I have a bulb out in my cluster (the one in my Jeep, not the one in my head). I'm considering replacing the incandescent type with LED's because I love the brighter light. I know that there are 5-103's and an as-yet undetermined number of PC74's. I know that there's an LED replacement for the 74's but the 103's do not have a direct LED replacement listed anywhere. Most of what I've been able to find says to use 74's for everything. Has anyone done an LED upgrade on theirs? Did you use 74's for all of them? Did you use the LED's that have chips on the top and sides, or just the top, or just the sides? I have the white face cluster if it makes a difference. Do you have pictures you can post? I'm certainly open to everyone's opinions.

 

Subscribing as I want to do this as well since my dash lights are dim.

 

I'm not sure of the numbers, but I DO know that it's pretty easy to change the IC bulbs. Just remove the 4 or so screws underneath the lip of the dash that holds the cluster in place, then lift it out and disconnect the wiring harnesses. You might have to remove a back plate covering the circuit boards where the bulbs live (I've never had mine out of my '02, so I wouldn't know for sure), but then you should be able to replace the bulbs. The factory green bulbs are a little dull... would be nice to see a brighter blue or even orange/red. Keep us updated if you replace them!

-Vince

 

On yours and mine the change out is easy because they sit in bases that twist in and out on the back of the IC. As soon as you pull the assembly out of the dash you see them. I am definitely replacing them. Since there seems to be no one that's done it here (no posts about it) I guess I'll just order up some mini 74 led bulbs and give it a try.Once I get it done I'll post a review with some pics.

 

BEWARE! If you have the electroluminecent cluster, it is supplied with a high voltage AC power supply and there are no bulbs in the gauges. Check it out on wjjeeps.com

 

That I didn't think of. And the OP most likely has it because they have a Limited/60th Anniversary Special Edition. The Laredos just have regular black gauge clusters, as do all '99 and '00 WJ's.

 

According to everything I've found online, the electroluminescent clusters were on the 02-04 Limited and Overland models. I've checked my build sheet and it doesn't list it as part of the build. I'll pull it out in the next couple of days and check. Besides the difference in voltage, the other main difference is the standard cluster has orange pointers whereas the luminescent cluster has black pointers and red areas on the battery gauge, rpm gauge, and temp gauge. Of course I could be wrong so I'll check it out. I'm not ordering any bulbs until I'm fairly positive of what I need. So many options---so little time....

 

When figure out how you're turns out. FYI I use YouTube to watch how it's done as well they have a lot of helpful videos so if you really can't figure it out try looking and watching some videos on there too as well.

 

Pulled the instrument cluster while doing other work in the interior. It's definitely a standard cluster. I counted 17 bulb holders. Whether or not they actually have bulbs in them I won't know until my LED's come in next week.

 

I must have had my head up my **** before, but I DID replace my dash illumination bulbs in my 2000 WJ with soft white 74 LEDs instead of the 103's and they are perfect. Don't use any other color because LED's emit only the one wavelength of light and when I installed green, my red numbers and needles turned brown or disappeared! I only replaced the gauge illumination bulbs because the warning lights aren't on that often and some of the circuits can sense the light is on and set a trouble code so need the resistance. The only warning light I used a LED in was the "Check Gauges" light because I want to know when that happens! I also replaced the 5 bulbs in my heater control with LEDs.

To remove the gauge cluster in a WJ, you just remove the plastic tray bezel in front of the cluster by prying it up out of 4 clips, remove 4 Phillips screws, pull it forward and unsnap the 2 harness plugs. Not all the warning lights have bulbs in them and don't have sockets. IIRC, the illumination sockets are a different color than the warning lights, either grey or black, don't remember which. WARNING!! Don't drop the screws or you'll be searching for them for a while. While you're at it, use a pencil eraser to clean the copper contact strips the sockets connect to. LEDs need clean contacts.

 

Thanks Dave. My cluster only has one wire harness connected to it. Could be a difference between 2000 and 2001 maybe. I hadn't thought about just doing the illumination bulbs but that's a good idea.

 

I wasn't sure about the connectors because it's been awhile and I thought there was a small 2-wire connector as well. Whatever. I've always bought My LEDs from Super Bright LEDs because they were the first company on my search engine at the time and always gave me good service and the right product. One thing I REALLY like is their 550 lumen 3157 reverse light bulbs. I've used them on both my WJ and my XJ and love them. They are a bit expensive but I'm glad I bought them. You can use LEDs on anything that's not wired thru a flasher without worrying about resistance unless you have a "bulb out" function in your system. (as in CAN-BUS)

 

I've installed 800 lumen reverse lights, but I just noticed tonight that they're not working. I have to chase the cause down I guess.

 

I had that happen on my WJ and it was a broken wire on the NSS. You can get a new harness plug at a dealer since the same plug was used for many years. I also had one stop working on my XJ because after going down a very rough dirt road, it rattled out of the socket because of it's long length and heavy weight.

 

Dave, forgive my ignorance but what is an NSS?