Dashboard illumination

[Hitch]

I need to replace a bulb or two on the instrument cluster of her car A4.
Ive removed the cluster, and the bulb i know wasn't working properly.
They are the little bayonet things, in a plastic base. The one i know was blown is in an orange base, 12v 1.1w. I notice some were in black bases, and some in orange. Is there a difference between the coloured bases?
I forgot to look at the ratings when i had it out.

Are these fairly standard? I thought they were, but my usuall motor factor told me they were main dealer parts
Id expect fairly standard across most of the VAG ranges at least?

 

[Robotstar5]

Comprehensive selection here does the bulb come out of the base, one of the wire end types?

 

[Hitch]

No, i dont think it does, it has the detail 12v/1.1w and make (Osram) on the orange placcy bit.

 

[Debs.]

A local scrapyard, auto-breakers (or 'recyclers', as they now prefer to be known) would surely be able to provide a cheap handful......the twist-n-lock form seem to common amongst continental marques. (e.g VAG/Renault/Citroen).

 

[Mikey D]

Are you sure it doesnt pull out of the base , looks like a capless bulb to me
cheers mike

 

[Bobtail4x4]

Its a farly standard bulb,

as said an hour in a scrappies will provide lots.

I think the different colours are for different wattages.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Orange seem to be 1.1w, black 1.2w, standard 'twistlock' fitting, easy to get.
Echo Debs' suggestion, grab a handful from a breakers.
Afaik the ones that will come out of the holders are 5W ones (501) I'm pretty sure you can't get 1.1 or 1.2 capless ones.

 

[pedrobedro]

My daughter's Corsa used a similar type bulb with the plastic holder integrated not separate and it was a dealer part.

 

[BillJ]

Very few dashboard bulbs are really "dealer-only" but the local parts shop might not have them. They look like an integral-holder type. There are capless 1.2W ones available too, though, Wozzaah.

As far as I know, the colour of the base denotes the wattage.

They're probably listed here

 

[CKJDJK]

Try an Auto electrician rather than a factors. It is a standard type bulb and used in many car types.
Chris

 

[Wozzaaah]

Yep, you're right Bill, the code for those is 286, top one on that page.
Handy site that, one for the bookmarks.

 

[brightspark]

try europarts

 

[TAITSIE]

If the bulb comes out its a 286 you need, if not you need to check that the complete holders that you get have the contacts in the same place as the originals as on some the contacts are 90 degrees out .

 

[Hitch]

No bulb deffo doesnt come out, its them bad boys in Bill's link. Thanks Bill.
The actuall bulb is about the same size as the capless versions- thats the sort thats wired seperate, like the heater plug light.

Yard is probably the way. They had no Audis in the local one the otherday, i wasnt sure what else to pull apart to get what i want, and didnt want to waste my time!
Ill try again tommorow dinnertime then.

 

[RustyBus]

Which yard did you try? Rubin (Symonds) normally has the best selection around your way, failing that Langfords in semley are OK.

Arran

 

[Hitch]

Yes, Rubin's.
Thats about 1 min form work

 

[RustyBus]

Ahh yes, went racing with Rubin a couple of times, long time ago now.

Arran

 

[KTMMICK]

Why get them from the 'RECYCLERS' how do you know how long they will last? They can't be that expensive..........and if you can afford an A4 in the first place........lol

 

[Davie]

They are a farily standard bulb, I work in a factors.

You should even be able to get them from Halfrauds or Monkey (Motor) world.

All failing that, you can get LED versions off fleabay, they should outlast the car, and you could change the colour of the dash ligts if you wanted to as well.

 

[Nomad]

LED bulbs ?

Try an auto factors, or 30 minutes in a scrapyard (get a handful of spares)
They look like standard bulbs, as used in most car / motorcycle dashboards now.

Several folk on the custom car sites have replaced blown bulbs with coloured LED bulbs, some give a very upmarket look ( some don't )
Plenty to pick from, but have a look at
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/automotive-bulbs-509t-dash-bulbs-c-101_142.html?osCsid=6dc951d41b4bbc18b9ad9f3ebe5525b1