Speedometer lighting question

[Paul93Lotus]

Are all Stevens Esprits speedos the same as far as lighting method? My 93 US Esprit has red instrument lighting. Is this simply a "red condom" over all the bulbs versus the previous green...or are there internal diffusers that change the lighting, and therefore different part numbers. Just wanted to know if I grabbed an earlier 170 mph speedo, if it would work in my 93?

Thanks for any input!!

[Jonathan]

I'd like to know too - I promised myself I would not dismantle the SE any more until I have fitted some other parts on and I need to buy my new speedo !

[Riddlemr2]

Sorry for adding another reply without an answer, but I have also being wondering about the lighting. My gauge lights don't seem to be broken, but they aren't exactly "crisp" - lights sort of seem like an afterthought. Also, the rheostat on the steering wheel had no effect. I look forward to learning the answer to your "bulb condom" question as well.

[internets]

Are all Stevens Esprits speedos the same as far as lighting method? My 93 US Esprit has red instrument lighting. Is this simply a "red condom" over all the bulbs versus the previous green...or are there internal diffusers that change the lighting, and therefore different part numbers. Just wanted to know if I grabbed an earlier 170 mph speedo, if it would work in my 93?

Thanks for any input!!

Well I'm currently installing an alloy (late interior) dash mask, yes curtsey of the Sale . Anyway the illumination bulbs are green......don't know anything about the "red condom" tho ..you sure you have the right forum

[Artie]

Well I'm currently installing an alloy (late interior) dash mask, yes curtsey of the Sale . Anyway the illumination bulbs are green......don't know anything about the "red condom" tho ..you sure you have the right forum

Paul,

I would assume this is the same method on the 93, I pulled the green "condoms" off of my lights and they are much better at night to see! Normal white light.

Artie

Edited January 26, 2007 by Artie

[Jonathan]

Super - you can replace them with LEDs for any colour you want ! B)

Thanks for the pic.

[Paul93Lotus]

So speedometers for Esprits are the same from 1990-1994?

[Artie]

So speedometers for Esprits are the same from 1990-1994?

I think they switched to the electonic ones in 95, anyone know? Does your speedo tick at slow speed Paul?

Artie

[bosbon_be]

Learn how to pimp it on B)

http://www.wunschtacho.de/

I've seen also parts for this modification cheeper on E-bay.

PS: there is an english version on the webpage

[sanj]

So speedometers for Esprits are the same from 1990-1994?

Yes, aside from the bulb colour.

[Paul93Lotus]

I think they switched to the electonic ones in 95, anyone know? Does your speedo tick at slow speed Paul?

Artie

My speedo runs about 20 mph fast across the board. On occasion it jumps like crazy when I shift at high rpm. No ticking. Was quoted about $125-160 to repair.

Has anyone bought a brand new speedo and then had the mileage changed to what was in their car? Anyone have pics of the inside of an SE speedo?

So if I wanted to replace all my gauge dash lights with LED's, I'd need two bayonet BA9S (type 233) style for the tach and speedo (one each), and one '194/168' style for each smaller gauges for a total of five? And then three "194/168" for the climate control panel?

Edited January 29, 2007 by Paul93Lotus

[Glyn Harper]

Not sure about the bulbs on the later cars, but I will offer the following bits of advice to you all based on my experiences.

I've just changed the bulbs on my 88 Esprit. I had originally gone for blue LED ones which looked really cool.. but at night my eyes were struggling to focus on them. Blue is a really, really bad colour for night vision.

I've just changed them again for red ones which are much much better.

Secondly.. test they all work before you put the dash back in. As all of you with the early type dash know, it's a bit of a pig to get in and out. Given that LED bulbs must be connected in the correct way around, chances are you may get one or two of them the wrong way round when being fitted. So plug the connectors into the instument cluster and test them before you bolt the hole thing back together.

as for the speedo problem.. Are you sure this isn't the sender that's faulty? Is your speedo electronic or manual driven by a cable?

If it's a cable driven one, then it needs repairing. I had the same thing. I don't believe it's a massive job, to $125 is not bad.. Still takes a while for someone to strip it!

If it's an electronic one, I'd be checking the sender first.. but I wouldn't know how! If you could borrow one off another owner maybe, to see if the problem persists or not?

Cheers..

[Paul93Lotus]

I've just changed them again for red ones which are much much better.

as for the speedo problem.. Are you sure this isn't the sender that's faulty? Is your speedo electronic or manual driven by a cable?

If it's a cable driven one, then it needs repairing. I had the same thing. I don't believe it's a massive job, to $125 is not bad.. Still takes a while for someone to strip it!

If it's an electronic one, I'd be checking the sender first.. but I wouldn't know how! If you could borrow one off another owner maybe, to see if the problem persists or not?

Cheers..

My dash is originally red from the factory. I'm hoping to find red LED bulbs that are brighter than the stock filament ones.

For my year car, it has a VDO cable driven speedometer.

[esp88]

Hi

I changed the all the instrument lamps to blue LED last year and it looks like the pcitures

the one problem with LED is lamps rheostat could not adj. lights

Y.Hotta

Edited January 30, 2007 by esp88

[jimmybondi]

...the one problem with LED is lamps rheostat could not adj. lights

Y.Hotta

Hi Yasuo,

don't let Teigan see this...he will drown you with posts on this theme.

I am converting all dash lamps to highpower LEDs on my SMITHS. I stick to the original green...

My findings are that LEDs are more problematic as they give a much more direct light than bulbs, which are omnidirectional . Dunno if the problem is the same with the VDO, as they are 'Night- Design' but I would check the output angle before purchasing the LEDs.

[Paul93Lotus]

Hi Yasuo,

don't let Teigan see this...he will drown you with posts on this theme.

I am converting all dash lamps to highpower LEDs on my SMITHS. I stick to the original green...

My findings are that LEDs are more problematic as they give a much more direct light than bulbs, which are omnidirectional . Dunno if the problem is the same with the VDO, as they are 'Night- Design' but I would check the output angle before purchasing the LEDs.

The light output angle is definitely important. The wider the angle the better.

I think the rheostat problem is more a problem on G-cars than Stephens...at least from what I have read on the US yahoo turbo esprit board. There are many people there saying their led's dim fine on a Stephens.

[esp88]

Hi Yasuo,

don't let Teigan see this...he will drown you with posts on this theme.

I am converting all dash lamps to highpower LEDs on my SMITHS. I stick to the original green...

My findings are that LEDs are more problematic as they give a much more direct light than bulbs, which are omnidirectional . Dunno if the problem is the same with the VDO, as they are 'Night- Design' but I would check the output angle before purchasing the LEDs.

Nice colour Jimmybondi I should choose another but as you know I'm lille bit colourblind

Another issue is clock has diffrenet light colour and the problem is I have to solder directry on print

The rheostat problem can be fix easy just use a sipmle voltage regulator like LM117K

but max 1.5A (if only useing LED !)

Y.Hotta

Edited January 31, 2007 by esp88

[Drfatz]

Hi guys I just came across this post and it peaked my interest. I am currently rebuilding my entire dashboard and am going to replace all of the bulbs with wide angle white LEDs. My question is where did you guys get your LED replacements? Were they direct 12V replacement LEDs?

Cheers,

Graham

Edited February 6, 2007 by Drfatz

[mwmackenzie]

Hi Yasuo

Did i just spot your instrument binicle is made of carbon fiber??? can you pop some more pics up if this is the case??

Mark

Edited February 6, 2007 by mwmackenzie