The LED question

480s partner · Post by **480s partner** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:47 pm

I have been comparing the german owners manual from 86 and the english owners manual from 89 available on the download page.

Ok, I don't understand german but some words are plain obvious (led) and the following caught my attention:

'89 english manual - specificatons and electrical components - bulbs
Note that it specifies 11 leds total: keyhole light (1), heater control panel (VEM I guess, so add 8 ) and seat belt lock lights (front ones, add 2 more).

'86 german manual - on the same chapter and on the same list it specifies 14 leds total!?

Babelfish translation didn't help much... Anyone here speaks german?

What are the reasons for that difference? If this is not a bug from the printing, then where those other 3 leds belong to?

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:26 pm

Other bulbs that I've replaced, which are the same as those tiny bulbs are:

Clock
Hazzard Light Switch
Heated Seat dash - (probably one in each of the heated seat swiches too)
Pop-up light switch
Fan control switch (although this is a different soldered bulb)

- EDIT - Just realised they're all listed under "Illuminated Switches". Sorry!

Van · Post by **Van** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:06 pm

I think the difference in the number LED's may be with or without airconditioning because that has three buttons/LED's.

The Germans name the seat belt lock lights together with the instrument panel switches lights.

On my car I never noticed a seat belt lock light other then the warning light in the dashboard for not wearing seat belts.

I doubt they are LED's.

Me think it's an error, or the seat belt lock lights have been changed from bulb to LED.

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:58 pm

The illuminated seatbelts are only fitted to earlier 480's. The later 480's (those with CEM III - after '92, I think) don't have illuminated seatbelt lights. They have other 'features' to replace them though, such as the window/sunroof closure when you hold the key in the lock position.

Ben.

Van · Post by **Van** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:24 pm

I've had an '86 ES but can't remember seat belt lock lights. It did have the grips with lights at the roof though.

I love the window_closure_with_the_key function of my car.

muddyfox470 · Post by **muddyfox470** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 5:52 pm

cheers for this will add this to the list of things to do, i need my ignition light amongst others

480s partner · Post by **480s partner** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 6:46 pm

Van wrote:I think the difference in the number LED's may be with or without airconditioning because that has three buttons/LED's.

The catch is the '86 model is depicted without air-con but has only 2 buttons less. This does not make sense. However, the following picture is also very interesting (pay close attention to the right):

Could the leds be the ones on the switch?

Iroll480 · Post by **Iroll480** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:06 pm

Could the leds be the ones on the switch?

Nope, these switches aren't illuminated. In the digital clock there's only one 1,2W bulb, and that's for the clock itself.

I've had an '86 ES but can't remember seat belt lock lights. It did have the grips with lights at the roof though.

My '93S does have those reading lights for the backpassengers. A former owner must have installed them. I just recently found out after 10 months of ownership that those lights aren't original and that the're pretty special

DaKyy · Post by **DaKyy** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 9:15 pm

My seatbelts had illuminated buttons on the -87 seats. When I got the TT seats they didn't have them...

David · Post by **David** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:02 pm

Illuminated seatbelts?! sounds pretty neat!
Any way of having them fitted instead of standard ones I wonder...
Why did they get rid of them?!

esta · Post by **esta** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:51 pm

Whilst on the subject of LEDS...

Are the pop up lights and fog switches meant to light up? I have always noticed that they are a clear green giving the impression of possible illumination...

And what other ones are meant to also light up?

I guess many have blown over the years, and since they arent ones most people would miss they have never beeen changed?

And also are they the same as whats in the dash...

480 Tatey · Post by **480 Tatey** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:04 pm

I dont think the pop up wheel thingy glows well mine never has anyway, but the fog lights and heated screen cluster do light up, well sometimes on my 480!

esta · Post by **esta** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:32 pm

Lol well in that case maybe the bulbs not gone, its just another electrical fault!

Van · Post by **Van** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:10 pm

Yes there's a little bulb in the headlight wheel left from the steering wheel. I know it pretty well because it worked well but with my last dashboard manipulations the contact broke off

I don't know about the fog switches, have to check that.

surrealjam · Post by **surrealjam** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 3:41 pm

Can someone who knows all the lights on their interior/dash are working post a night-time photo? This would aid people in knowing what SHOULD be lit! I think this is often the problem with these things..

glasgowjim · Post by **glasgowjim** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:10 pm

Esta , the popup circular switch does light up , there is a small perspex light pipe which transmits light up to the switch so that the selected option is lit. When you remove the switch barell there is a little pea bulb which pushes into the holder not a twist in holder as you have in your hand.

regards jim.

esta · Post by **esta** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:13 pm

glasgowjim wrote:Esta , the popup circular switch does light up , there is a small perspex light pipe which transmits light up to the switch so that the selected option is lit. When you remove the switch barell there is a little pea bulb which pushes into the holder not a twist in holder as you have in your hand.

regards jim.

Ah thank u very much!! I will have gander-any ideas whichbulbs i should be looking for which areas?

480s partner · Post by **480s partner** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:39 pm

surrealjam wrote:Can someone who knows all the lights on their interior/dash are working post a night-time photo? This would aid people in knowing what SHOULD be lit! I think this is often the problem with these things..

Maybe I have too many lights, but this should help:

esta · Post by **esta** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:23 pm

Wow well this is an eye opener-the buttons on the air vent speed light up?!?!

wow!!!! must get some bulbs together!!

480s partner · Post by **480s partner** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:34 pm

esta wrote:buttons on the air vent speed light up?!?! wow!!!! must get some bulbs together!!

I custom made it, but the standard one has a bulb soldered on a small case on the back, so that the white slits turn green when lit.