center console lighting

For all electrical questions; Alternators including fitment; Light connections/wiring; Instruments; Gauges; MFA; Heater blower (not coolant related) issues etc etc.
Forum rules
Hints, tips and guides for repair and modification - the FAQ section on the main website is worth checking first for information relating to common faults and technical help. Useful posts and guides will be added to the FAQ http://www.sciroccoregister.co.uk/scirocco-faq
Post Reply
User avatar
james butler
Posts: 2965
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:54 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: birmingham

center console lighting

Post by james butler »

i found a way to change the bulb in the center console panel that controls the heater, if you carefully prise the white backing plastic away from the black front plastic, a bulb is located in the section where the wiring connects. the plastic is glued together so to prise it apart you have to take your time breaking the glued joints.
the bulb and its holder can be prised out of the white backing plastic and the old bulb desoldered from its holder.
to get the bulb holder out i pushed the connector pins where the cable plugs into and the holder just popped right out.
getting the old bulb out was a nuisance. i smashed mine then pulled out the remnants afterward with pliers.
also getting the new bulbs wires to fit back in may require a small amount of drilling to open up the small access holes
new bulbs can be obtained from maplins
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-096w-wire ... type-wq13p
did it in my car and it worked.
not the brightest bulb but you can see everything once its dark, and so nice to have it working again after it being broken for so long.


I dont mind project cars but I HATE SANDING!!!
Roxylife
Posts: 176
Joined: Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:11 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: On the limits of adhesion

Re: center console lighting

Post by Roxylife »

I just bought new bulbs and holders on eBay..?! Saves a lot of hassle!


Motorsport is my passion.
Nate
Posts: 4045
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:37 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: Cirencester / Swindon

Re: center console lighting

Post by Nate »

good post :) before doing this however, make sure yours isn't one with a removeable bulb!


Image

Check out my photostream on Flickr
'69 bay, '79 bay, '74 bug, '78 GLS, '91 GT2, '10 SAAB 9-3
User avatar
james butler
Posts: 2965
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:54 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: birmingham

Re: center console lighting

Post by james butler »

Roxylife wrote:I just bought new bulbs and holders on eBay..?! Saves a lot of hassle!
Really? Have you got a link?


I dont mind project cars but I HATE SANDING!!!
mark1gls
Posts: 3954
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:28 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: Somerset

Re: center console lighting

Post by mark1gls »

Early heater panels have a removable bulb and holder later cars have the bulb inside the panel. If you remove the panel you'll easily spot a removable bulb.

Early panel.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-JETTA ... 7675.l2557

Later panel
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/400967127552

You can see the difference in the pictures of the back of the panel.


Mk1 78 Scirocco GLS 1.6 FR, weekend toy.
Mk1 88 Golf GTi cabriolet 1.8 DX. Daily drive.
Membership No. 323
User avatar
james butler
Posts: 2965
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:54 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: birmingham

Re: center console lighting

Post by james butler »

ah i see,
like this one?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-GOLF-JETTA ... 0842540825
to be fair i haven't seen many around this being the first ive actually seen for sale with the removalble bulb.
shame it doesnt have the bulb holder aswell


I dont mind project cars but I HATE SANDING!!!
User avatar
james butler
Posts: 2965
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:54 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: birmingham

Re: center console lighting

Post by james butler »

thought i would do a run through on how to repair these.
step 1 is to prise the white backing peice away form the black plastic front piece, i know its hard but it does come apart.
some bits of the white part may break away but it doesnt really matter as long as most of its still there because if you didn't fix the bulb it would end up in the bin anyway wouldn't it

Image

step 2
you need to get this bulb AND the holder its in out of the white plastic, it requires a little bit of heat, i havent tried boiling water yet but a hairdryer works.

Image

heat up the plastic and push the terminals hard from behind and it will pop out.

Image

step 3 once out you need to pull the terminals out which i found came out fairly easy with a bit of heat and a pair of pliers.
then smash the bulb and pull all of it out of the holder with pliers.
then you can insert the new bulb with the wires coming out of the origenal holes, then push the connectors back into place (tech tip before putting the connectors back put a dap of solder on the bit where the wires are to be soldered to.) so you can solder the bulb wires to them, dont forget to test the bulb before assembling and for LEDs you have the correct polarity or you will be doing the job again.

Image
Image

step 4 reassemble the bulb back into the white plastic housing then use some glue (i used this stuff http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/loctite-all ... 04762-1000) to glue the white backing piece back to the black plastic piece.

this is what it looks like, its the closest ive found to the origenal spec without it being too bright and in your face.

Image


I dont mind project cars but I HATE SANDING!!!
mark1gls
Posts: 3954
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:28 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: Somerset

Re: center console lighting

Post by mark1gls »

Another great guide, I might give mine another go now, how did you remove the back from the panel?


Mk1 78 Scirocco GLS 1.6 FR, weekend toy.
Mk1 88 Golf GTi cabriolet 1.8 DX. Daily drive.
Membership No. 323
User avatar
james butler
Posts: 2965
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 1:54 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: birmingham

Re: center console lighting

Post by james butler »

i use watch makers screwdrivers to wedge it apart then a bigger screwdriver to actually lever it so it doesnt really leave a mark, plus it seems to come apart easiest if you start at the end where the blower control is.


I dont mind project cars but I HATE SANDING!!!
User avatar
whiteshark
Posts: 508
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:15 pm
fill in the right answer: 10
Location: Belfast

Re: center console lighting

Post by whiteshark »

An excellent guide, maybe mods could have a repair section and do stickies.


steve bain
Posts: 630
Joined: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:01 am

Re: center console lighting

Post by steve bain »

Blimey. That's a nightmare! I have a removal one. Just slides out and pop a new one in...


Image

My build thread:
viewtopic.php?f=19&t=14083
scirocco_ne
Posts: 189
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2018 11:00 pm
fill in the right answer: 15

Re: center console lighting

Post by scirocco_ne »

Roxylife wrote: Wed Dec 31, 2014 5:31 pm I just bought new bulbs and holders on eBay..?! Saves a lot of hassle!

I literally last night repaired my heater console and i ordered the pack of bulbs from ebay too... Not the same as the rest of the dash im afraid.

I ended up...Wiring a bulb from the Mrs dolls house into the panel until i get a new panel haha. I soldered onto the bulb and used the original tabs on the bulb end as pins to fit the standard plug.

Thanks
Mick


Post Reply