FAQ: Interior Lighting Questions (Dash/Guage Color)

THANX FOR THE WARNING

if you don't want to go that way I have some of the originals, I think I have 5 or 6 of them.

OK I NEED 2 HERE`S MY EMAIL SO WE CAN WORK OUT THE DETAIL RAYP112568@YAHOO.COM

12v LEDs work safely and they will last practically forever. I used some for that spot and also the interior door handles. They work pretty good but the light is more pointy than the original incandescent lamps, of course.

Here's how I did mine.

turtleman wrote:

12v LEDs work safely and they will last practically forever. I used some for that spot and also the interior door handles. They work pretty good but the light is more pointy than the original incandescent lamps, of course.

Here's how I did mine.

I wonder if the LED lenses could be polished flatter to spread that light out.

Any thoughts anyone?

I used leds in my Pete to shine on the cup holder and it is very directional, if you don't have it pointed right to the spot you want if doesn't help much.

I SEEN YOUR PICTURE & THEY SEEM TO BE VERY BRIGHT THOSE LIGHT STAY ON AS LONG YOUR HEADLIGHTS ARE ON I WANT THE ORIGINAL LIGHT

BLACK SHADOW I NEED THOSE LIGHT

turtleman wrote:

12v LEDs work safely and they will last practically forever. I used some for that spot and also the interior door handles. They work pretty good but the light is more pointy than the original incandescent lamps, of course.

Here's how I did mine.

I purchased very small LED lights from radio shack and mated them to the stock green housing that sits within the door handle. The result is a brighter light than stock but not so much that it's noticeable. If I were to do it again, I'd try to go with something brighter just for the fun of it. I'd also like to brighten up the lights that shine onto the arm rests... There's no reason why those shouldn't be much brighter.

I had some out of the 95 when I got it so I went on a salvage yard search and destroy mission and I bought every one that I could find.

When Is The Door Handle Light Suppose To Come On With The Headlight Or What

I believe its with the dash lights, when the twilight sensor senses that it is too dark outside and illuminates the interior running lights.

That's what I would assume is that it comes on with the dash lights. Guess you could try turning on the lights manually from the dash switch to see what it does. Maybe you have a bad bulb.

The bulbs in the doors seem to go bad really quick. My guess is if it isn't going on, it's probably burnt out. If I were you, I'd just use the housings from the stock bulbs and put radioshack LEDs in there. Brighter bulb and it will last much longer.

DEMonte1997 wrote:

The bulbs in the doors seem to go bad really quick. My guess is if it isn't going on, it's probably burnt out. If I were you, I'd just use the housings from the stock bulbs and put radioshack LEDs in there. Brighter bulb and it will last much longer.

The lights on the dimming circuit for the instument panel include 2 in each door (remote lever and door pull), ashtray light, instrument panel lights of course, and a number of lights in the radio and HVAC head.

Here's something that may not have occurred to you. One problem is that as these lights burn out, the remaining lights then "see" more power (voltage) on that circuit and dissipate more current. As a result, they burn out faster.

How to avoid headaches in this case?

Replace the bulbs as soon as you can when they burn out, and in areas that are a pain to deal with (radio, HVAC head) it is usually best to replace them all at once when you have the thing apart. My rule of thumb for the radio and HVAC - if 15-20% of the bulbs are out, the whole thing comes out for relamping.

Right this minute I ahve one lamp in drivers door and one in the radio that need replaced.

albertj wrote:

if 15-20% of the bulbs are out, the whole thing comes out for relamping.

Great advice BTW - I pulled my entire taillight housing out for two bulbs and replaced them all while it was out.. haven't had a bulb out back there since.

i have a 1995 riv with 79000km,driver door blue glow light don t light up,bulbs are not burnt(test them already), passenger side works,is there a fuse for each side!!!!took the door panel off everything is intact,where do you start to look, Thanks

spinner421 wrote:

i have a 1995 riv with 79000km,driver door blue glow light don t light up,bulbs are not burnt(test them already), passenger side works,is there a fuse for each side!!!!took the door panel off everything is intact,where do you start to look, Thanks

check the wiring where it passes thru the door jamb.

those blue light in door only work in passenger side ,bulbs are ok ,not sure where to look for ,is there a commen fault to look for, maybe a bad ground .

spinner421 wrote:

those blue light in door only work in passenger side ,bulbs are ok ,not sure where to look for ,is there a commen fault to look for, maybe a bad ground .

Q: Is there a common fault to look for?

A: No.

Inspect the wiring inside the door, and then check the wiring where it passes thru the door jamb. Sometimes wired break inside the insulation and sometimes they chafe and scrapr off the insulation, and short out. Most likely you have a break in the wire in the pigtail of the little light bulb and when you test it the break is pushed together and tests OK.

I will give you a hint though: no matter how many times you ask this question, nothing will change until you get back inside the door and do the necessary troubleshooting.

wait. for clarification....

can both the upper and lower door handle bulbs simply be replaced with this;

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103780

??

LaFlare wrote:

wait. for clarification....

can both the upper and lower door handle bulbs simply be replaced with this;

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103780

??

Yes they can.

looking for the wire with the little bulb on the end that illuminates the door handle on the inside of car one on the door pull as well

The Bonneville's dashboard just caught my eye. Not only does their speedometer hit 140, but they have a built in boost gauge, and the console wraps for a cockpit feeling. Is there any chance that this could be made to fit a Riv?

The Bonnevilles are pretty nice in my opinion.