Instrument cluster with LEDs??

keithwwalker · Samba Member Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 886

Yes more info about the headlight switch please!

This thread should be a sticky!

JeffRobenolt · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:54 am Post subject:

I'm getting redey to make an order with them and was wondering what other bulbs they sell that will fit the Vanagon?

What else do you guys buy from them?
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syncrodoka · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

I bought a pair of the BA9s-WHP6 in warm white to replace the licence plate bulbs. They are brighter, show a better white(less yellow) and look good. I tried them in the side marker location but they were too bright and showed white not red. BTW if you cut the side marker ground and tie it to the turn signal pulse of the tail light the side marker will blink opposite of the taillight when the lights are on. When the lights are off they do nothing just like normal.

Rhinoculips · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 7:43 pm Post subject:

danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

*NODS, the power draw is in the MILI amps I have a battery maintainer for exended winter/off season storage.
one BIG reason for is I was always fumbling for the switch when parked in the campground coming back in the dark and wanting some 'area' lighting quickly... you know set down the wood, or open the ice chest.

now when the window is open I can just reach in and know right where it is.

sunshine_norway · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:27 am Post subject:

This is nice Smile

anybody here willing to make a comlete shopping list for replacing all bulbs inside the car? Also for the front and rear locker display...

Can anyone help me out?

ThorAlex · Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 11:58 am Post subject:

I was just going to ask the same thing as sunshine, seems he beet me to it. Half the bulbs in my syncro are blown so i need new ones anyways. I think i would go with white LED's, to me blue looks too modern for the car.

vwgrl1999 · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:14 am Post subject:

ThorAlex · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:05 pm Post subject:

Do you really need that bulb holder from gowesty.com? The bulb and LED seems to be identical?

vwgrl1999 · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 9:56 pm Post subject:

They do look identical. I'm not sure if the holders would absolutely be needed or not. I looked the holders up on GW simply because someone on page 4 mentioned them. I guess I'll find out when it warms up here and I can bear to be outside rooting around behind my dash for longer than 5 minutes at a stretch!

Does anyone else know if those holders are an absolute must-have in order to change the environmental control bulbs over to leds?
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Current VW's:
1987 Vanagon GL
1999 New Beetle
Past VW's:
1980 Westy
1971 Beetle
1974 Super Beetle

syncrodoka · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject:

I replaced the holder because the stock unit did not have a replaceable bulb- integrated unit. If your is a holder with a replaceable bulb then it is not needed. I actually looked at a few and they were all one piece units.

sunshine_norway · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:48 am Post subject:

I went to my local Vw dealer today and ordered the holders. Price is about 3$ for them. So if I dont`t need them, I really don`t care...
Gonna order LED`s during the weekend;)

Has anyone tried white LED in the clock? Is it recomended, or would it be to bright ?

syncrodoka · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject:

The white led is installed in the clock in my picture. I very happy with the way it looks- very easy to see.

keithwwalker · Samba Member Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 886

I put a blue and then red LED in the clock, not too good...

syncrodoka · Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:15 pm Post subject:

vwgrl1999 has the list right I just wanted to help with the piece count. There are 4- B8.3D leds needed for the instrument cluster(speedo, tach, idiot lights and clock backlights). If you have a syncro with a locker there is 1- B8.3D led for the backlight and a GREEN B8.3d needed for each of the lockers or decoupler engagment lights. The #74 led for the heater controls is the same size led for the hazard, fog light, rear defroster, lighted headlight switch and cigarette lighter if someone wanted to convert those as well. I installed a 120 degree and 90 degree BA9S RED led in each of my side markers and I can't tell the difference if someone was on the fence on which to buy. The stock bulb is a little brighter than the BA9S but the heat generated by the stock bulb is much higher than the led. After long night trips it becomes obvious why all the vanagons have faded and cracked side marker lenses- heat.

keithwwalker · Samba Member Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 886

Thanks for the quantity of #74 LED's

I ordered 4 clear for the:
Cigarette lighter bezel
Environmental controls
Headlight switch
Defroster

and 1 red for the Hazard switch.

For the record, superbrightleds' cigarette socket lamp is very high quality.

I use it all the time and it is much better than the Bosch unit that some Vanagon places sell. My Bosch light would short out the lighter, then it eventually broke.

kww[/list]

syncrodoka · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject:

I should tell you how I got the illuminated headlight mod to work since you ordered a LED for that. I bought a switch from VolksCafe that has a opaque panel behind the switch icon to replace my other switch that has a black panel behind the icon. Look into the hole in the back and you will understand what I am talking about

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

There are no contacts for the bulb on the stock switch plug so they have to be scavenged from another car. I have gotten them from porsche and scirroco switch plugs in the past. The contacts are small and difficult to extract sometimes. I usually cut them out with my dremel tool but a small screwdriver can be inserted to push in the clip that holds it in place for it to be removed. Insert the screwdriver and push out the connector in the same direction.

Once it is removed you will see that the small tang that locks it in place will need to be bent out again to lock the connector in place in the switch plug. There are 2 that need to be removed and reinstalled with a click into the vanagon switch

One leg will be power and the other is ground. I pulled the power from a grey/blue wire on the switch that had power only when the dash lights are lit. The ground was attached to a brown wire that is a ground

The switch plug as it looks finished ready for a led.

If the led does not light simply take it out and rotate it 180 degrees as they have a polarity unlike standard bulbs. I used a #74W and I am happy with its intensity- not too bright at all

Jamos · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject:

Great write-up syncrodoka! Thank you.
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'86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5

keithwwalker · Samba Member Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 886

What year is that headlight switch?

syncrodoka · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:25 pm Post subject:

VolksCafe's website says that it is for vans through '89 or '90. http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_457_142/headlight_switch___check_description.html


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Instrument cluster with LEDs??
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