|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 18
Junior Member
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 18 |
-Just got a 99 svt contour a few weeks ago. First of all, IT ROCKS. I have cooked sooo much rice in it already and it is bone stock! Anyways, my MPH gauge is very hard to read at dusk/night time. I can read the upper numbers as you go around the gauge, but the others are very dark. The same goes for the gas gauge.
Does anyone have any ideas? Burnt bulb? Tough sh*t? Please help. Thanks
1999 Silver Frost SVT
completely stock under the hood
Focus SVT door sills, Fog light mod, Sony X-plod CDX-M750 head unit
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 378
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 378 |
Dimmer switch?  Just joking...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 443
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 443 |
I have the same problem and it has nothing to do with the dimmer switch, the dimmer is turned to full bright! I checked the bulbs and none of them are burned out they all work. While my car was at the dealer getting the dashboard replaced I had them to check everything. They could'nt find anything wrong either and said it is a characteristic of the gauges. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,428
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,428 |
I've got very uneven lighting too. Looks fine at night but around dusk or dawn it just looks like half the bulbs are burned. Oh well. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,419
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,419 |
It is because of the backlighting method used to light the gauges on the SVT. It washes out against the white gauges when there is low light. Turn your dimmer down at dusk until it is dark enough for the rear lighting to shine through.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 121
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 121 |
In other words, you can see bright green on black (night with dask lights on) and black on white (daytime - no lights) but you can't see the ticks and numbers very well when the sun is half-way up/down...
The problem is that there isn't enough contrast between the bright green back-lighting and the semi-reflective white-faced background.
Simple solution: turn the dummer down all the way until you can barely see the white on the gauges. Then turn the dummer all the way up. This way, you maximize the contrast between the gauge backlight color and the background color. (Hence, you can read the numbers).
This is a problem with everyone's SVT (and anyone with the SVT gauges). You could throw some money at the indiglo gauges if you wanted a different look...
Have you put in your $0.02 to save contour.org?? Put in what you can spare to keep the site up. Check the General Forum.
~~~~~~
David
* 2k Black SVT on 17" Konig/Yokohama
* MB Quart all around; Alpine 7995, DEI/Alpine amps; Dynomat
Soon to come:
19" HRE 445s under GC/Koni Setup, Custom passive-AWD kit, 2 small Sequential Turbos running low boost, Sequential 6-speed, Widebody Kit, custom black-red chameleon paint; on and on...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 918
Moderator
|
|
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 918 |
Get indiglos! 
************************* 2000 SE Sport V6 Deep Navy CC Metallic My 2G Sport *************************
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 18
Junior Member
|
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 18 |
Cool deal. I am having my local Ford dealership check them out anyways 'cause it's under warranty.....oh, i also found out that the old guy that was the original owner has the floor mats. he didn't include them with the car, instead, he kept them and never even put them in the car. the dealership contacted him a few times and they want them so they can give them to me. here, he says he will SELL them to the dealership for 80 BUCKS......what a nut! also, he is trying to do the same thing with my keyless entry fobs. old people........................penny-pinchers
1999 Silver Frost SVT
completely stock under the hood
Focus SVT door sills, Fog light mod, Sony X-plod CDX-M750 head unit
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,075
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,075 |
I would be uncomfortable with somebody having the keyless entry for my car...I would ask for that immediately.
What a weird old guy.
Ride: 2000 T-red SE
Beats: Kenwood 316S, Alpine MRF200, Orion XTR 6.2, Coustic 400SE
Mods: CTA, Magnaflow exhaust, SVT Instrument cluster, Knuaberized doors, side markers, F***ed up painted headlights.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,479
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,479 |
I'd find out WHO the a$$ is and make HIM an offer he can't refuse. The stuff BELONGS to you, the jerk is holding them for ransom. Sounds pretty illegal to me. I'd start with explaining that making all your biker friends angry with him will cause him untold anguish.... 
One beat'99 Tropic Green SVT
|
|
|
|
|
