PizzaDan

So I just installed LEDs for the lighting of the gauge cluster and made sure they worked and they do but when I attach it back to the car they don't appear to work. I looked under the cover and saw that the Potentiometer was crusty and corroded. Is this my issue? If it is how can I clean it? Was wondering if cleaning or replacing it helped other people. Would it even be possible to clean or is it easier to just buy a new one. I'm trying to not have to pay $80 for a new one but if it's my only option I might have to. Any info would be helpful. Thanks!

Flinstigator

I drilled out the rivets and took mine apart to clean it and put it back together since it was pretty dirty and corroded. Others have cleaned them without ripping them apart. I didn't want to spend the money on a new one. One other option is to just jump it out so they remain on max brightness,

kawi825

I used a little baking soda/vinegar on my last car with a toothbrush. Worked great it be careful on the spring windings. I ended up just bypassing though. Full brightness is perfect to me

PizzaDan

Were your lights working before you cleaned yours? If they didn't, did cleaning it help? Trying to see if it's all the wiring or just the potentiometer.

Shark2626

IDK if its your issue: Was the switch working before you changed the lights? Anyway, to clean the corrosion:

1. A solution of vinegar with a pinch of salt is very acidic and will eat through crud. Most people would soak things in the solution (if possible) for a good while and then scrub with a soft brush or microfiber cloth. I'm not sure what is in that part so I don't know if you can submerge it or not. But if so, you'll need to neutralize the acid when you're finished with a solution of water and baking soda. The two solutions generally use a ratio of one gallon of liquid to one cup of the other, you get the idea.

2. If the crud is only on the exposed surfaces some brasso will restore them to new appearance, or use the above if its' in your kitchen.

3. DeOxit the part when its completely dry and install.

Flinstigator

My lights were working just very dim. Corrosion led to high resistance therfore the lights were dim. If you jump out the connection they should come on full brightness. If jumped and they are not bright.... then there is some other issue. Your potentiometer looked fairly corroded from the picture.

Jim Devine

I used a paper 2 sided fingernail file to clean the "spring" and the lever that contacts it - worked well, took about 15 minutes - no disassembly reqired

Ed Scherer

See this post.