Originally posted by 91waggin
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Bulbs for Rear Def/Rear Window/Antenna Switches
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Damn, if only I had seen this thread the last time I had my dash down (to install autodim highbeams). I could've eyeballed everything in there for you. They've got to be 37's... if they're not then I am completely perplexed. 37's are the smallest common automotive bulb I've ever seen, and the smallest we sell at my job.
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I've done my dashboard entirely in blue now, and I thought I'd provide a solution that involves blue LEDs. The bulb in the defroster switch is almost exactly the same size as a 5mm LED. I got some 5500 mcd 5mm blue LEDs from superbrightleds.com
http://www.superbrightleds.com/leds.htm
and removed the incandescent bulb from the holder. I then cut the LED's leads down to about the same length and bent them around the same way as the incandescent bulb was. After putting the LED/holder back into the switch, I wired a 680ohm resistor into the illumination wire on the back of the switch, and it worked perfectly. The defroster switch has only one largish (relatively) bulb for switch illumination that sits in the bottom of the switch. The "on" light is an orange light that is integral to the circuitry inside the switch.
On the other hand, the power antenna switch has two smallish bulbs on either end of the switch, but the idea is the same, except you use 3mm LEDs instead of 5mm. I got them from the same website listed above. Pull the incandescent bulbs from the holders, put the LEDs in and bend the legs around. Wire in your resistor and voila!
Since the LEDs are so directional, the lighting isn't too harsh but it's definitely visible at night. They don't work with the dimmer, but I'll bet if you put a higher wattage (I think the one I used is 1/4 watt) resistor in they might.
Pictures to come
Also, I found out that the rear window switch for the CP doesn't illuminate; there is no spot to put a bulb.Originally posted by gadget73There is nothing more permanent than a temporary fix.
93 F-150 XLT, 302, ZF 5-spd from 1-ton, 4wd.
Daily--07 Civic Coupe. Bone stock with 25k miles
Wife--14 Subaru Outback. 6-speed.
95 Subaru Legacy Wagon--red--STOLEN 1/6/13
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