Instrument LEDs - full beam

[purplecrocs]

Hi all

I need to replace my full beam indicator to get it through the MOT … so, does anyone know what voltage rating the LEDs are - there are resistors on the circuit so am not sure whether they might by lower than 12V - hoping I can just pick something up from somewhere - doesnt have to be blue

And does anyone know, if I try a random LED in there that I have lying around - will I break anything other than the LED if its the wrong rating? (e.g. if my LED is a 3V one and theres a 12V supply going to it) …. if not i'll just try sticking in a few LEDs I have lying around to see if one works!

Thanks

[ghost123uk]

LEDs are all around 3V. They always have a resistor in one of the leads. No harm can result by (careful) substitution with a random LED but note they will only work when wired up the right way round, get it the "wrong" way and it just won't light up, no harm will result, it just won't work. Note, many LEDs these days are "hi brightness" types and you wouldn't really want one of those as a high beam warning light. Std ones are available from Maplins / Ebay etc.

[purplecrocs]

thanks for this info … very helpful.

I'm sure i could cover it with a dab of paint if it was too bright … really anything should do for now to get it through the MOT, I can replace with something more suitable at a later date.

[keytouch]

The high beam is a bulb with a cap as blue LEDs didn't exist back then.
You could put in a blue led but I would change the resistor so your retinas don't get burnt out.

[purplecrocs]

cheers - theres no cap on mine that I can tell - seems to be a blue led…or at least nothing thats removable. I've got a couple of red ones knocking about so will try those… i don't think it matters to Mr MOT what colour they are...

[ghost123uk]

The high beam is a bulb with a cap as blue LEDs didn't exist back then

This is a good point, blue LEDs did not exist then. Yours might have already been modded perhaps. Might go out to mine in a while and look see what I have ! By the way, if it is a bulb, and you replace it with an LED you will need a 680 Ohm 1/2 Watt (or 1 Watt will be fine too) resistor from Maplins. Don't wire an LED up without it if it was a normal bulb.

[purplecrocs]

hmm - what will happen if i do wire it up without the resistor?

There is a resistor on the circuit just before the led/bulb - i remember seeing it before… not got it apart at the moment to confirm exactly what it is. And the bulb/led does look like an led … it has 2 wire legs

[ghost123uk]

hmm - what will happen if i do wire it up without the resistor?

The LED will quietly burn out inside, instantly. You might just see a very fast flash from inside it !

There is a resistor on the circuit just before the led/bulb - i remember seeing it before… not got it apart at the moment to confirm exactly what it is. And the bulb/led does look like an led … it has 2 wire legs

Some dash bulb types have 2 wire legs.

If it is a bulb, you should be able to clearly see the filament inside the glass. An LED just has a black looking dot inside a coloured plastic case.

[purplecrocs]

right - i'll have another look - don't remember seeing a filament - but thats was because the glass/plastic is blue and not very see-through.

So if i did put in an LED and it did burn out - its only the led i'll knacker - not anything else…? happy to try if thats the case

[ZsZ]

here a pic of the bulb from US shop Vancafe:

[ghost123uk]

So if i did put in an LED and it did burn out - its only the led i'll knacker - not anything else…? happy to try if thats the case

No other damage will result, except that if you put an LED in and it's not an LED in there, the LED you put in will burn out immediately and so won't light up, so you won't know if the non glowing of the main beam light is the "bulb" or summat else

That pic ^^^ doesn't help much imho (I mean the pic does not really help "us" decide 100%, I don't mean ZsZ is not a help ) Although if I had to guess I would say it is a bulb.

E D I T = Found this = https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7625476" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
E D I T 2 = And this = http://www.volkszone.com/VZi/showthread.php?t=572921" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just had a thought, won't it indicate in the Haynes by the symbol whether it is a bulb or LED (seems too obvious an answer !!)

I'm going to the pub now

[slippy8v]

VW still sell them had to replace mine for MOT
before and after pics,





heres how i did mine just scroll down the build thread.
http://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php ... 2&start=60" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[MattBW]

Pretty sure mine was less than a quid from Brickwerks, they sell a replacement that works.

[nicq]

You can buy 12 volt pre wired led's if you don't want to do it yourself
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pack-of-5-Pre ... 4aca21b76d" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mm289]

Just check before you go to the hassle of sourcing a replacement that it isn't a connection.

Myrtle had the same high beam warning lamp noted on the MoT, I took the dash off removed the plastic ribbon connector and played around with the bulb and it sprang into life.

The wire prongs can get dirty/not make a good connection was my diagnosis.

Cheers,

MM