jmoller99
04-15-2010, 03:41 AM
I had a bulb out in my 2002 Frieghtliner vent console. To change it (once you have the module accessible), unplug both wire cable connectors to the unit.
To access the bulbs, you need to open the vent unit up. That is done by gently prying the 8 tabs (4 on the top, 4 on the bottom) open a little and sliding the top cover off a little at a time. When you have it off, you will see some clear plastic light guides, along with 2 light bulbs (sorry about the picture of that being out of focus). The bulbs are attached to a ceramic holder which mounts/turns on the circuit board, and then is pressed out the bottom of the printed circuit board (not easy to do, things are in the way). The bulb in the middle was bad on mine. I found a bulb that is the right size, but does not have the right base on it (my replacement bulb is a type 74 - these are used in my Jeep Cherokee for the same purpose).
On the red card: The bulb on the left is the original, the one on the right is the 74LL bulb.
I improvised a solder job (using a jewelry soldering iron - 700 degrees F, and soft silver solder), as my regular electronic soldering iron would not get hot enough to stick solder to the metal parts of the ceramic holder.
These special plastic bulb holders need to be used because they connect copper traces on both sides of the circuit board together (and if you don't use it, the lights don't work at all).
Any ideas where to find the right tiny bulb for this? I'd rather use the right part if possible (or replace with ultra bright LEDs).
To access the bulbs, you need to open the vent unit up. That is done by gently prying the 8 tabs (4 on the top, 4 on the bottom) open a little and sliding the top cover off a little at a time. When you have it off, you will see some clear plastic light guides, along with 2 light bulbs (sorry about the picture of that being out of focus). The bulbs are attached to a ceramic holder which mounts/turns on the circuit board, and then is pressed out the bottom of the printed circuit board (not easy to do, things are in the way). The bulb in the middle was bad on mine. I found a bulb that is the right size, but does not have the right base on it (my replacement bulb is a type 74 - these are used in my Jeep Cherokee for the same purpose).
On the red card: The bulb on the left is the original, the one on the right is the 74LL bulb.
I improvised a solder job (using a jewelry soldering iron - 700 degrees F, and soft silver solder), as my regular electronic soldering iron would not get hot enough to stick solder to the metal parts of the ceramic holder.
These special plastic bulb holders need to be used because they connect copper traces on both sides of the circuit board together (and if you don't use it, the lights don't work at all).
Any ideas where to find the right tiny bulb for this? I'd rather use the right part if possible (or replace with ultra bright LEDs).