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License plate lights

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:05 am
by ColonelPanic
I did a quick search but couldn't find what I was looking for... Anyone know the bulb type for the two license plate lights on the hatch? When I consulted Mr. Owner's Manual for advice, he tells me nothing...... Figured I'd ask before tearing things apart back there. lolI'm hoping they are something such as a 194, 168, or the like.... I have a plan. TIA for any input!

Re: License plate lights (ColonelPanic)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:10 am
by nismo
Hey there. I didn't know what year yours was, but I assumed it was an 03. So, here's the link to the Sylvania site and if the link doesn't work. Here's the bulb that fits. Bulb # 168http://www.sylvania.com/Consum...s.htmInder Singh

Re: License plate lights (TRD4reel)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:25 am
by ColonelPanic
Sweet! Thanks for the quick reply man! Figured they would be either 194's or 168's, that was pretty common for license plate lights on my old GM stuff. No problems with the license plate lights, but the LED bug has bitten me. Just ordered some blue LED thingies for under the dash this morning. I've seen some white LED license plate lights on tractor-trailers here recently... Really like the look. So, I'm considering replacing the two incandescents with some white LED bulbs... Not really sure why, but anyway... Found some LED replacements for the 194/168 bulbs, in a variety of colors... Pretty cheap, so I may take a chance. Not sure if I'll have problems with using them though. I have used similar LED bulbs in the past on my last car, they worked out pretty well but you never know..They are here, scroll down towards the bottom to get to the wedge-base types.http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm

Re: License plate lights (ColonelPanic)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:34 am
by nismo
Nice Inder Singh

Re: License plate lights (ColonelPanic)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:07 am
by joatmon
ragingfish has a list of all exterior light bulbs at http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=6871it's even "recommended reading"

Re: License plate lights (TRD4reel)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:11 am
by ColonelPanic
Bought 'em. Got two different types... I wasn't certain if I would be dealing with any space limitations, so I bought one pair which has 4 LED's each, and another with only one. I guess I'll see how they work, or don't in a few days. All four were $13 after shipping, so not that big of a loss if they don't.Thanks again for the link to the Sylvania utility - pretty nifty.

Re: License plate lights (joatmon)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:13 am
by ColonelPanic
Nice! Thanks for that too, joatmon. Is there one for the interior lamps? I was looking around for the number for the map light but never found anything other than the GM part number...So much good stuff hiding around here.

Re: License plate lights (ColonelPanic)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 10:43 am
by joatmon
I haven't seen an interior bulb list either, and could only find the GM part number too.

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 3:22 pm
by ragingfish
Those are intriguing...I look forward to seeing the results...I'd love to change my LP lights to pure white to match my HIDs...P.S. - Working on an interior bulb guide now. Would someone WITHOUT a moonroof be willing to volunteer opening their mirror to get me the bulb number for those map lights?

Re: (ragingfish)

Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 9:23 pm
by ColonelPanic
That'll come in handy. I think we'll just need the map and dome light numbers, I doubt we can replace anything else inside. lol That place I bought my lights through also carries some LED's that look like they *may* fit for the dome and/or map lights. I had considered picking one up but I was too lazy to go out to the car and pop out a bulb to see what it was.

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 2:28 am
by ragingfish
Well. I can tell you that the standalone map light (with a moonroof) uses an 1895 bulb. The center dome and rear cargo lights use a festoon style bulb which is 31mm x 10mm, 12V, 8W.The only one left for me to nab is the bulbs used in the dual map lights you get when you don't order a moonroof. I need someone else to pull theirs out and let me know...

Re: (ragingfish)

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2004 4:28 am
by ColonelPanic
I bet the mirror map lights are similar to what we have for the dome lights. Either that, or 211-2 like I've had on previous cars with mirror-mounted map lights.I thought for sure the map light near the moonroof control was going to be similar to the dome lights - I was really surprised to see the old-school 1895 style when I checked mine this morning. So much for getting an LED in there! I took out one of my license plate lights today to see what I was up against for the LED thing... (on a side note, those are hell to remove!) Looks like I'll have plenty of room, and as long as the bulbs will snap into the socket I may be ok. My only concern is how the bulbs mount horizontally into the light assembly. Since LED's cast their light in such a narrow angle, that may give me a bit of trouble. I don't think the 4-LED type that I bought will work out so well. OTOH, the other type I bought has only one LED but has a lens that hopefully will distribute the light more evenly. I think that one may work...Will definitely keep everyone posted on the outcome......

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Re: (ColonelPanic)

Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:28 am
by ColonelPanic
Came home today, and the mailman left me lots of goodies... Including my LED's for the license plate lights. I decided to decline on a bit of sleep that I need tonight and went out to install them.The end result... Uhhh.... Yeah. The 1-LED model shines light much more evenly, but it obviously isn't as bright as the 4-LED one. Both types, unfortunately are a tad dim. Kinda have a purplish hue to them, which looks pretty neat. I'll see what it looks like in the morning... Definitely doesn't light things up back there as much as the incandescents do.

Re: (ragingfish)

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:17 am
by joatmon
The bulbs in the lighted mirror (rear view mirror with integral dual map lights) are #192

Re: (joatmon)

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 4:56 am
by ragingfish
Eeeeeexcellent.Thanks joatmon.I'm gonna get that interior bulb guide going today...

Re: (ragingfish)

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:28 am
by ColonelPanic
I wasn't able to get any good pics this morning, I couldn't seem to find a place to be in the dark to get a good shot. So here's about all I could get, pretty much only shows the color they light up in. I'll try to get some others later on this week.After getting a better look at them in action, it still seems rather dim. But I think it looks pretty neat... Kinda makes the plate glow... I'll leave them in there.

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Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 10:03 am
by Zeromus-X
"Kinda makes the plate glow..."This one sentence made me think of something. What if you were to use a blacklight-style light in the license plate area? You'd have to make it so that the bulb wasn't visible... but the plates are white and reflective. They should light up bright as anything with a blacklight present.Hmm.

Posted: Sun Oct 24, 2004 11:36 am
by Jahntassa
Blacklight neon tube, careful mounting, and a reflective surface.