which bulb for the dials?

Mk2Adam · Post by **Mk2Adam** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:31 pm

can anyone that knows which bulb is needed for backlighting the dials could they have a look at this site and let me know which one i'd need as my bulb is gone and at night i just kindof guess the speed

http://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/home.p ... n=0&page=1

k4lps · Post by **k4lps** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:10 pm

509TMBL look like the right ones but then agine they all look the same but different color

anyway have you thought about switching to led?

Mk2Adam · Post by **Mk2Adam** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 8:13 pm

you know how much trouble it is? just because i'm not really fussed about it if it's more than just changing the bulb

got enough little modifications in the works to be worrying about an led

The G Man · Post by **The G Man** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:44 pm

I have a Mk2 squareback and recently replaced a few of the bulbs on my dashboard clocks. I got them from the local Wilkinson's store in St Helens. I think they were 2 for 79p or something like that. They are a push in bulb and they sell two sizes - you want the smaller ones.

The easiest way to replace them is to remove the clocks (quite easy to do) and replace all three bulbs for new ones (that is, if your model has three bulbs) The bulb holders twist and pull out - then you simply pull the bulb out of the bulb holder and push the new bulb in.

The G Man · Post by **The G Man** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 11:53 pm

If you're looking to order from that website then I'd say they were the bulbs in the first picture (the different colour ones) As I say, the bulbs pull out of the holders - they are not soldered in (not in my dashboard array anyway)

By the way, have you tried tapping the top of the dashboard? Sometimes it can just be a bad connection between the contact and the circuit board.

Mk2Adam · Post by **Mk2Adam** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:13 am

Cheers for the help guys, i'd already bought one of the sets with the plastic bottom, havn't tried them yet as i'm working long hours but i'll sort it at the weekend though.

The G Man wrote:By the way, have you tried tapping the top of the dashboard? Sometimes it can just be a bad connection between the contact and the circuit board.

i'm a bloke lol that was the 1st thing i tried

The G Man · Post by **The G Man** » Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:26 am

Need to check mine at the weekend too - got a new set of bulbs in but I think I disturbed one when changing my speedo last weekend as I now have to tap the dashboard each time I put my lights on to get the left hand side of the dials to light.

Have not seen that website before and have just ordered three blue bulbs from them as I fancy my dials to light up blue instead of the green colour!

k4lps · Post by **k4lps** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:52 pm

Mk2Adam wrote:you know how much trouble it is? just because i'm not really fussed about it if it's more than just changing the bulb

got enough little modifications in the works to be worrying about an led

i'v done it all you need is a stedy hand i solderd the led into the holders 5mins for 5 dash bulbs
most of the bulbs were blown so i thought whynot

Mk2Adam · Post by **Mk2Adam** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:31 pm

k4lps wrote:
Mk2Adam wrote:you know how much trouble it is? just because i'm not really fussed about it if it's more than just changing the bulb

got enough little modifications in the works to be worrying about an led
i'v done it all you need is a stedy hand i solderd the led into the holders 5mins for 5 dash bulbs
most of the bulbs were blown so i thought whynot

nice idea mate, but considering i havn't even fitted the normal bulbs when they've been sitting there for a week might give you an idea of my laziness lol

maybe an idea for later on though

(goes adds leds to my list of things to do later)

tupac2makaveli71 · Post by **tupac2makaveli71** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:37 pm

yo k4lps, how do you get the dials out, because i can get the casing out, btu then when i get to pulling the dials out its like they are being held back by a wire or soemthing and i cant pull them out, all my bulbs are blown and i cant see a damn thing lol, help please mate

k4lps · Post by **k4lps** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:39 pm

Mk2Adam wrote:
k4lps wrote:
Mk2Adam wrote:you know how much trouble it is? just because i'm not really fussed about it if it's more than just changing the bulb

got enough little modifications in the works to be worrying about an led
i'v done it all you need is a stedy hand i solderd the led into the holders 5mins for 5 dash bulbs
most of the bulbs were blown so i thought whynot
nice idea mate, but considering i havn't even fitted the normal bulbs when they've been sitting there for a week might give you an idea of my laziness lol maybe an idea for later on though

(goes adds leds to my list of things to do later)

lol list of things to do mine went in the bin long time ago and i know about lazyness i got to finnish off my sound install and alarm from last summer then get to work on cambelt, water pump and port and polish the head with headgasket change

Mk2Adam · Post by **Mk2Adam** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:42 pm

tupac2makaveli71 wrote:yo k4lps, how do you get the dials out, because i can get the casing out, btu then when i get to pulling the dials out its like they are being held back by a wire or soemthing and i cant pull them out, all my bulbs are blown and i cant see a damn thing lol, help please mate

if you mean the plastic trim with all the buttons? then you need to un-plug all the wires from the back of the buttons/switches i'm afraid, quite annoying really....oh and remember which wire came from where too

and then just unscrew the actual dials and then you can get to the bulbs

tupac2makaveli71 · Post by **tupac2makaveli71** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:54 pm

no i could get off the plastic trim, i couldnt get the actual dials off :< :S

Mk2Adam · Post by **Mk2Adam** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:00 pm

oh right, havn't actually done this but just checked haynes and it says you need to un-screw the screws and then tilt it enough to disconnect the speedo cable and multi plug in the bottom right

tupac2makaveli71 · Post by **tupac2makaveli71** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:09 pm

right thanks alot mate, will try this tomorrow as iv done enough work today lol