Replacing dash LEDs

The old (from 2007!) thread about LEDs has lost the links to the pics. For some reason it wont let me edit the original thread so here is a new one.

Back then the main beam tell-tale was not a MOT fail but it is now.

1st remove cluster from car, on a MK1 this involves removing half of the interior first…

 

to dismantle the cluster I removed the 8 screws (two not shown in pic to far right) and the lights that hold the blue circuit board down, highlighted in red….


this then allowed me to gently lift out the 3 main components (rev counter, LEDs/fuel gauge and speedo) as one held together with the blue circuit film from the cluster housing. Then when turned over I removed the black plastic LED 'shield' to reveal my problem. As suspected when built there were no blue LEDs so VW used a clear LED?/filament bulb that had blown and a blue plastic mask;






off to Maplin to get a blue LED, unfortunatly they only had chav type bright blue LEDs, I got a clear one and this other shown with the orginal blown white LED stylee filament bulb. They were 3mm so could be used under the blue plastic mask so not a big problem. Insert the right way, short leg or flat side = -ve connection;
 

Put everything back togther and test. Is brighter than the other LEDs but not as bright as camera makes out;


If I was to do it again I would have used a lower 1.5cd output LEDs instead of the brighter3.2 cd type that I did use.



 

Great and simple 'How To' post so I will move it into the how to section! 😀👌

Where did you get the LEDs from? I used to have an MGF and upgraded the dash lights to LED but can't remember where I bought them from.

Tall bloke said

Where did you get the LEDs from? I used to have an MGF and upgraded the dash lights to LED but can't remember where I bought them from.

Just use google… I can fondly remember. "Daddy, I googled it, and you were right."

So she sent me a cup, 20 years later…. "I don't need Google, my father knows-it-all."

Hello all.

I've joined the forum as I've got the same issue with my mk2 polo clocks.  The main beam tell tale bulb has gone and it's failed the MOT.

As Maplin is now dead.  Could I ask which LED to use?
12V 3mm?
and what brightness?
Blue or white (with the blue cap)?
Which supllier has them?

I've found these so far, but they aren't blue or white
https://www.reichelt.com/gb/en/red-3-mm-led-with-series-resistor-12-volt-led-3mm-12v-rt-p54092.html?PROVID=2788&gclid=CjwKCAiAjrXxBRAPEiwAiM3DQg77Gus2QeClhTfARvYnkD77wqvlsjG6Gi04IDocSvD3_xpuhNb2VBoC9cwQAvD_BwE&&r=1

Everything seems to be 'ultra' bright but ebay full of people with 3mm white;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3mm-5mm-8mm-10mm-Round-Case-Ultra-Bright-LED-Light-Emitting-Diode/312730627509?var=611453922088&hash=item48d032adb5:g:HgkAAOSwfuddUoiD

edit… these look lower powered
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diffused-LEDs-3mm-Red-Blue-White-Green-Yellow-Orange-UK-Seller/182307853957?hash=item2a72651685:m:mu5E3V-ZTWhEXi6MsJM6rNQ

Early-1800 said

Everything seems to be 'ultra' bright but ebay full of people with 3mm white;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3mm-5mm-8mm-10mm-Round-Case-Ultra-Bright-LED-Light-Emitting-Diode/312730627509?var=611453922088&hash=item48d032adb5:g:HgkAAOSwfuddUoiD

edit… these look lower powered
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Diffused-LEDs-3mm-Red-Blue-White-Green-Yellow-Orange-UK-Seller/182307853957?hash=item2a72651685:m:mu5E3V-ZTWhEXi6MsJM6rNQ

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.  Just checking - the voltage on those LEDs is 2.3V.  Would the clocks be putting out 12v?

I have found this LED it's a 12V 5mm, but there is a 3mm version available,

https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/VCC/LTH5MM12VFR4600?qs=Mv7BduZupUhm6tHQ9H6QRA==

Apols, didn't spot that just assumed they were 12v.

Are the standard ones 5mm in the cluster? If so I'd use a 5mm blue without the filter cap thingy or stick with white 3mm and the blue filter shield cap.

Check your Bentley or Haynes, not all the "LED's" in the cluster are LED's, there are a couple of Bulbs as well.

how to tell is that the LED's have an arrow pointing out of the "X" on the sides of them Bulbs don't.

Briano1234 said

Check your Bentley or Haynes, not all the "LED's" in the cluster are LED's, there are a couple of Bulbs as well.

how to tell is that the LED's have an arrow pointing out of the "X" on the sides of them Bulbs don't.

From “Replacing dash LEDs”

Cheers for the heads up.  The other warning lights are LEDs (have a look at https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/rdw/polo+derby+vento-ind/po/1993-120/9/919-98001/#10)
It's just the main beam that's a bulb with a blue cap on.

I was in Stockport town centre earlier today and found a little electrical shop.  You know the ones that have all sorts of odds and ends, I thought the internet had killed them?  Anyway handed over a pound, got a 12v led.  It's now in the clocks and I have a fresh MOT.  It lights up red though, but it'll tide me over till I get a blue one sorted