Instrument cluster with LEDs??

[1fin]

Old thread but perhaps useful to somebody...
Need to swap the resistor on the back of the Hazard switch with one that will reduce the current for the Led to dim. i just installed a red Led in the hazard switch and wired a 8k and 6k 1/8w resistos in series to get the brightness I liked. I used the 8k ohm first and it was still a little too bright and decided to add the 6k to step it down some more.

[yycwesty]

would a couple of you folks be willing to post your dash light pics. I'd love to see the different LED colors prior to ordering. I'm leaning towards red but would like to see the other colours first

cheers
Al

[1971BugGuy]

[kamzcab86]

[greebly]

Thanks to those that provided information concerning converting to LEDs.
I installed White LEDs behinds the indicator panel and clock, Blue HP LEDs for the tach and speedometer. With the old incandescent bulbs I had visibility issues, and was initially disappointed by the illumination of the Blue HP LEDs. I was unable to read coolant temp or fuel gauge information at night.
So I removed the cluster and had my son, the artist, paint the tach, coolant temp and fuel gauge needles and major markings with white florescent needle paint.
The incandescent bulbs being replaced are omnidirectional The bulb assembly is designed for an omnidirectional indirect light bulb. The LED's (B8.3) are unidirectional. We removed the bulb assembly above the tach and speedometer and attached chrome vinyl with adhesive backing to act as a reflector for the LED and the difference was tremendous.

The following are before and after pictures of the Speedometer prior to the chrome reflector addition and after. Notice the visibility of the odometer afterwards.

In the following pictures you can see the difference the florescent paint makes as the tach has been painted, the speedometer has not. The florescent paint adds to the light reflectiveness and dispersal. It is highly visible.

Hopefully the pictures are self explanatory. Here is a picture of the chrome vinyl used.

[randywebb]

[syncrodoka]

[danfromsyr]

lighted headlight switch rocks,
in mom's van it's wired with a green led on all the time. so it's easy to locate even if just to click the parking lamps on while waiting someplace.
I used one of those small prewired 12v LEDs they sell at the FLAPS in the disco accessory section.
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[vanagon1991]

Update on LEDs: I read through this thread. Seems lots of product numbers have changed and new bulbs are available. I'm putting together an updated list of LEDs that I can post if you all can help me who have done this before.

First and foremost...this is the style bulb needed for cluster lights. I do not see any LED bulb type that has leads on the short sides of the wedge like the standard bulb has, with the leads running to the top to make electrical contact.

The link below is as close as I can get to this style/product #'s mentioned earlier in this thread. Can someone please tell me/us what I am missing...???

Superbrightsleds.com page result:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/wedge-bulbs/filter/Base,74,1,4023:

Thx
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1991 Tornado Red Vanagon Carat
(2003 Subaru 2.5 conversion/Smallcar kit)

[syncrodoka]

http://www.superbrightleds.com/products/instrument...D,21,4332:

VC also stocks them if you are placing a order from them in the future.

[vegandavid]

It seems to me that people have been scavenging the contacts out of other models in order to add illumination to the headlight switch. Just wanted to let everyone know that the contacts from bulb holder 321-919-039 for the HVAC lighting has those contacts in it. I successfully removed them from that holder and used them in the headlight switch. That might be an easier way for people to do the mod.

Also, in regards to adding an LED to the hazard switch it seems everyone thinks that it uses a non-standard bulb holder which is hard to mod. Seems to me that bulb holder "141-957-397 A" which is the correct bulb holder for the fog light switch will work in the hazard switch as well (in fact, ETKA shows it as the correct bulb holder for the hazard switch). The only difference between the original bulb holder and it is that it's shorter in the back. I tried fitting it in and it seemed to fit, haven't wired it up yet though. I saw it available at Airhead Parts at this link: http://www.airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/instr...57397-a-oe.

David
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1986 Vanagon Syncro TDI AHU

[syncrodoka]

VC sells a headlight switch plug with bulb contacts in it already for less than $8.
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_2165_1055/m_headlight_switch_connector.html

I posted a thread about the exact thing but not a lot of interest in it.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=617282&highlight=headlight+illuminate

[vegandavid]

Oh damn, that's even easier. You'd think they'd mention that in their description.

David
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1986 Vanagon Syncro TDI AHU

[Jamo7]

Since I hadn't seen specific instructions for changing the rear heater fan control bulb and the bulb for the front heater fan/sliders I wanted to share what I found. I ordered the LED replacements thanks to the information on this post. On my '84 Westy the rear fan has a bulb and the sliders/front fan share a bulb. I found the best results with a regular powered 74-B for the rear fan and a high-powered 74-BHP for the front.
Here is the bulb holder I ordered from GoWesty:

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=3587&category_id=&category_parent_id=
As you can see, the item didn't match the web image. Luckily I didn't know any better and modified it to work as I'll explain.
The rear heater control bulb is the easiest to change. http://www.benplace.com/dash.htm has great photos and descriptions (of course!) Here's what I did with what I believe is an automatic transmission bulb holder. I removed the old incandescent bulb from the holder. I cut the tapered tip of the holder. I inserted the LED bulb in the automatic transmission bulb holder and slid the tapered tip over the LED bulb.

