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Re: Replace Dash Lights with LEDs 1987 Saab 900 Turbo 2 Saabers Like This Post! Posted by eric in vermont [Email] (#2058) [Profile/Gallery] (more from eric in vermont) on Wed, 12 Jul 2023 07:13:49 In Reply to: Re: Replace Dash Lights with LEDs 1987 Saab 900 Turbo, Notnoel [Profile/Gallery] , Wed, 5 Jul 2023 14:29:38 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Funny story...
After seeing this post, I thought "oh yes, I need to replace the dash lights in my '93 convertible- they're non-existent"
So I ordered some blue ones off the Amazon machine- 10 for $11 or something like that. They arrived in cow-town Vermont where I live and I couldn't wait to install them. Such an easy task and rewarding task this will be!
I popped out the speaker and saw the two larger bulb fixtures near the top of the gauge cluster. Given I had the top down, it was pretty easy to twist them out and replace the bulbs with the LEDs. I turned on the lights and only the right one lit up. Rats.
So I replaced the left one with another LED from the pack and twisted it in. "Man", I thought, "I hope I don't drop the fixture down into the bowels of the dash."
Second LED didn't fire. Serves me right- cheap Amazon LEDs.
So I pulled it out and immediately dropped the fixture with the LED down into the bowels of the dash.
You knew that was coming.
I spent at least an hour trying to FIND the fixture. Finally with the help of a mirror, I saw it. I was thinking "just get on eBay and order up a replacement fixture." I had seen them there previously.
But no, I wasn't gonna give up. Then another hour to fish it out with all kinds of claws and magnets and things taped together. And of course it was 90 plus degrees and very humid.
By the time I got it out, the car and I were both soaked with sweat. The hood, the windshield, and the dash were all covered in slime by the time I got it out.
Turned out, the LEDs were all good. The dash cluster circuit card copper connection had peeled up where the light fixture was supposed to make contact.
Another hour and another bucket of sweat getting it laid down so it would make contact, using picks and probes taped to a paint stirring stick.
Finally, success! Both lights! And WOW! What an improvement! I love seeing my gauges at night, all bathed in nice blue light!
The week before I pulled the drivetrain and replaced a noisy gearbox in my '71 96 in LESS time than this.
Go figure...
eric in vermont
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