Dash Lighting

Please restrict your questions and replies to Capri related technical issues!
80s-new-man
Posts: 161
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 11:21 am
Car(s): Ford Capri 2.9 Cosworth Dec 1984, reg. Feb 1985
Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9 1992
Jaguar XJR SC 4.0 2001
Location: Suffolk

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by 80s-new-man »

:cheers: thanks Andrew !!
I’ve also bought a brand new flexi circuit board as I’m gonna clean the pod and dials, make sure everything replaceable is new and should work before the dash goes back in...
Cheers
:cheers:
Capri 2.9i Special 1984 Cossie 24v BOB heart transplant
Sierra XR4x4 2.9i 1992
Jaguar XJR 4.0 SC 2001
Jaguar F-Type 3.0S sc 380
User avatar
Andrew 2.8i
Donator
Donator
Posts: 14698
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:38 pm
Car(s): '83 2.8 Injection (sunny days only)
'04 Toyota MR2 (owned from new)
Location: Ceredigion
Contact:

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

80s-new-man wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:42 pm :cheers: thanks Andrew !!
I’ve also bought a brand new flexi circuit board as I’m gonna clean the pod and dials, make sure everything replaceable is new and should work before the dash goes back in...
No problem!
Where did you buy the circuit from? I've heard that they were being re-manufactured but couldn't remember from where.

Andrew.
Image
80s-new-man
Posts: 161
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 11:21 am
Car(s): Ford Capri 2.9 Cosworth Dec 1984, reg. Feb 1985
Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9 1992
Jaguar XJR SC 4.0 2001
Location: Suffolk

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by 80s-new-man »

:D ah I saw that they are on the CCI website!
Cheers
:cheers:
Capri 2.9i Special 1984 Cossie 24v BOB heart transplant
Sierra XR4x4 2.9i 1992
Jaguar XJR 4.0 SC 2001
Jaguar F-Type 3.0S sc 380
User avatar
Andrew 2.8i
Donator
Donator
Posts: 14698
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:38 pm
Car(s): '83 2.8 Injection (sunny days only)
'04 Toyota MR2 (owned from new)
Location: Ceredigion
Contact:

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Andrew 2.8i »

80s-new-man wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:10 pm :D ah I saw that they are on the CCI website!
I have found it on the CCI site now, thanks.
I was hoping you had bought it directly from the source, they are made by a company in Australia if I remember correctly.
Still, the CCI price isn't bad so it's just as well for anybody who wants one to buy from there. Luckily, I don't need one just at the moment, but at least I now know where I can source one if/when the time comes. 8-)

Andrew.
Image
User avatar
Jasonmarie
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4698
Joined: Thu Aug 13, 2015 12:30 am
Car(s): Ford Capri 2.0 Laser Mercury Grey 1987 hobby .
Mercedes Vito tourer 2.1 Big Bus Daily Driver
Location: Kent

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Jasonmarie »

Andrew 2.8i wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 7:20 pm
80s-new-man wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 5:10 pm :D ah I saw that they are on the CCI website!
I have found it on the CCI site now, thanks.
I was hoping you had bought it directly from the source, they are made by a company in Australia if I remember correctly.
Still, the CCI price isn't bad so it's just as well for anybody who wants one to buy from there. Luckily, I don't need one just at the moment, but at least I now know where I can source one if/when the time comes. 8-)

Andrew.
Are they the same on the 2.0 & 2.8 ? As I know the dash says 4 and 6 in the Rev counter ,but not sure if the board on the back is the same ?
Ford Capri 2.0 Laser 1987 Mercury Grey ....... :beer:
User avatar
stevemarl
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4906
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:31 pm
Car(s): Capri 1.6 laser

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by stevemarl »

Yes, it`s only the Tacho itself that`s specific to 2.8, because the V6 ignition sends 50% more pulses for same engine speed than the 4 cyl ones do.
User avatar
pbar
Posts: 7349
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:29 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 Laser, frequent driver.
Location: North-West

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by pbar »

80s-new-man wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2019 10:37 am I’ve ordered the green ones, with the assumption that I will remove the covers, to get the original effect....
Would be interested on your findings with these :) I always thought the original effect was blue, as the bulbs were clear and under a blue cover. And certainly I would say that my illumination, which is original, is blue rather than green. But age might have had an affect, I don't know.

Just like you, I too intend to remove the covers at some stage and fit coloured bulbs rather than go down the LED route.


(Just seen Steve's post stating the original colour of green - so it's a safe bet that green it is, he knows a lot about these cars :) )
User avatar
stevemarl
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4906
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:31 pm
Car(s): Capri 1.6 laser

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by stevemarl »

Paul, it is a subjective thing, TBH they were never really what you`d call a distinct colour of any hue , more a sort of greyish glow at best, but if asked to describe it my first reaction would be green. Also, the time clock`s brighter and that`s definitely green so it makes sense?
Certainly it will be much improved with green bulbs and no filters. (I tried orange bulbs once, no filters, and the display looked great - but strangely the orange fingers became really hard to see .)
User avatar
pbar
Posts: 7349
Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:29 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 Laser, frequent driver.
Location: North-West

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by pbar »

Thanks Steve. Personally, I've always been ok with the dash illumination as it is, but next time I have it apart I would likely take those bulb covers off, those things must be beyond their best now due to age, and put the coloured bulbs in. Leaning towards green now with what you have said.
Not_Anumber
Donator
Donator
Posts: 894
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2017 3:54 pm
Car(s): Just sold 1983 2.8 Injection 5 speed. Currently restoring another classic Previously owned 2 Capris. Likely to own another at some point

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Not_Anumber »

How do you get to the bulb covers ?
User avatar
stevemarl
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4906
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:31 pm
Car(s): Capri 1.6 laser

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by stevemarl »

Not_Anumber wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2019 8:55 am How do you get to the bulb covers ?
You need access to the front of the instrument cluster, so the `fascia` thing needs to come off (screws along bottom edge, radio etc) then remove the front moulding, clear lens assembly, and the black `dial surround` plate. The plastic covers just clip in from the front. From memory you don`t need to move the dials to remove them - in any case they will probably be very crumbly, and conveniently disintegrate if it`s easier! (This is from memory, apologies if anyone has more accurate info)?