Imagine the cut tip from the assembly on the left sliding over the bulb in holder on the right. All this goes in the rear of the heater control.
The front heater control bulb was a little more tricky for me to change. On my '84 the bulb is located diagonally in the middle of the sliders.

By taking out the radio, reaching in through that opening, and reaching in with a flathead screwdriver I was able to put the new high-powered LED into the modified holder and slide it into the spot behind the sliders.
I went with blue bulbs in the heater controls to match the blue bulbs in the instrument panel.
Thanks to everyone who posted before. You guys make this happen!
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'84 Westy 2.1 wbx

[syncrodoka]

[16CVs]

So I read this with great interest as my Camper has all LED dash lights and are amazing at night.
My Tristar has a bad Lighting foil ,but the rest of it is solid. So I was studying The GW dash foil replacement kit and noticed that the dash illumination LED's are actually a wired unit and not dependent on any kind of foil. Granted it will add a few wires as each light requires a +/- ,but it seems like a great answer if only your illumination is bad.
I've searched around and have not found anything like that. If I knew the name of that type of bulb or a part number I could search for it.
So has anyone done this or know of such a thing, If GW could find it ,it can't be that hard to come across.

Stacy
_________________
1987 Syncro Westfalia Triple knob (bastard)
1989 Syncro Tristar Triple knob "Swedish"
2013 Jetta Hybrid a true "Zwitter"
Samba member # 14980
Call anytime number 650 722 4914 .
Keep Your van running and upkept tastefully for the love of the hobby.
Don't let your van end up in an "abortions" thread.

[geo_tonz]

OK, so I want to replace instruments, HVAC and auto-shifter with red LEDs. In the past I ordered from Go Westy and liked them, but at $30 for 2 HVAC bulbs and $25 for the 2 auto bulbs, plus the instruments I thought I'd attempt SuperbrightLEDs.

I'm a little unclear on what exactly I need from them, especially when it comes to the Auto shifter...is it the same as the HVAC bulbs and holders? Kamz, your pdf is great and got me started, but is a little outdated and vague at this point with more selection in LEDs than when it was written, and no mention of Autos There are many shapes of the 74-xhp now and many lumen ratings / numbers of LEDs.

So far this is what I got:
-instruments are fairly easy with B8.3D 6 lumens @$1.95 each:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrumen...d-car/223/
-HVAC's a little more vague, and I haven't found anything on the specifics of the auto shifter. I was planning on ordering the 3-led 74-RHP3 wedge base for both applications, and their T1.5-SW Base:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/instrumen...t-car/228/

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/empty-bas...1151/2738/
or perhaps I should do the 74-r as Syncrodoka linked to, perhaps it fits in the bulb holders better?

https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/miniature...t-car/226/

I figure between the OEM bulb holders and the Superbright's I should be able to adapt to work the 74's for each application.

So what do you all think? Does that look about right? I apologize if it is all listed nicely somewhere that I missed! If it all works out it's $32 with extra lights and bulb holders, about half the GW price. I appreciate the GW legwork, but...
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[thebiglemmowski]

I used the bulb base you show from superbrighleds.com. For $.99/ea. couldn't go wrong.

Here is the base part number

And bulb part number

These bases have ears on them for a bayonet style connection that need trimmed off.

This pic shows the ears

Next two show the ears trimmed. Don't trim them flush as you need some meat there to give a nice interference fit with the backside of the fan and climate control panel. Trim a little then test fit and repeat.

This shows the bulb in the trimmed base

And a side by side comparison to the stock base

Nice snug fit wit the fan control panel

Crimp on some connectors

Throw on a little electrical tape for good measure

Repeat for the climate control panel

Forgot to take a final picture of this fitted into the backside but it fits nice just like the fan control panel. A dab of hot glue would even be a nice belt and suspenders.

Cheers

[geo_tonz]

That's awesome, thanks!

After not receiving any responses to my last post I gambled and went ahead and ordered the 3 LED bulbs I mentioned for the hvac and the auto shifter, as well as the holders and the instrument lights I posted. Just received the box last week and about to start install. Will update with an auto shifter photo too.
Hopefully the 3 LED isn't too bright!
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[Sodo]

cciyu 10 Pack Car T5 B8.4D 5050 1SMD White LED Lamps Instrument Dashboard Side Indicator Lights
10 for $7.66
https://a.co/d/6s5xtdM

Does anyone know if these will fit on the Vanagon instrument cluster?
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'90 Westy EJ25, 2Peloquins, 3knobs, pressure-oiled GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb