just as you found it. Reconnecting the bits to the back of the clockbox is tricky, don't scrape your hands.

Once back together, wait for nightfall, and enjoy eyewatering brightness! If it's brighter than you like (although this is unlikely), many capris come with a dimmer switch, to the right of the radio. Mine was knackered, so I got one for three quid off Johno Capriman here on the forums. If yours is goosed, replace it while the dash is all apart. Takes about thirty seconds to change.

Good luck, and post any more questions you like here. I'm just sorry I didn't take photos. I will next time.

Best,
Billy

[hollowaykid]

That's class guide thank you! One quick maybe a bloody stupid but I know little about the dials how do I disconnect these is there going to be oil squirting out the oil gauge line?
Sorry for my stupidity!!!!

[nigecapri]

remove the speedo cable by gently but firmly pulling the cable from the back

There's a clip on the speedo cable that needs pressing inwards, click photo below for details.
Oil pressure tube won't leak if you leave it up in the dash but DO refit it before starting the engine!
Horrible little spring-metal clips along top of clock surround will scratch the underside of dash top if you're not careful.

[sotonsaint]

Right I must post to say thank you for posting this mod. It's fantastic! I had a free evening tonight so braved the cold and followed the instructions above, and I'm godsmacked! I thought you had to upgrade all the bulbs to make such a difference.

I would say this to anyone else doing it though, when the clockbox is out I believe the screws to get inside are at the front, not at the back. Also there are definitely only four blue shrouds, not six. Or at least there were on mine. I accidentally snapped most of the little white clips that hold them in while I was doing it, but no matter since they are definitely not coming out of my wheelie bin to go back in any time soon!!

Thanks again!!

[billymagfhloinn]

You're very welcome. Least I could do given all the help I've gotten here. And thanks lads for correcting mistakes regarding speedo clip and number of shrouds.

[Paul.Yeomans]

i did the same in the summer, when the car was off the road i also fitted some coloured bulbs

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GREEN-501-W5W-SID ... 5184bf4366

and now the dials are a nice bright green to not ott.

the blue caps are a stupid idea,