Changing Heater Module Colour

[Angryhatter]

I am using the guide found here: http://aygoclub.co.uk/aygo-how-to.php?How-...-to-glow-Blue-6 to change the colour of my heater unit to blue instead of orange. But i have run into some issues.

I managed to get to the unit easily enough, but when using the bulbs listed in the guide (2x 286 T5 LED Dashboard bulbs in Blue) the fuse for all the LEDs in the speedo, tac, and centre unit blows.

This being the first 7.5 fuse under the speedo cover going from top to bottom.

Does anyone know why this is happening despite the use of the same bulbs. Have checked voltage also, the old bulbs are 12V and the new ones are 12V.

Would it be possible to put less powerful bulbs in, if so does anyone know which as i have had little luck finding less powerful blue LEDs.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Chris

[Jimmy Grimble]

i have run into some issues.

I managed to get to the unit easily enough, but when using the bulbs listed in the guide (2x 286 T5 LED Dashboard Bulbs in Blue) the fuse for all the LEDs in the speedo, tac, and centre unit blows.

This being the first 7.5 fuse under the speedo cover going from top to bottom.

Does anyone know why this is happening despite the use of the same bulbs. Have checked voltage also, the old bulbs are 12V and the new ones are 12V.

Would it be possible to put less powerful bulbs in, if so does anyone know which as i have had little luck finding less powerful blue LEDs.

some led's might cause the car to think the bulb is faulty and try to force more power down the cable there for blowing the fuse? im not an expert and if im wrong im sure i will be told lol

[Jan van de Wouw]

Do the LED-bulbs have the wire-contacts wrap around the base of the wedge?

So there's two bits of metal on either side of the plastic. If this is the case

then that's your problem...

If not you might try reversing the LED. Sounds stupid, but some LEDs

have a protection inside that causes a short when installed in reverse...

[Angryhatter]

Do the LED-bulbs have the wire-contacts wrap around the base of the wedge?

So there's two bits of metal on either side of the plastic. If this is the case

then that's your problem...

If not you might try reversing the LED. Sounds stupid, but some LEDs

have a protection inside that causes a short when installed in reverse...

It does have wire on both sides, But I didn't think much of it due to it being the exact fitting code and voltage described, I will try and pick up some different ones that have a different fitting and see if this helps.

Will look around and post on here to check before i buy.

[Jan van de Wouw]

If both contacts have wires on both sides THAT's your problem...

The fitting/clip used in our cars is a bit strange, with each contact being half positive, half negative.

If you get bulbs with wire on one side (or snip off one side of the wire in some cases) you should be fine.

[Angryhatter]

If both contacts have wires on both sides THAT's your problem...

The fitting/clip used in our cars is a bit strange, with each contact being half positive, half negative.

If you get bulbs with wire on one side (or snip off one side of the wire in some cases) you should be fine.

Thanks, will try and pick up some different LEDs tomorrow.

[ravenwing93]

Sorry to dig up an old topic, however I too have followed the above and seem to have blown the fuses.

The bulbs I used are these: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_383637_langId_-1_categoryId_165688#dtab

Can you tell me whether these are suitable?

Cheers,

Tom

[Jan van de Wouw]

Did you read this post?

Do the LED-bulbs have the wire-contacts wrap around the base of the wedge?

So there's two bits of metal on either side of the plastic. If this is the case

then that's your problem...

If not you might try reversing the LED. Sounds stupid, but some LEDs

have a protection inside that causes a short when installed in reverse...

They look like the right size, but the pic doesn't show the contacts clear enough to be sure.

And their lens is "spot"-type, meaning you might get two bright spots on the white plastic.

You'd be better of with a couple of "concave" ones, wth flat or hollow tops...

[ravenwing93]

Thanks for your reply Jan :)

Don't suppose you have any links to ones that would be better?

[Jan van de Wouw]

These are of the type you want:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6-T5-CONCAVE-BLUE-LED-17-27-28-37-58-70-74-86-286-2721-/280726617086

They have one single wire per side and concave LED-heads.

You might need to trip the blue body a bit to make them fit properly though, like this:

On the left the original bulbe (from a different supplier), on the right a trimmed one.

The Positive lead needs to be facing the blower switch on both sides, so they face each other.