Afternoon all, I have small dilemma, I'm looking to change the bulbs in my heater control panel on my 03 jdm spec c, I no it's not needed but it annoyes me that the gauges / dash / stereo all light up red but the heater dials light up green

Now I have removed the heater control panel and removed 1 of the 2 bulb / holders that are in place, I thought it would be simple enough to find the bulbs online order them and just replace and after looking online at various bulbs and there specifications I ordedered a pack of 286 red miniature capless bulbs (T5).
Finally they arrived today and once I opened they pack I could see they was very slightly different to the originals although on all the specifications I saw online stating that the base of the bulb Is 5mm they are in fact no more that 4mm and slightly thinner which means when you slot it into the bulb holder it's loose and could fall out which is obviously not good.

I've spoken to various bulb companies that where unable to help unfortunately and im at abit of a dead end, all I can think is the bulbs are to jap specification and are difficult to find in the U.K....











U can see the difference between the bulbs but really struggling to find the correct ones, any one tried this before and was able to locate the correct one or anyone have any ideas as I'm losing patience

Thanks

 

I think you've ordered the wrong bulb size....original looks like a 286 and the ones you've bought look to be 284...Take the original the pop down to halfraunds and compare the bulb in question to the 'selection' they have. Once you've confirmed the type order them from ebay/autobulbs....


Although it could well be a 501T wedge you get in sidelights.....?

 

501T are T10's which are way to big, the base of the t10 is 9.4mm and the original I have here is
Exactly 5mm so no way that will fit in holder.

The bulbs i bought are 286R t5 bulbs, if you look on eBay at all the t5 bulbs they state they are 5mm base but there not there about 4mm and thinner also hence the issue of them not fitting correct

 

 

Should have looked at T6.5 bulbs

 

Hi Don, thanks for the heads up regarding the T6.5, I new about the T5 &T10 just did not no about the ones in the middle... I've ordered 2 T6.5 and will report back when I get them fitted..

Cheers

 

T6.5 led slotted in nicely

Sorry the pics were taken in daylight cannot make out the original
Original green lighting on lower half heater control in the first few photos
But all done, looks much better now all red

 

A good result

 

looks good do you have a link for the same bulbs as would like to do the same as they obviously fit/work spot on the ones you have

Cheers

 

Thanks looks so much better now the job itself is abit fiddly it's only cos I had a spare heater control I could see exactly where the bulbs go

You will have to gauge from the pics I've posted as when u unscrew the heater controls there hardly any movement forward to see the bulb holders is all done blind by just feeling behind the controls but very straight forward once located.

Will post a eBay link below to the bulbs I have used ....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Red-LED...sAAOSw2xRYglP5

 

Thats great thanks for the link

 

Hi

Take it yours is a spec c then as tried to do mine today(03 jdm) and its different bulbs??

 

Sorry, Yes I have a 03 Jdm spec c, I wouldn't have thought the heater controls would be different though as there both 03 Jdm, I have only just put a later centre console in my spec c but all the heater controls are from what was there originally so just the plastics that have been changed.

Can u pull the bulb from the holder and measure the size of it, they look like the size of the first bulbs I originally bought as you can see above..

Any chance u can get a pic up of ur console also ?

 

Hi Thanks for reply there is 4 seperate bulbs in it which you literally just unscrew them from the back,the bulbs dont seem to pull out from the holder so presume they are one piece,there are approx 22mm long.

Thanks

Dave

 

found some red bulb covers on ebay so just ordered some of them as cant seem to find the bulbs anywhere.

Cheers

 

See your PM's

 

Replied thanks for your help guys

 

Would love to know the outcome of this guys if you've managed to find the right bulbs. I too have an '03 JDM and would love to change all my bulbs to red.

Thanks,
Binny

 

Post 15 above holds the answer - red bulb caps
remove the green and fit red

Available here...




OEM bulb (green)
Subaru part number 72350FE010

 

When they turn up next week m8 let me know your address if you want and will pop some in the post to you as i wont need them all,unless you already bought some

 

Thats great, thank you. PM me when you're done and I'll send you my address.

Thanks,
Binny

 

well put the 4 red bulb covers on and now none of the bulbs light up at all

I give up should have left them green lol

 

Did you manage to get it sorted ?

When I first changed my bulbs over ( I only have 2) one side wouldn't work just take them out I think they can only go in 1 way so just make sure the terminals are clean.... I just kept on at it and eventually got the other side to work.

 

Hi

no not yet they all worked before I took them out which was weird after putting them all back in and they are all blown now ????

As you say they only go in one way and terminals are all clean and touching

so will have to get some leds on Friday from maplins and try them

will get there in the end lol

cheers

Dave

 

wish I hadn't started this too,the 5mm red condoms are too big and the same as EMP all the bulbs have blown. Do the bulbs definitely not separate from the holder?

 

The 5mm bulb condoms can be cut down a bit and fit perfectly and yes the bulbs do seperate from the holders have bought some new bulbs from maplins and fit ok just not put back together yet as having fun fitting a new kitchen at the moment lol

ps wish I not bothered starting as well with this as weird the bulbs just blow like that

 

Ive done the same,off to maplins now...what a ballache

 

well they work but not particularly bright so will have to see if can get hold of any brighter ones,think they was like 29p each so if you get any different ones and they brighter let us know cheers

 

I've gone a slightly different route,they only had 3mm bulbs at maplins so I've used a red permanent marker and it's worked really well. I'll get a pic when it gets dark👍🏻