Date:         Sun, 1 Jan 2012 13:01:51 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Stevens <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Vanagon Instrument Pod Lights Out
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

I just did a cursory search at our site and didn't find this specific problem mentioned.

I am replacing the OE dash pod lights with LED's. The center light was the only one
not working when I started (idiot light section), and now that works great with the LED
in it. The OE bulb looked OK, but it is the only bulb that does not work anywhere in
the dash cluster.

The tach and speedo lights were working fine. I removed the R one, and put the LED in
and it wouldn't work. I put the OE light back in and it doesn't work.

The L light was working, I removed it to put the LED in and it didn't work. I put the OE
light back in and it doesn't work.

After this, I cleaned the foil contact areas with alcohol, and very lightly scraped the
contact points with a blade. I could see that that "lightened and brightened" the foil
contact point a little. These points look to be in real good shape. The whole foil looks
very good, in fact.

I tested both those foils for current and they indicate there is none. That center light
over the idiot light section is working fine. I tested the light bulbs, and LED's in the
center section socket and they all work there. So the "problem" is isolated to the
speedo and tach light foils, but I've no clue why those 2 don't work, yet the
center section does. Of the part of the foil I can see, there does not appear to
be any burned/interrupted sections.

All 3 lights up there were working prior to my attempt to put the LED's in.

By the way, the white light that the LED puts out makes those gauges so much
more readable than with the comparatively yellow OE light. I'm going to change
the bulbs in the aftermarket VDO's that are mounted over the ash tray.

Thanks for any …..

Bob