How To: Defrost switch breakdown (for bulb replacement)
How To: Defrost switch breakdown (for bulb replacement)
After doing some research, I have yet to find someone who has disassembled the rear window defrost switch assembly to determine what kind of bulb it takes. I decided to tackle it and solve the apparent mystery. Here's how it comes apart and what I've found:
Step 1: Remove Defrost/12V ACC/cubby assembly (below HVAC panel).
Step 2: Use two flat head screwdrivers to unclip the switch assembly from the body of the cubby assembly.
Step 3: Again, use the screwdrivers to separate the two halves of the defrost switch assembly.
You will end up with the two halves of the switch case, and the printed circuit board that they house.
This picture shows the bulb; (blue cap is the cover that gives it it's color/tint). The cover can be removed with a good twist/pull motion, exposing the head of the bulb.
So it looks like the bulb is a wedge type, very similar to those used in the HVAC panel. The only difference is the overall length, which is much taller than a standard wedge bulb. I test fitted a stock wedge and it fit with a little massaging. Trimming the pads on the wedge should make for near perfect fitment. Time to hit up SBL for an LED replacement! Hope this helps those of you who have done the LED swap but haven't figured out the defrost portion. Might also help if you have any other issues with the defrost circuit
Step 1: Remove Defrost/12V ACC/cubby assembly (below HVAC panel).
Step 2: Use two flat head screwdrivers to unclip the switch assembly from the body of the cubby assembly.
Step 3: Again, use the screwdrivers to separate the two halves of the defrost switch assembly.
You will end up with the two halves of the switch case, and the printed circuit board that they house.
This picture shows the bulb; (blue cap is the cover that gives it it's color/tint). The cover can be removed with a good twist/pull motion, exposing the head of the bulb.
So it looks like the bulb is a wedge type, very similar to those used in the HVAC panel. The only difference is the overall length, which is much taller than a standard wedge bulb. I test fitted a stock wedge and it fit with a little massaging. Trimming the pads on the wedge should make for near perfect fitment. Time to hit up SBL for an LED replacement! Hope this helps those of you who have done the LED swap but haven't figured out the defrost portion. Might also help if you have any other issues with the defrost circuit
-Derek
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i think he was just showing what it looked like a little.. and craftsman FTW!!
2003 neon se crashed
1998 neon highline Sold
2005 neon sxtSold
2017 Volkswagen CC Rline Exec. 2.0t
"Sorry you are so scared of a possible mechanical problem that you will drive an ugly transportation appliance. I'll keep living a colorful life." -some guy about a camry
if you dont have to remove the switch to change the bulb what do you do then?
also what bulb size is it?
im planing on doing ultra white leds in my HVAC and Culster to give it that blue glow to it
also what bulb size is it?
im planing on doing ultra white leds in my HVAC and Culster to give it that blue glow to it
Quotes to live by
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
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The bulb is not a wedge, at least it wasn't in mine. It has two long leads, that wrap around the base to make contact. Unless the newer ones have a different base.
Edit:
The replacement bulb is not the brightest. I cannot find the bulb in the oem parts either, so if the newer base is different, then I may have to scour the JY for an upgrade. My base looks the same, externally tho.
Edit:
The replacement bulb is not the brightest. I cannot find the bulb in the oem parts either, so if the newer base is different, then I may have to scour the JY for an upgrade. My base looks the same, externally tho.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
It can indeed be removed without disassembly. I just wanted to check out the circuit board and figure out how it all came apart. I had to use 4mm LEDs for my HVAC BTW. There seem to be several lighting differences from trim and year to year.
Bill - Correct me if I'm wrong, but that second picture shows a wedge bulb. Way different from the first pic. Guess they must have changed the design for the newer cars.
Oh also, does anyone know what LED replaces the #74 in the cupholder lamp?
Bill - Correct me if I'm wrong, but that second picture shows a wedge bulb. Way different from the first pic. Guess they must have changed the design for the newer cars.
Oh also, does anyone know what LED replaces the #74 in the cupholder lamp?
-Derek
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OB wrote:Oh also, does anyone know what LED replaces the #74 in the cupholder lamp?
They have multiple bulb widths depending on how much space you have to work with.autolumination wrote:T5mm base to fit standard #74 or #37 sockets
If I could just figure out how to meld the Outback and the Neon into one car...
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OB wrote:Bill - Correct me if I'm wrong, but that second picture shows a wedge bulb. Way different from the first pic. Guess they must have changed the design for the newer cars.
The second pic is the bulb installed into the base. The base has two small holes the wires need to be threaded into. They then wrap around the bottom twist lock to make contact with the board. I couldn't get a close enough shot of the wires.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
Ahh. So you just replaced the actual bulb in the wedge base then?
-Derek
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In the part that screws onto the board, if that's what you mean. By the "base" I mean the gray stand that the light fits into. Mine has no contacts other than the wires coming from the bulb. I had to strip the insulation off of the RS unit to make it work. So does yours have the standard wedge socket inside the gray stand/extension w/e you want to call it?
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
I assumed the gray base was what made it a 'wedge'... Based on the way it fits on the printed board with the twist. AFAIK all bulbs of that type have the bulb with the leads coming out of them, and they wrap around the base for contact. Some are soldered, like on the newer models. Some LED companies make just the drop in bulb complete with base, while others sell the inner actual bulb part with the leads. I've seen both.
