(how to regain) Heater control illumination

Post by **Cruz** » 24 Feb 2006, 12:45

The bulb that's supposed to illuminate the heater controls isn't working.
In fact it's never worked since I've had the van (7 months)

Can anyone point me in the right direction for getting it working?
The bulb is a new 1.2w bulb. Is it even the right bulb?

picture

Post by **purplechugster** » 24 Feb 2006, 13:19

The heater controls have a light?

Okay, Im interested in this thread too then....

Post by **banana** » 24 Feb 2006, 14:34

I did this the other day. Pull off the heater knobs and then the heater panel is a pressure stud fit to the dash so you can slowly and evenly prize it away and then you clearly see the bulb holder behind. Pull out old bulb with a slight twist. Buy two new bulbs... because the first one will fail, blow or break. You will see on the bulbs two wires on the outside edge of the bulb and getting these in alignment with metal terminals inside holder can be a fiddle and a reason why you think you have blown bulb again. It took me 10 mins to get my new bulb to contact properly after realigning the thin bulb wires a bit at a time. Good luck

Post by **Cruz** » 24 Feb 2006, 14:44

Was it one of these bulbs?

http://i6.ebayimg.com/02/i/06/2c/aa/66_1_bo.JPG

Post by **banana** » 24 Feb 2006, 15:22

It looks good to me and you can see the wires up the sides that dont always make the perfect electricl contact. I took my old bulb to the local car parts shop and the asked for a replacement so I dont profess to know the spec of the bulb. Did you have an old bulb or have you not got behind the panel yet? I didnt say before but the obvious check is to get a 12v tester on the +- wires going into the holder and check the voltage goes on and off as you turn the lights on and off. After that you know its the bulb or possibly the way it locates that is causing the problem.

Post by **diviy** » 26 Feb 2006, 00:07

the bulb is called a 286

Post by **Cruz** » 26 Feb 2006, 00:27

Cheers. So I'm using the right bulb. Now for reallignment of the bulb filament legs

Post by **Cruz** » 27 Mar 2006, 20:09

banana wrote:I did this the other day. Pull off the heater knobs and then the heater panel is a pressure stud fit to the dash so you can slowly and evenly prize it away and then you clearly see the bulb holder behind.

Solved this. I now have lovely illuminated heater controls. No messing with bulbs, no bending and persuading bulb wires to make contact.

The wires to the bulb holder had juice but the bulb holder was knackered. Ordered the bulb holder from VW part no. 321-919-039, they cost a whopping £1.20

Then just plop in a wedge bulb and away you go

Post by **Cruz** » 23 Oct 2007, 20:45

Added to Wiki over 18 months late

https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... lumination

Post by **Simon Baxter** » 23 Oct 2007, 21:08

I have these on the shelf too, gunna add them to the website soon.

Post by **Cruz** » 23 Oct 2007, 21:45

Is the price with the lazy suppliment added?

Post by **airhead** » 24 Oct 2007, 07:34

purplechugster wrote:The heater controls have a light?

Okay, Im interested in this thread too then....

Yes, as do both your gauges (speedo and clock or rev counter) and if you have a rev counter your separate clock has a light too. The icons for the leds in the centre of the panel light up too. Your heated rear window switch and hazard light switch light up dimly when off, and if you have a syncro, your diff lock controls light up. Oh, and your fag lighter socket should too. The brightness of all of these is controlled by the thumbwheel below your light switch.

So now everyone run out and check to see what bulbs have blown over the 20 or so years your vehicle has been on the road.

Post by **rusty_1990** » 24 Oct 2007, 11:24

I knew

Could anyone take a picture of it working for me to see

Thanks

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 24 Oct 2007, 15:05

Use an LED as a replacement. Makes sense to replace bulbs with LEDs where you can.