01 Cabrio Dim Dash Lights

[biggunn]

Any suggestions on how to brighten the dash lights on my daughters Cabrio. The adjustment knob works and I can turn them down (even off), but in the "maxed out "on" position the dash lights are still dim at night. Is there a way to brighten them? could something be burnt out or disconnected? I don't know where to start. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Thanks

[biggunn]

To be more specific it is just the dash lights around speedometer, fuel gauge, temp, etc...

[csrgti]

There's more than 1 bulb that lights the guage cluster,my guess would be that a few bulbs are not working.
You have to remove the cluster, while its out remove the bulbs than bench test them replace as needed.

[biggunn]

Thank you.. I saw on how to dismantle in the link you provided below. I will take a look at it and let you know what I find. I have never been into the instrument panel so was unsure how it was put together. Great info on your links by the way. Thanks again...

Garrett

[biggunn]

Wanted to post this picture from my Bentley Service Manual that I just got that shows the bulb locations and size.

[biggunn]

Ok got into the dash this weekend and it is clear that someone had been in there before I bought the car. Here is the light bar that is currently providing light to my Instrument Cluster. They are led's and kind of purple in color when lit.




And here is where it goes on top of the cluster. You can see where the two metal leads connect.


These are very dim and I need to change the light bar or modify it someway as just updating the bulbs like I had hoped to do is not an option. Any help would be appreciated.

[biggunn]

Refreshing this post as I haven't recieved any advice. Can I just buy a similiar light bar with more powerful LED's on it or do I have to do some modification. Just looking for ideas. There were no "light bulbs" as the bentley mentions.

[biggunn]

I could really use some help on this...

[MysticEmpires]

Hi just for info.

the mk3.5 cabrio has this light bar original. The older one MK3 (92-98) have only two bulbs (like your manuel). The Cabrio lightbar is mutch better than the bulbs (becurse better illumination). But if is to dark for you you need only brighter LED's (or is this SMD?).

Replace the 20 LED's with brighter one and all you Problems are away

Grettings
Alex

[biggunn]

Thanks Alex, What is SMD? How difficult is it to swap out the LED's. Is there a way to put power to the bar apart from the car supplied power so that I can make sure they are all lighting up and how bright they are? Thanks for your help.

[MysticEmpires]

This is SMD:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-mount_technology

And a LED in SMD construction is no so easy to solder. If you've never done this before so i would go to an electronics shop to do this. With the right tools and skills it is not so difficult.

Yes you need only a 12V battery and 2 wires. I think the metal leads is minus and the right one is plus. With wires on this i must lighting up.

btw. sry for my bad englisch ^^

*EDIT*

or you replace this with a Plug and Play-Set like here:

http://www.blauertacho.de/doc/vw/umb...golf_3_vr6.htm
(German Site)

Here is a German-ebay-Link to this PnP-Set:

www.ebay.de/itm/370636509176

Dont know if there is a similar set available in the USA.
Grettings
Alex