Dash indicator bulbs

914GT · 08-25-2003, 10:51 AM

Before I buttoned-up the dash yesterday - hopefully won't have to pull it apart again but probably will - I checked all the indicator lamps on the gauges and on the heater control. I replaced most of the push-in base bulbs with new ones, but one of the bayonet-type bulbs with the brass base was burned out. The local Autozone did not have these kind, so I soldered a 2-watt lamp into the old base so I could put the dash back together.

Which style are the 'gauge and instrument bulbs' listed in the PP catalog since there are two kinds? Wish I could replace them all with LEDs but I think these would be too focused for even dash illumination.

Amark · 08-25-2003, 12:03 PM

Guy,

I found them locally at BAP parts over on 22nd street. They must be the same push-in bulbs used for VW.

914GT · 12:20 PM

Mark - good, and the ones you're referring to having the brass push-in/twist base right??

I should have tried Chirco - they have all kinds of VW parts.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I just saw an ad in an amatuer radio magizine about replacing bulbs with LEDs. Let me see if I can find something that will work for our cars.

James

Amark · 08-25-2003, 12:38 PM

Guy,

The ones I am referring to are all glass, the base is flat & the conductors are bent over one side. They push straight in, no brass base.

914GT · 08-25-2003, 12:54 PM

Mark

Crap, those are the ones I found at autozone. The ones I need have sort of an oddball bayonet base on them. I might stop and see what the VW place has.

James - maybe somebody makes an LED that spreads light out like an old fashioned bulb. LEDs would probably be good for the turn signal and other indicators but lousy for backlighting.

Amark · 08-25-2003, 01:23 PM

The ones I bought look like this:

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

You know, I'm surprised no one makes some sort of flourescent lighting which we could rig up. Much brighter, lower power and longer life.

AFAIK - they are making LEDs which "beam" light, making them illuminate better. I'm not sure that they would work in the stock location.

James

James

914GT · 08-25-2003, 02:00 PM

I see that others have screwed around with LEDs on other cars - like on this web site http://www.members.shaw.ca/bilbo/LED.html
They take a regular LED and file its lens down so it diffuses the light better. a narrow beam is bad in this case.

914GT · 08-25-2003, 02:32 PM

I finally found the style bulb I was looking for. It looks like the one on the left.

This place has them http://www.egauges.com/vdo_acce.asp?Subgroup=Type_A_Bulb&Cart=

That's the one I wanted to know if it's in the PP catalog. The middle one can be found at FLAPS.