Removal of Fresh Air Blower Controls/ LED Bulb swap?

mthomas58 · 05-05-2008, 10:09 AM

One of my bulbs has either burned out, or come loose from its holder (one out but now I can see light in the lever slots where I did not notice B4). I need to remove the control panel to get to the bulbs. Thinking about trying some LED bulbs from superbrightleds to see if I can get a whiter light. After changing out the gauge lights to LED, the fresh air blower control lights look really yellow. Has anyone tried LED replacements here?

Does the dash unit just pull out?

These appear to be the LED replacement to the 2721 Osram-Sylvania OEM's

http://www.superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html

Or maybe this one. Neither one of these emit light on the sides of the bulbs

carnutzzz · 05-05-2008, 12:01 PM

Same problem. Subscribed.

mthomas58 · 05-07-2008, 07:01 AM

Let's try this again.

How do you remove the fresh air control panel to change the bulbs?

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

What bulbs are you talking about? ?

Are you talking about the bulbs in your gauge cluster? If you need to replace one of the bulbs in the gauges pull the gauge out don't take all that mess out of the trunk. It is really easy to pull a gauge out. At most you might need a putty knife to carefully pry the gauge out. Honestly though you should be able to just twist a little and pull it out with your fingers.

It is a real pain in the neck to take out the fresh air controls, and if you are like me the odds are in your favor of breaking one of the plastic knobs that the metal clamp goes around. I am out 2 for 2 when it comes to breaking at least one of them.

There have been some threads on doing an LED conversion. I have not followed them too closely so I can't help much on that, but if you do a search I am sure you will get some good results.

Rich

mthomas58 · 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich76_911s

What bulbs are you talking about? ?

Are you talking about the bulbs in your gauge cluster? If you need to replace one of the bulbs in the gauges pull the gauge out don't take all that mess out of the trunk. It is really easy to pull a gauge out. At most you might need a putty knife to carefully pry the gauge out. Honestly though you should be able to just twist a little and pull it out with your fingers.

It is a real pain in the neck to take out the fresh air controls, and if you are like me the odds are in your favor of breaking one of the plastic knobs that the metal clamp goes around. I am out 2 for 2 when it comes to breaking at least one of them.

There have been some threads on doing an LED conversion. I have not followed them too closely so I can't help much on that, but if you do a search I am sure you will get some good results.

Rich

I'm talking about the two bulbs in the dash lever controller to the left of the radio. IIRC the one on the left lights up for the defroster lever and on the right for the fan speed. My fan speed bulb appears to have pulled out of its holder and is now lighting up the level slots.

My gauges are done - replaced the OEM bulbs with the LED replacements from superbrightleds. Great Improvement! Now that the gauge lights are "white", the fresh air control lights look really yellow.

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

Oh ok now I get it, sorry. My reading comprehension aint so great

The Fresh air control panel is held in by a nut right behind the ash tray.

To get to that nut, it would probably be easiest if you removed your passenger seat, and maybe the center console. If you need me to I can try and get you a picture of it this evening. It is not impossible to get with the seat in, but I find my temper lasts a good bit longer when I am not a contortionist.

My only concern with this method is just how far out you are going to be able to get the fresh air controls. The unit will still be held in place by all the metal lines that go from the levers to the vents in the front trunk. As well as all the wiring. It may just be enough to get the bulbs out and replaced, but I don't know for sure.

I checked in the workshop manuals for more information but couldn't find anything.

Page 850-4 of the bentley manual has some information on removal of the controls.

1. In Bentley they suggest detach the metal control cables in the front trunk.

2. Remove bolt securing the ventilation controls from behind the ash tray.

3. Remove the ground bolt wire to the left of the ash tray.

4. Detach harness connector.

The Bentley way would get it all the way out of the dash. If I were you I would first try just removing the bolt behind the ash tray, and seeing if that would give you enough room to get the bulbs out and the LED's in. Then if I didn't have enough room I would consider going the Bentley way.

Rich

Won · 05-07-2008, 09:10 AM

You can reach all the bulbs behind the fresh air control without having to remove the panel, I've done it before. Just need to be careful when wading through all the wiring that's tucked in there.

Rich76_911s · Rich76_911s's Garage

Won,

You could reach those suckers. The driver side looks doable, but the passenger side seems blocked by the ash tray. Wow I am impressed. Mine was broken by one of the PO's so it has to come out anyway.

Rich

Mysterytrain · 05-07-2008, 09:35 AM

Long tweezers or forceps. Its a royal pain but it can be done. 'Use the force, Luke' As I recall these lights don't work of the dimmer, I might be wrong? But they are perfect candidates for LED's.

mthomas58 · 05-07-2008, 10:05 AM

Glad to hear the bulbs are accessible without removing the panel!

This is the best news I've heard today

I don't recall seeing any posts about swapping these 2 bulbs with LED's so I'll be sure to follow up and post the results

Many thanks!