My dash lights went out the other day, so I stopped by a parts store and showed the guy the bulb. He gave me a set of bulbs (I think maybe 194, can't remember now) which are very dim compared to the old bulbs I had. The best I can make out on the old bulbs is that they may have been 158 or 168. However those where rather dim also (more dim than my indicators), so I got to wondering...

What is the correct bulb for the dash? Also are there only two, because the lettering near my oil light hardly lights up but I can't find any others while feeling around.


PS- car is a '66 Dart.

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'66 Dodge Dart

My 67 FSM shows a #158 as correct dash light bulb. It could be your rheostat located in headlight switch may not be providing full 12 volts to the dash and dome lights because it is dirty… Check by taking voltage reading at bulb socket.

Dan could tell you which bulb has what for lumen out put, and steer you in direction of a proper substation.

Perhaps bulb socket connection to printed circuit is dirty causing a voltage drop… less likely- generally the bulb lights or it doesn’t if socket etc. has bad connection. Radio Shack or other like supplier has “Potâ€￾ Potentiometer cleaner, or rheostat cleaner, that will clean old nasty switches.

If dark section of gage cluster is present, you probably have a burnt or missing bulb that you missed. My gage cluster is the long horizontal configuration, and contains four bulbs.


Compared to today’s dash lighting, these old cars might as well have candles with really short wicks illuminating the gages. My Dart’s gages are usable at night, but my LeBaron has very low light levels.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Read here: Topic: Dashboard Bulbs

Bam! Exactly what I was hoping for!

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'66 Dodge Dart

If you're up for doing this much work, here is one example of retrofitting with LED bulbs and removing the little blue diffusers. Quite a difference.

- Erik

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Lots of early Valiants and Barracudas have crossed my path.
Also a handful of other toys for variety now and then.