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Subject:Foil instrument cluster wiring repair?
From:Michael McSwain
Date:Sat, 17 Jan 2015 17:58:38 -0500

Hoping to repair rather than replace or completely rewire my instrument
cluster wiring.
I went to change out the little lights in the instrument cluster
(speedo/warning lights clock/etc.) for LEDs and ended up tearing the part
of the ribbon for the speedo light.

If your not familiar with the way the lights plug in, they fit inside a
circular cut out of the ribbon that has some copper foil/ribbon exposed.
Push/Twist/Lock.

Well, either when I took the old light off or put the new light on I tore
that little copper piece. Now when I press down and twist the new light
into place it just pushes the torn piece of copper out of the way instead
of making contact. No lights... Part of the copper foil is still there
though and I'm debating finding some new foil that I might be able to cut
into a circle and just glue it down over the circle that I tore so that
it's at least pressing up against the remaining copper and also making good
contact with my bulb.  Probably not the most permanent fix, but I'm hoping
it might work until next bulb replacement or corrosion starts in.

I see Gowesty has a total replacement kit $$$$, and I've seen posts where
people have rewired the whole thing diy.  Neither of those options sound
super appealing to me.

Any better ideas?

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