Last year I had to replace some burnt out dash lights and decided to replace them with LEDs. They worked fine for several months, although I didn't like the color (blue). Then they started flickering and going out - instrument cluster and heater controls. Smacking the dash, sometimes several times, would make them come back on. I took the dash apart again and replaced the blue lights with white LEDs and checked to make sure they were all working. I couldn't find anything wrong with any of the connections. I reassembled the dash and they worked fine for a few weeks, but are back to flickering and going out. Again, smacking the dash will sometimes make them come back on. I would think that the problem has to be with a poor connection in the dash lighting circuit, near the top of the dash. I plan to take the dash apart again and try either di-electric grease or conducting grease on the connections, but am not sure which to use. If one of the connections is intermittent, I would think the di-electric grease would just make it worse. However, I don't want to short out anything using the conducting grease. Any suggestions?

 

I guess you're talking about a Ford.

Yeah. Use dielectric grease where the manufacturer did not. I guess the thought never crossed your mind it might be the quality of your LEDs coupled with the repeated sharp blows that might be contributing to your issue Mr. Fonzerelli? I notice you didn't mention that you had this problem BEFORE you went and swapped the bulbs in the first place.

 

I'm talking about my 95 Accord. I fail to see how the quality of the LEDs could have anything to do with them all flickering and going off or on in unison. It has to be a bad connection somewhere.

 

Again, did you have the issue prior to installing your LEDs? When the lighting was stock? You NEVER answered that question.

Now if you want to second guess every suggestion because you think you already know what the issue is then there's no need to continue.

 

Were the LEDs a tight fit or loose? When I did my cluster I had to tweak the light base so it would hold the led better. No more flickering lights.

 

I have heard of this also. IMO it is probably a connection issue and not a problem with the LEDs failing.

 

I would not rule it out but to have a little more background as a starting point (the last time something worked correctly) is never a bad idea.

 

True, but in my case the stock bulb base fit very snug in the socket. When I put the led the base wasn't even close. I could turn the socket over and the bulb would fall out. I had to tweak the connection on the inside of the socket to hold the bulb, i haven't had any issues since.