[c900]

A very long time ago now I got right into replacing all manner of interior lights with LED's, but the rectangular block switches (at least the newer style ones with small pins instead of the older style ones with big pins) don't have a removable bulb holder.


Are they already made with LED illumination? Can the front faceplate be unclipped to get access to a bulb holder?


I recall using really tiny wedge lamps (286T or t5 or something like that) that I sourced from Ultraleds back when that company was really new. I think the headlight switch has a removable bulb holder and some of the other lights in the dash are fairly easy to access with the fascia off or at least moved out of the dash proper.


Why I started wondered is I need to replace the recirc switch as the one in the car I'm fixing up has lost it's detent spring-lock action. Looking at it and the spare (they're Saab p/n 95 23 846) there's no back access to the internal lamp.


Does anyone have any solutions?


Craig.

 

[c900]

LED replacement lamps for instrument cluster illumination

Seems there are numerous suppliers of (all chinese made presumably) T5 led wedge lamps on Ebay.

It's been a while so does anything know what the LED lamps in those special clip-in holders used in the instrument cluster are called? I think all bar the one for the alternator circuit can be easily replaced with an LED equivalent based on what I remember of previous C900's I owned that I fitted LED lamps into the dash (switches, instruments, etc.) and interior cabin lights of.

I think the instrument cluster main illumination lamps are T10 wedges.

Here's the back of an old one I've got saved out of a car. This one has aftermarket electro-luminescent gauge faces fitted (I think those are impossible to find now) hence the wiring.

pic page

Note the lamp holders comprise two larger main ones (which do use T10 wedges as suspected) for gauge illumination, and all the others are tiny T5 lamp style but I don't know if the lamps are removable from the holders. Two of the small lamp holders are a different colour - there's a red one and a green one while all the others are black. I'm guessing the red and green ones use specific lamps that can't be replaced with LED's.

The small black lamp holders in this cluster are all originals and the lamp wires are bonded to the contacts so the lamps can't be removed (easily).

One big problem with all the aftermarket T10 LED lamps I've tried is that all have the lamp wires folding over to be present on both sides of the base, which makes them short out the lamp holder contacts! Not good.

pic page


Cutting the wires away from the second side might make them workable. Depends if that compromises how the lamp holder contacts grip the lamps...



Craig.

 

[badolkhan]

It was a nice read, thanks. have you thought about installing smart led lights in the instrument cluster? It would allow us to change the brightness of the illumination and its color. What do you think of that? I’ve got this idea recently, and I want to do that in my old Volvo, which is no longer my daily car.
I have some wifi light bulbs in my house, and I want to find LED strip lights that would have similar features. I want them to be able to connect to my phone, so I can control them remotely. It’s not the most necessary feature, but it would just be cool.

 

[Germaniac]

It was a nice read, thanks. have you thought about installing smart led lights in the instrument cluster? It would allow us to change the brightness of the illumination and its color. What do you think of that? I’ve got this idea recently, and I want to do that in my old Volvo, which is no longer my daily car.

Just went through replacing the old filament bulbs with LED. I don't know if Volvo (and which) is using the same sockets as Saab - at least my 9-5 employs bulbs with T3, T4.2 and T4.7 sockets and I haven't found any smart LED which is making the change a little bit complicated as you have to take care of the proper polarization (there are no markings on the sockets or the settings) and you will most likely not being able to dim the panel anymore unless you replace the dimmer with a DIY solution.

 

[milos]

One big problem with all the aftermarket T10 LED lamps I've tried is that all have the lamp wires folding over to be present on both sides of the base, which makes them short out the lamp holder contacts! Not good.

Great info, thanks Craig!
I had this problem when I tried to change main dashbord bulbs with leds - holy smoke appeared - so I removed them and since then I am in the dark… (can’t source 3w bulbs and didn’t want to put 5w)

Will cut bulb legs and try again, hopefully I didn’t burn anything (important)…

edit: just realized that this thread is few years old… did it work (cutting bulb legs) for you?

 

[milos]

I’ve looked at bulb holders again and can’t see how cutting bulb wire would help… Good is that this thread reminded me to look and
(I did) find some good old 3w filament bulbs…