2003 odometer display brightness

[Jeffb1062]

Is there a way to brighten the display?

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[biddle]

If you don't have an owner's manual you can dowload one here. https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/thunderbird-owners-manuals-electronic-version.2998/

All these types of things are covered in the owner's manual. If your dash lights and shifter light are not functioning as expected it is often from a failing FEM.

 

[Jeffb1062]

If you don't have an owner's manual you can dowload one here. https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/thunderbird-owners-manuals-electronic-version.2998/

All these types of things are covered in the owner's manual. If your dash lights and shifter light are not functioning as expected it is often from a failing FEM.

View attachment 23120

I did that but the brightest is very hard to see in the daytime

 

[ak7an]

I believe the dash lights are meant for night time usage

 

[biddle]

I did that but the brightest is very hard to see in the daytime

They are just small light bulbs in the cluster not meant to be seen during daytime use. It's for a backlight at night.

 

[Jeffb1062]

They are just small light bulbs in the cluster not meant to be seen during daytime use. It's for a backlight at night.

View attachment 23123

the gauges are fine it's just the odometer

 

[Frankie the Fink]

The odometer is a different lighting system from the gauges....it is a digital readout and not much can be done about it in reality. Unlike the dash bulbs (which can be replaced with LEDs) its a sealed display...

 

[edward301]

The odometer cluster is electro florescent, the only way to brighten it is to step the voltage via the transformer on the
instrument cluster, then it will burn out sooner. So really you are stuck with what you got.

 

[kenjgerb]

All of a sudden my 2002 Tbird ODOMETER lights not working?? All other lights work fine. HELP??

 

[silverhawk777]

All of a sudden my 2002 Tbird ODOMETER lights not working?? All other lights work fine. HELP??

Unfortunately it is a common problem..
It can be a number of things but before you start changing bulbs pop out the light control panel..fine the blue/black wire..add power to it..if lights come on..it's probably a resistor in the front module. Some people just replace the panel which runs about $800+ and is hard to get out..if you know someone that can replace the resistor by unsoldering old one and soldering new one..is the way to go..there is a video on YouTube explaining the process but leaves out the actual repair... that being said you can get a light from parts store that you can manually turn on at night till you can fix it