Dome light NOT very bright - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

hairball · 10-21-2010, 08:10 AM

For some reason, the dome light in my 90 DX is really dim. It calls for a DE3175 bulb, which I bought and used but it just doesn't seem very bright. Any suggestions? Should I make sure it's getting the right amount of voltage? Grounding issue? Maybe a different bulb number that is brighter? Thanks. I want the dome light to be bright enough to be worth having! Heck, mine is so dim I can barely read anything with it on. Maybe I'll wash the cover in soap & water and see if it is just faded or something. I'm ready to find a dome light unit from another car to see if it's brighter.

Doctor J · 10-21-2010, 12:02 PM

Does that bulb glows brighter when engine is running ?

***Zembonez*** · 10-21-2010, 12:09 PM

I'd try to find an LED replacement. They make em for most any socket now.

workerant · 10-21-2010, 12:14 PM

Dome light is more to see objects like searching for the paper map.

Reading light is for reading and it's more project to a position and minimize glare to the driver. And usually that project light is more concentrate and brighter in that one spot.

If you want brighter, replace it with brighter bulbs like LED. Not recommended but many have done it.

***Zembonez*** · 10-21-2010, 12:35 PM

LEDs are not a problem. They are brighter, run cooler, and draw a lot less power in the process. There really isn't a reason not to recommend them.

workerant · 10-21-2010, 12:47 PM

^ glare the driver.

hairball · 10-21-2010, 12:51 PM

no, the bulb is not brighter when I rev the engine. And I like the LED idea. I guess maybe it's just that I'm used to most cars I've owned having dome lights that would light up the car really nicely. Mine didn't even work until about a month ago for some reason. One defective door switch caused the entire circuit to not work. Once I replaced that pin switch, now it works even with the switch. But the first few times I turned it on I could hardly tell it was on. It is a bit brighter without the cover.

I'll check on an LED bulb today. Thanks much for the input.

white90dx · 10-21-2010, 06:49 PM

You may also have weak power or ground at the socket... if you have a multimeter, check that while you are at it.

The dome light should be reasonably bright, but its not as good most cars...

-Charlie

hairball · 10-21-2010, 07:50 PM

Thank you. I was wondering if that could be the issue. I'm assuming it should read 12 volts or very close to it. Yes, I do have a digital multimeter. I'll check it in the morning. I'm serious, this one is so dim I can hardly see the dash. But I did notice it's a bad design. The bulb is recessed, and with no reflector of any kind. But until I find a brighter one, I'm going to check it for a bad ground or low voltage. Thanks again, everyone!

Man, THIS forum rocks! My only regret is that I didn't find it 14 months ago when I got my car!!! You people are very helpful, and I've learned a ton of stuff in my first few days! BUT... you're costing me money! LOL! I've rushed out and purchased stuff I learned about here.

workerant · 10-21-2010, 07:56 PM

pics would help too.

hairball · 10-21-2010, 08:06 PM

pics of my current dome light? Will do. I'll take a few in the morning. My camera sucks for flash pics. But takes pics from about 2 inches away. So yep, I'll take a pic or two in the morning.

hairball · 10-22-2010, 07:17 PM

Okay, I did 3 things today:
1. Checked the voltage at the dome light (it's 8.74 volts).
2. Took a couple pictures of it.
3. Checked to see how much brighter it is without cover (a LOT brighter!).
(but it's still not real bright)

Getting only 8.74 volts at the light isn't a good thing. In the morning, I will check the connections and ground.

I kind of think the design is not very good. There is nothing but air above the bulb, rather than a reflector. And the bulb should be down a bit instead of up inside the housing.