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GRU54



Member Since: 03 Oct 2021
Location: Nashville
Posts: 26

United States 1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Coniston Green
dim light instrument panel
Can anyone help with what LED bulb to use to upgrade the dim light with the instrument cluster?
Post #925373 12th Oct 2021 4:39am
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
If you want to retain the green backlit look, I just replaced mine with these (including all the hazard cluster) and they’re excellent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281844489521 Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold
Post #925375 12th Oct 2021 4:58am
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GRU54



Member Since: 03 Oct 2021
Location: Nashville
Posts: 26

United States 1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Coniston Green
thanks I looked at them, If i only want that one for the instruments will he sell one only?
Thanks again!
Post #925576 14th Oct 2021 12:24am
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Mossberg



Member Since: 29 Feb 2020
Location: Lancs
Posts: 552

United Kingdom 1993 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Aintree Green
Ihod wrote:
If you want to retain the green backlit look, I just replaced mine with these (including all the hazard cluster) and they’re excellent:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281844489521


Hi Ian - did you find this an easy job or is it a pain/difficult to do? Are there any tutorials or instructions you could provide a link to as I really fancy this upgrade.

Are you pleased with the results and do you feel it makes a difference and is worth doing?
Post #925581 14th Oct 2021 3:42am
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
The link was their eBay store but they are now online at www.embertonimperial.com and a quick email will get them sent out as singles.

Super easy job:

2 LEDs in the speedo
1 in each of the temp and fuel gauges
1 in the clock (different type of LED in a bulb holder )

All push fit - just be wary of the polarity so turn the ignition to position one and put the headlights on to check they light up and, if they don't, remove, rotate 180 degrees and put back.

Even with my hands I managed to change them without disconnecting anything other than removing the four screws that secure the dash binnacle (but you can remove the lot by disconnecting the speedo cable and loom connectors).

For the hazard block, undo the two visible screws on the front of the panel, lift out and remove the two ribbon connectors on the back.

If it was like mine, a bit brittle and fragile but the bulb holders are twist out and bulbs are just a push fit (polarity applies with these LEDS, also) so just take your time.

One point to note if you have trailer electrics, the LEDS draw little or no current so the trailer indicator may not light (or may stay lit very dim) so either leave the incandescent bulb in this fitting or replace the indicator relay with the variable type (for external LED bulbs).

I'd say under an hour even if you take your time and the difference is night and day.

I would post photos but just dropped the van off this morning for a soft-top conversion so will do that when its back. Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold
Post #925608 14th Oct 2021 10:44am
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GRU54



Member Since: 03 Oct 2021
Location: Nashville
Posts: 26

United States 1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Coniston Green
Thanks,
I just got the speedo bulb pulled out, it looks so small compared to the LED's in the ebay pics, (does that guy just have them so enlarged they look that much bigger?) its hard to understand how those will even fit back in that are you have to insert them into the guages......
thanks again
Post #925654 14th Oct 2021 4:41pm
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
Hopefully this helps:


Click image to enlarge


Coin and tape measure for scale; from left to right:

- LED for speedo, temp and fuel
- the incandescent bulb it replaces
- LED for hazard/warning light cluster
- the incandescent bulb it replaces
- LED for clock

It’s fair to say the only one that looks remotely similar to it’s replacement is for the clock but the LEDs really do seat down into the holders - just make sure they are right in - and there is more than enough room within the gauge housings and warning light cluster for them to fit.

I. Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold
Post #925658 14th Oct 2021 4:55pm
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GRU54



Member Since: 03 Oct 2021
Location: Nashville
Posts: 26

United States 1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Coniston Green
Yes that helps a lot, I want to get 3 of them seems the total is 43.32 ( 14.44 each) Paypal doesnt convert to U.S. dollar. Is this amount in british pound, euro, etc ? I really would like to know U.S. dollar what Iam paying per bulb. appreciate your help! Gary
Post #925719 15th Oct 2021 4:44am
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
That's seems super expensive and you must be able to get them locally in the US (Amazon or Rovers North, maybe?).

What you are looking for is (I hope this is correct):

The LED equivalent of a 194, 168, 501 or W5W wedge bulb (they should all be compatible) for the speedo, temp and fuel (you need 4)

The LED equivalent of 286 wedge bulb a for the hazard/warning cluster (you need as many as there are light in use - not all of mine were wired in).

And the LED equivalent of a 281 or BA7S 'peanut' bulb for the clock (you need 1). Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold
Post #925727 15th Oct 2021 7:25am
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GRU54



Member Since: 03 Oct 2021
Location: Nashville
Posts: 26

United States 1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Coniston Green

Click image to enlarge

Right now Iam just trying to get the 3 bulbs for the speedo and to its left. Mine actually doesnt have a clock I wish it did but dont know where it would go. I have a blank spot to the left on the other pic. Not sure what goes there. Do you have a clock? or another guage in that spot? Could you send a pic?
Ill get 3 pks of LEDs tomorrow from amazon Greens and white. Ill let you know if any of these work.

Thanks

Click image to enlarge
Post #925888 15th Oct 2021 11:01pm
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balmybaldwin



Member Since: 17 Apr 2021
Location: Surrey
Posts: 173

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Buckingham Blue
Any reason these wouldn't fit a td5 dash?
Post #927440 27th Oct 2021 8:41pm
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jeffersj



Member Since: 23 Jan 2015
Location: Near Preston
Posts: 431

United Kingdom 1996 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Bronze Green
The clock fits into that space on the left of the other gauges. They do come up on ebay, not sure of he exact size. Jeff
Ex 1968 Series 2A
Ex 90 TD5
Ex D3
Ex D4
Post #927506 28th Oct 2021 8:20am
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Ihod



Member Since: 07 Nov 2015
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 165

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Rioja Red
VDO gauge/clock.

52mm.

The part number for the analogue clock is AMR3443. Ian

MY1998 300Tdi 90 Hard Top (Now Soft Top)
MY2015 110 XS SW - Sold
MY2008 110 County USW - Sold
MY1962 Series IIa Truck Cab - Sold
MY1994 300Tdi 90 Hard Top - Sold
MY2001 TD5 90 Truck Cab - Sold
Post #927507 28th Oct 2021 8:22am
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GRU54



Member Since: 03 Oct 2021
Location: Nashville
Posts: 26

United States 1994 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Coniston Green
Thanks so much
Post #929011 8th Nov 2021 6:38am
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