Testing headlight switch rheostat, dim instrument panel lights?

[timk225]

I rebuilt and repainted to stock an instrument cluster for my 1973 Duster and put all new 194 bulbs in. With new plastic bulb bases and most of mine were broken on one side. It works but the lights are too dim at night.

The superbrightleds.com page just returns a 403 forbidden error for me.

I was wondering if the 52 year old headlight switch / rheostat could be out of spec or have excess resistance. Is there a way to test it, maybe across 2 particular connector pins, to see how much resistance it has and should have?

 

[CRUZE 418]

It could be all of the above. In my '69, with all new M&H wiring, my dash lights were dim. For that car, Crackedback's headlight wiring harness did the trick. My '72, adding the headlight harness did nothing. Not sure why they are still dim, grounds?

 

[Inertia]

Some of the replacement bases don't fit well, so a couple of bulbs may not be lit, making the dash lights appear dim.
Wiggling sometimes works

 

[toolmanmike]

I rebuilt and repainted to stock an instrument cluster for my 1973 Duster and put all new 194 bulbs in. With new plastic bulb bases and most of mine were broken on one side. It works but the lights are too dim at night.

The superbrightleds.com page just returns a 403 forbidden error for me.

I was wondering if the 52 year old headlight switch / rheostat could be out of spec or have excess resistance. Is there a way to test it, maybe across 2 particular connector pins, to see how much resistance it has and should have?

Test the voltage feeding the switch and then test the output to the cluster lights. Then test the voltage at the cluster.