[Lil-Maz]

Hello

I have bought a second hand instrument panel to replace mine as most of the lights on the right hand side do not work. The problem is I didn't notice that it was off an automatic. Should I send it back before spending an age swapping them around to find that they are not compatible or is it fine?

Any advice welcome

Thanks

 

[Saaber95er]

I would send it back. Why not remove yours and replace the burnt out bulbs? In some cases you will need to re-calibrate the new MIU to your car with a Tech 2 when installed to get the correct readings on the SID. With the Tech 2 you can also change the odometer to the current miles on the one you replaced. If everything on your current MIU is working other than the lights; pull it out and change the bulbs. You don't want to put an auto MIU in a 5spd, it may or may not work correctly.

 

[Lil-Maz]

ok thanks a lot, glad I asked! The guys in the garage said all they could do was take it out and have a look to see whats wrong, and that I may as well find a replacement to save time.

Is it easy to replace the bulbs? They also said that it was unlikely that just some of the bulbs would fail because they usually all fade at the same time. Which led them to think that it may not be the bulbs that are the problem.

'If everything on your current MIU is working other than the lights' the speedo lights work until 90mph, there is no fuel gauge, the engine error code doesn't light up (i'v had a faulty bypass valve recently fixed) Everything to the left of the speedometer lights up fine though. Hope this makes things a bit clearer for you.

Thanks for the quick reply, I shall sent it back asap.

 

[Lil-Maz]

yeah I though they knew their Saabs but i'm starting to think otherwise. I want to start fixing things myself anyway

Where is a good place to pick up bulbs then? They seem expensive (the whole instrument panel/ cluster was £30) Could I just take the bulbs out of the auto cluster I picked up?

I'm guessing I need more than one if I have no fuel, temp and turbo pressure lighting as well as half of the speedometer.

 

[TankTak]

Not all Instrument panels have bulbs that can be replaced....what year is your 9-5? if its "02 and newer I believe we have the bulbs soldered onto the circuit board and would need to be desoldered and new ones soldered in. not as easy as just swappoing bulbs

 

[Saaber95er]

These work in 9-5's 1999-2009. Which bulbs are soldered to the PCB?

Not all Instrument panels have bulbs that can be replaced....what year is your 9-5? if its "02 and newer I believe we have the bulbs soldered onto the circuit board and would need to be desoldered and new ones soldered in. not as easy as just swappoing bulbs

 

[Lil-Maz]

Thanks for the replies, its a 2000 aero model.

Sending the other instrument panel back would cost around £10 and I would only get a £20 refund so it would be nice if I could just swap the bulbs over. The seller of the part hasn't replied to my email anyway so looks like I'm stuck with it.

 

[saabtwin]

You can swap the bulbs over. If you need any more look on ebay as the bulbs will be standard dash lighting bulbs.

 

[TankTak]

These work in 9-5's 1999-2009. Which bulbs are soldered to the PCB?

On the older casrs yes, but newer cars had LED's soldered onto the circuit board so cant easily be replaced. See this thread where a member changed his and also the color of his needle http://www.saabcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=239083

 

[Saaber95er]

Look at it this way; the MIU has 33 bulbs now you have spares ;ol;

Thanks for the replies, its a 2000 aero model.

Sending the other instrument panel back would cost around £10 and I would only get a £20 refund so it would be nice if I could just swap the bulbs over. The seller of the part hasn't replied to my email anyway so looks like I'm stuck with it.

 

[jlthunder]

'98-'01, the bulbs are replaceable. When you remove the back cover, you won't be able to get to the bulbs directly. There is a board you must remove and it is attached with ribbon cables. Make sure you use the release tabs on the ribbon cable connector to seperate the two boards otherwise you may break a ribbon (I did ). Hold on to the spare cluster you have until you are finished with the job in case you need a spare ribbon cable.

After you remove the board, you will see all of the bulb holders. I replaced all of the dash lights (they are tagged so you know what bulb does what). I got replacement bulbs at Wal*Mart. They were slightly larger, but they fit. I've been running with them for over a year and all is well. I don't remember the bulb #, but just take one in and look for a similiar bulb.

 

[Lil-Maz]

Thanks jlthunder. I am trying to find out what year the car was that the cluster came from (I am tempted to just take it apart and find out).

So to clear it up; if the cluster I bought the other day has LEDs and not Bulbs, can I still use LEDs in my cluster if I solder them in? If there are 33 bulbs/LEDs in this new cluster then surely I will save a lot of cash by salvaging the lights.