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Hi ALL,
As a follow-up to a recent post of mine I have found a solution for dash bulb replacement.
This is in regards to those 1.2W 12V bulbs with the integrated black socket.
Noone seems to sell them. Even fcpgroton quoted me 7 US$ each. In honesty though I do appreciate the fact that they were less than the dealer (12$ each), thanks Nick.
I needed a total of five replaced in the dash and I was not about to spend 60$ on a couple minibulbs.
I found (easily available) the bulbs themselves without the holder for under 1$ each. If you have good soldering skills and good tools, you can do as I did:
1.. Mount the assembly on a vise, using minipliers pull off the assembly's prongs (they are pressed in). Rip out the old bulb and discard;
2.. On the new bulb, straighten out the two leads. Take a strand of wire from a stranded copper wire and lengthen (solder) the bulb's leads about a cm or two each.
3.. Insert the bulb in the old socket, stick the wires out the end;
4.. Press in the old socket's prongs (is that a good word?).
5.. Solder the lengthened leads to the sides of the prongs the spot that the old ones were. (you need good soldering skills and a not too hot iron or you will melt away the black holder).
You might think this is crazy, but I did five bulbs in a matter of 10 minutes max. ...and saved myself 60 "dealer" bucks. Good for another ten years.
The only drawback is replacing those "blue" bulbs. One of mine was blue and now the display is white. I COULD NOT find blue minibulbs. I suppose one could get a piece of translucent blue plastic and experiment...
Thanks,
Greg Mustang
Montreal - Canada
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