2005-2009 Mustang Information on The S197 {Gen1}

Instrument Panel Lighting - LEDs?

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Old 12/7/06, 10:10 AM
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Instrument Panel Lighting - LEDs?

Do all the GTs come with LEDs for the instrument panel lighting (tach, speedometer)? The non-IUP instrument cluster is illuminated (white text) upon startup, and becomes green when the headlamps are on. The reason I ask is that I usually adjust the brightness setting slightly above dark just enough to be visible at night to prolong the life of the instrument cluster bulbs in my other cars. If the S-197 GTs use LEDs, then I might as well turn it up!
Old 12/7/06, 12:57 PM
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Originally Posted by metroplex
The reason I ask is that I usually adjust the brightness setting slightly above dark just enough to be visible at night to prolong the life of the instrument cluster bulbs in my other cars. If the S-197 GTs use LEDs, then I might as well turn it up!
wow.. IMO turn it up anyway... sorry man, I think thats one of the most things i've ever heard.. it will last.. so turn them up!
Old 12/7/06, 01:26 PM
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I normally turn them up only as much as necessary so that they're visible and won't affect my night vision but I tend to err on the dimmer side to prevent the bulbs from burning out.

If the 05-up GTs use LEDs, then they'll probably outlast the car!
Old 12/7/06, 02:34 PM
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Have you ever had one of these bulbs burn out? My parent's have almost 200,000 miles on their 1994 Aerostar and all the bulbs are still just fine. And they always have them set to the brightest setting.

I guess you have to decide whats going to cost more... the damage from the car accident because you had to look at the gauges instead of glancing at them or changing out these bulbs. Seems like a no brainer to me.
Old 12/7/06, 03:48 PM
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I've had several bulbs burn out in the past in other cars. It's a royal PITA to replace the bulbs in certain cars.

Do the new GTs use LEDs or incandescent bulbs for the instrument panel lighting?
Old 12/7/06, 03:55 PM
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I know the IUP has LED's in the dash, I believe the regular dash comes with LED's too, but not for sure.
Old 12/7/06, 04:03 PM
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Yep, all S-197 Mustangs use led's to light the instrument clusters, the IUP cars though have the special color changing ones. Someone here on the forum rewired their non-IUP cluster to use the white led's for night time lighting rather than the green ones. Pretty cool.
Old 12/7/06, 04:11 PM
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Ford Motor Co. started to use 100 year bulbs three years ago so you should be fine. Naaa, I made that up, but I'm confident that you wont have any problems with your dash lights. Turn them up
Old 12/7/06, 04:15 PM
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Props to Ford for finally using LEDs in the dash!
Old 12/7/06, 06:27 PM
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props for ford for making something that might last more than 10 years
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