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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 27, 2009, 02:01:44 pm

Title: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 27, 2009, 02:01:44 pm
Per the Bently wiring diagram, there are 3 lamps for the cluster lighting. What is the part number of the bulbs? I can't find it in the Bently. How does the cluster come out?
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on June 30, 2009, 09:56:26 am
bump!
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: Jay on June 30, 2009, 12:25:47 pm
Any decent motor spares place should be able to tell you what bulbs to use !

Our local 'motor-mart' (Halfords for the UK based people) have a large flippy folder type thing with most makes and models listed and what bulbs to use, what belts, etc etc

Any old bulb that has the same fitting and same voltage will be fine.
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: SolarSteve on June 30, 2009, 01:52:01 pm
I replaced mine a year or so ago.  I had to go to the stealership for the bulbs and it cost $7 a piece!  I initially tried some bulbs from Radioshack and insert them into the plastic housing but it didn't work out.

I only had 1 burnt bulb but I replaced all of them, mainly due to the PITA it was to remove the instument cluster.
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: ilikevwdiesel on July 01, 2009, 05:47:31 am
Aren't they just plain old #194 lamps???
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: SolarSteve on July 01, 2009, 02:42:43 pm
I think so, but they have to fit into the tiny plastic holders to lock into the cluster.  The stock ones are soldered in, but I couldn't get solder to stick to it.
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on July 09, 2009, 12:16:08 pm
I pulled the cluster out. Wasn't bad at all. Just had to remove all the switches then the screws that hold the cluster bezel on, loosen the speedo cable at the tranny for some working room to unsnap it from the cluster. I wanted to try an LED instead of the incandescent bulb (which I didn't have). so I stole an LED from a very bright hand crank LED flashlight with 3 LED's, soldered it in the broken bulb leads which stayed in the bulb base in series with a current limiting resistor. Pic is the modified bulb base with the LED. I'll let you know how it looks later. Can't tell in the sun. :D

(http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss184/EcoDiesel/clusterlight_070909_001.jpg)
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 8v-of-fury on July 09, 2009, 02:56:52 pm
oooh VEry nice :)
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 53 willys on July 09, 2009, 09:25:25 pm
this is what I used on my dash lights...Blue LEDs
plug them right into the stock VW sockets...just wrap the wire leads up on the outside and your good.
$.079 each....cheap!!!
http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/bulb_specs.htm (http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/bulb_specs.htm)
WLED-B Blue 9~14.5 18 270 468 90 / 120
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on July 10, 2009, 08:04:15 am
this is what I used on my dash lights...Blue LEDs
plug them right into the stock VW sockets...just wrap the wire leads up on the outside and your good.
$.079 each....cheap!!!
http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/bulb_specs.htm (http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/bulb_specs.htm)
WLED-B Blue 9~14.5 18 270 468 90 / 120

Which WLED from the link you posted did you use? Did you mean $.79 each, not $.079 each? I can't believe those WLED's are $.79 each! They look like they have multi LED's in them on a wedge base and I can't see them being cheaper than ban incandescent bulb.

The LED that I put in does work, but not as bright as I'd like, It is not as bright as the incandescent bulb next to it.
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on July 15, 2009, 12:59:21 pm
It's against my principle to pay $7 for a bulb from the dealer. :D II soldered a a spare  bulb I had laying around onto the wedge base with the burned out bulb. Good as new.

(http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss184/EcoDiesel/clusterlamp_071509_002.jpg)
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on July 15, 2009, 02:15:32 pm
Nowyou tell me! Mind tell us where? A poster above said he had to get them from the dealer for $7 ea. Did he get ripped off? Anyway mine was free. Just a few minutes work.
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: SolarSteve on July 15, 2009, 02:37:42 pm
I think I paid $7 a piece...  I don't remember it was a long time ago.  I do know that I had to drive about an hour away to get to a dealer that had them on hand.

It was probably less than 7 a piece, like I said, a lot of time has past and but was definately more money that what it should have cost.
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: Luckypabst on July 15, 2009, 03:24:45 pm
I got mine at Rockauto for less than a buck each...

Chris
Title: Re: replacing cluster lamps
Post by: clbanman on July 15, 2009, 04:07:46 pm
I paid $1.35 at the dealer.