-Derek
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Ha! So you didn't remove it. It is teh Suck! Even the RS one was a little big for it, but I made it work. An LED would prolly be better, as the wires for the bulb were stranded. A 3mm would prolly be best.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
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That may just be it. Judging from my pic above, a dime is 18mm, so the very bottom of the base looks about right, and the 19mm length looks very close to the dime's diameter.
Me thinks you haz a winner!
Me thinks you haz a winner!
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
the problem with that led is: the angle is wrong.
Sure it is the same as in the stock bulb.
but the stock bulb has a very wide lighting angle (almost all-round) on the contrary the led lights up punctual.
So with shown led you will very nice light up the housing but not the defroster sign.
So you have to bend the led at the top end 90° that it shines directly to the defroster symbol.
Unfortunately i cannot remove the defroster switch in my car (that screen comes really not off that easy) but here is my way:
- find out + and -
- remove the bulb
- cut the wedge socket in 2 pieces (remove the long grey "tube")
- stick the resistor through one hole into the wedge base (from the bulb side!
- bend the resistor wire like the bulb wire was before
- stick one of the LED pins through the other hole and bend it also
- LED lengt should be here the same as the bulb used to be!!!
- solder other side of resitor to other pin from the LED
- testfit (especially for polarisation)
- bend the LED 90° that it looks directly to the front of the switch
- test if you have any shadows left in the defroster symbol.
if: correct the led.
Sure it is the same as in the stock bulb.
but the stock bulb has a very wide lighting angle (almost all-round) on the contrary the led lights up punctual.
So with shown led you will very nice light up the housing but not the defroster sign.
So you have to bend the led at the top end 90° that it shines directly to the defroster symbol.
Unfortunately i cannot remove the defroster switch in my car (that screen comes really not off that easy) but here is my way:
- find out + and -
- remove the bulb
- cut the wedge socket in 2 pieces (remove the long grey "tube")
- stick the resistor through one hole into the wedge base (from the bulb side!
- bend the resistor wire like the bulb wire was before
- stick one of the LED pins through the other hole and bend it also
- LED lengt should be here the same as the bulb used to be!!!
- solder other side of resitor to other pin from the LED
- testfit (especially for polarisation)
- bend the LED 90° that it looks directly to the front of the switch
- test if you have any shadows left in the defroster symbol.
if: correct the led.
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The LED the Dante has shown is an inverted style, so it throws the light out the sides also. It is plug and play.
I imagine it is also rated for 12v, as there is no way to install a resistor in the oem light adapter. You can see in the Autolumenation pic how the leads from the LED wrap around the base flange to make the contact.
Edit: Like Wiggy said the normal one will work, it really doesn't take a lot of light. Unless you like very brightly lit stuff, it would be just fine.
I imagine it is also rated for 12v, as there is no way to install a resistor in the oem light adapter. You can see in the Autolumenation pic how the leads from the LED wrap around the base flange to make the contact.
Edit: Like Wiggy said the normal one will work, it really doesn't take a lot of light. Unless you like very brightly lit stuff, it would be just fine.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
Yeah if you look into the housing, there is a mirror in there to reflect the light to the button. It's the only way it will work based on the way the board is setup in relation to the switch.
-Derek
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Ok, so it looks like the NEO4 LED from SBL is the correct replacement size for the defrost bulb. I ordered the NEO3 and it was way too small. The NEO4 base is dead-on the same as the stock bulb.
Also looks like I'm going to need a resistor for the Cupholder lamp LED I ordered; it pops 20A fuses like they're going out of style.
Also looks like I'm going to need a resistor for the Cupholder lamp LED I ordered; it pops 20A fuses like they're going out of style.
-Derek
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i just took apart my defrost switch and removed the blue cover. now ii will not light up, but everything else works. im stumped.
i tried messing with the contacts and switchign the bulb base back and forth. still noting.
i could use anyones insight to help fix this problem.
Thanks
Ray
i tried messing with the contacts and switchign the bulb base back and forth. still noting.
i could use anyones insight to help fix this problem.
Thanks
Ray
Quotes to live by
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
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Possibly the wire going into the bulb broke, when you pulled off the cover?
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
maybe its the wire in the tube im guessing.
going to the Junk Yard tomorrow, so i will pick up a new one and cut the cover off not pull it off this time.
going to the Junk Yard tomorrow, so i will pick up a new one and cut the cover off not pull it off this time.
Quotes to live by
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
The bulb may be polarized, if that's the case flip it around and try it. That's how a lot of LEDs are, including the one I used to replace my defrost switch bulb
-Derek
|Donate to 2gn|Feedback || OB's | GozziFab | All Business |
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well its the stock bulb and have tried the flipping, and still not working.
did look into an led repacment at radio shack but its like 5 bucks for one led. way to much for me right now. but well see later on.
did look into an led repacment at radio shack but its like 5 bucks for one led. way to much for me right now. but well see later on.
Quotes to live by
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda
"Try again, fail again. Fail better." Samuel Beckett
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you will see." Winston Churchill
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." Albert Einstein
"Try not. Do or do not." Yoda