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1989 Cabriolet instrument light bulb type needed

Good morning! This has probably been covered before but I can't fin

any info thus far on the instrument light bulbs for my 1989 Cabriolet. I'm speaking of the ones that go in the three-guage cluster in th console as well as those inside the headlight switch, etc. The actua bulb is rather small and encased in a black plastic case roughly a inch in length, which is stamped with what appears to be the wor "OSRAM" on one side and the VW emblem on the other side on a tab tha extends below the two contacts at the base. No luck at the LOCA dealer (which I won't set foot in again... If I have to drive t Nashville or Evansville for dealer parts, so be it! lol)... Might i be possible to disassemble the bulb and replace it with a small LE instead? Just curious if anyone has attempted that before... Thank in advance for any advice on this one!

Johnnie Clarksville, T

-- Johnnie

Reply to
Johnnie
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Hi:

I think I can help you. This past March I purchase 4 of these light bulb units for $6.92 plus shipping, which brought the total to $25.87. As you probably know, the units consist of a black twist-on base and a tiny 12v bulb. Forget trying to install a new bulb, led or otherwise, into an existing base. I've tried it, and found that it just doesn't work. It is a hassle best avoided.

Anyway, my purchase was with a company called DRIVEWIRE, 1-800-895-8910. Their part number is 4B300-24272, and is for a 12v, black base, 1.2w unit.

Hope this helps.

Reply to
Papa

I appreciate the lead and shall have to check them out... Thanks

-- Johnnie

Reply to
Johnnie

Don't dismiss the LED idea yet. If you want a permanent solution to the problem, a LED is the way to go, it's been done by many. Some have even changed the illumination colour, but that's not my style.. The LED life will exceed the life of your VW! and fits very nicely in the old bulb holder with a small series resistor to drop an appropriate voltage. Even the dimmer switch still works.

Here's a pic of my first attempt. I think I used a 440 ohm resistor IIRC, but test it with your LED.

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I'm working on a more even light distribution now as you can see from this photo, the LED (on the right) doesn't cast such an even light as the bulb (on the left). The next idea is to file off the top of the LED or even dremel a slight concave in the tip.
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The mfa/clock seems to only give about 6v to the bulb so a smaller resistor is required there. The LED is also polarity-dependent. Make sure it's in the right way before closing everything up.

Reply to
John

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