BTW, the back of the black `dial surround plate` is white and partly responsible for bouncing the light arround behind the clocks so if it`s a bit discoloured it`s worth giving it a coat of gloss white. Best to brush on so you don`t get it round the edges anywhere onto the black front (guess how I know this :xd: .) I tried silver foil but strangely gloss white works better.
Not_Anumber
Donator
Donator
Posts: 894
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2017 3:54 pm
Car(s): Just sold 1983 2.8 Injection 5 speed. Currently restoring another classic Previously owned 2 Capris. Likely to own another at some point

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Not_Anumber »

Thanks Steve. Il do this at the same time Il do my dash top
Not_Anumber
Donator
Donator
Posts: 894
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2017 3:54 pm
Car(s): Just sold 1983 2.8 Injection 5 speed. Currently restoring another classic Previously owned 2 Capris. Likely to own another at some point

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Not_Anumber »

Note to anyone else dojng this - you do need to unscrew at least one of the small gauges on each side to safely remove the blue plastic things.

If the blue lenses haven't already gone brittle through age and heat then any pressure from the back risks damaging the gauges before the lenses start to move. Im now looking for a new fuel gauge.
80s-new-man
Posts: 161
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 11:21 am
Car(s): Ford Capri 2.9 Cosworth Dec 1984, reg. Feb 1985
Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9 1992
Jaguar XJR SC 4.0 2001
Location: Suffolk

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by 80s-new-man »

Cheers Andy... done !
Cheers
:cheers:
Capri 2.9i Special 1984 Cossie 24v BOB heart transplant
Sierra XR4x4 2.9i 1992
Jaguar XJR 4.0 SC 2001
Jaguar F-Type 3.0S sc 380
80s-new-man
Posts: 161
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 11:21 am
Car(s): Ford Capri 2.9 Cosworth Dec 1984, reg. Feb 1985
Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9 1992
Jaguar XJR SC 4.0 2001
Location: Suffolk

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by 80s-new-man »

Well I got a scrap dash pod and “rebuilt “ it by taking out ALL the instruments and removing the 4 blue light caps. Cleaned all white surfaces including down the holes .
I took off all the little nuts and copper washers and cleaned them up with sandpaper and WD40, then removed the circuit board flexi. Replaced the circuit flexi with a brand new CCI version and replaced all clear bulbs with green ones..then reassembled everything.
One question- the top 3 bulbs...middle one was clear but the ones either side were pale red? I put these back as they were , but cannot think why they would be red. If they shone through the blue that would have given a magenta colour, whilst all the rest would have been a blue/green?
Any ideas? The scrap pod was out of a 1983 2.8i
F4421273-2394-40E6-9E85-AB1AC289EE63.jpeg
F4421273-2394-40E6-9E85-AB1AC289EE63.jpeg (32.64 KiB) Viewed 3808 times
0A4BD60E-BA41-4F98-B030-C500A561F810.jpeg
0A4BD60E-BA41-4F98-B030-C500A561F810.jpeg (22.13 KiB) Viewed 3808 times
Cheers
:cheers:
Capri 2.9i Special 1984 Cossie 24v BOB heart transplant
Sierra XR4x4 2.9i 1992
Jaguar XJR 4.0 SC 2001
Jaguar F-Type 3.0S sc 380
User avatar
stevemarl
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4906
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:31 pm
Car(s): Capri 1.6 laser

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by stevemarl »

They shouldn`t be red, they should be clear. As you say putting red light through a blue filter would give a (very dim) magenta colour, so who knows? Definitely replace with green.
80s-new-man
Posts: 161
Joined: Tue May 21, 2019 11:21 am
Car(s): Ford Capri 2.9 Cosworth Dec 1984, reg. Feb 1985
Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9 1992
Jaguar XJR SC 4.0 2001
Location: Suffolk

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by 80s-new-man »

Ok cheers Steve thought it was strange.
Cheers
:cheers:
Capri 2.9i Special 1984 Cossie 24v BOB heart transplant
Sierra XR4x4 2.9i 1992
Jaguar XJR 4.0 SC 2001
Jaguar F-Type 3.0S sc 380
Not_Anumber
Donator
Donator
Posts: 894
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2017 3:54 pm
Car(s): Just sold 1983 2.8 Injection 5 speed. Currently restoring another classic Previously owned 2 Capris. Likely to own another at some point

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by Not_Anumber »

Are you sure the bulbs with those red filters are part of the instrument illumination and are not the warning bulbs for handbrake, ignition etc ?
User avatar
stevemarl
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4906
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:31 pm
Car(s): Capri 1.6 laser

Re: Dash Lighting

Post by stevemarl »

They should still be clear because the red filters for Ign/brake are in the actual dash panel, (as are the green and blue, Ind/beam) The top 3 are: Illum., beam, illum.
Post Reply