v70torslanda
Wednesday 7th April 2010, 20:04
A cautionary tale. . .
I noticed on Sunday a number plate bulb out. OK, it's no biggie, just nip down the accessory shop on Monday and get a couple of capless bulbs. 2 minutes with a scredriver, job done, no sweat. Only it wasn't quite that simple.
The problem is bulbs get hot. (OK that's not news to anyone, especially Volvo owners) But in the case of licence plate bulbs they're cooped up inside a small housing and if you are using your day runners, on 24/7. In my cae it was no problem getting the lamps out but removing the bulb from the lamps left the plastic bulb holders crumbling like Lancashire cheese. Oops, this ain't going well.
To add to the challenge our Swedish masters in their infinite wisdom chose to get the bulb fittings permanently fixed to the wiring harness with something suspiciously like araldite! Getting new bulbholders wasn't looking like an option. And it was going so well.
A while ago I bought some LED sidelight bulbs with the intention of having brighter and maintenance free front lights but then I chickened out cos I didn't want problems with the MOT plus I'd heard of problems with bulb failure warning lights. Luckily I hadn't used them so I thought I'd give them a try.
There was no problem getting them into the remains of the bulb holders, the sockets are intact, it's the bulbholders that wont stay in the lamp housings. LED bulbs are polarity sensitive but that was sorted very quickly. Resorting to sticky tape I got the bulbholders back into the lamps and checked the bulbs were functioning before finally screwing the lamp back into the tailgate.
The number plate is now brightly lit in the manner of the latest 3 series BMW. A bright, cold light with a bluish tinge. Hopefully that's problem solved cos if it isn't the only solution is a new tailgate handle assembly and that's over 75 quid! That's stupid money for a couple of bulbholders.
This is something which is going to happen to your P2. It's inevitable as the heat from the bulbs cooks all the solvent out of the plastic. That's why I say this is a bulb 'upgrade' that really is worthwhile, if you do it early you can save yourself a lot of head scratching come the next MOT.
I used these (http://www.streetwizeaccessories.com/popup.html?products/870-ful1.jpg)
luv'n'stuff
J
I noticed on Sunday a number plate bulb out. OK, it's no biggie, just nip down the accessory shop on Monday and get a couple of capless bulbs. 2 minutes with a scredriver, job done, no sweat. Only it wasn't quite that simple.
The problem is bulbs get hot. (OK that's not news to anyone, especially Volvo owners) But in the case of licence plate bulbs they're cooped up inside a small housing and if you are using your day runners, on 24/7. In my cae it was no problem getting the lamps out but removing the bulb from the lamps left the plastic bulb holders crumbling like Lancashire cheese. Oops, this ain't going well.
To add to the challenge our Swedish masters in their infinite wisdom chose to get the bulb fittings permanently fixed to the wiring harness with something suspiciously like araldite! Getting new bulbholders wasn't looking like an option. And it was going so well.
A while ago I bought some LED sidelight bulbs with the intention of having brighter and maintenance free front lights but then I chickened out cos I didn't want problems with the MOT plus I'd heard of problems with bulb failure warning lights. Luckily I hadn't used them so I thought I'd give them a try.
There was no problem getting them into the remains of the bulb holders, the sockets are intact, it's the bulbholders that wont stay in the lamp housings. LED bulbs are polarity sensitive but that was sorted very quickly. Resorting to sticky tape I got the bulbholders back into the lamps and checked the bulbs were functioning before finally screwing the lamp back into the tailgate.
The number plate is now brightly lit in the manner of the latest 3 series BMW. A bright, cold light with a bluish tinge. Hopefully that's problem solved cos if it isn't the only solution is a new tailgate handle assembly and that's over 75 quid! That's stupid money for a couple of bulbholders.
This is something which is going to happen to your P2. It's inevitable as the heat from the bulbs cooks all the solvent out of the plastic. That's why I say this is a bulb 'upgrade' that really is worthwhile, if you do it early you can save yourself a lot of head scratching come the next MOT.
I used these (http://www.streetwizeaccessories.com/popup.html?products/870-ful1.jpg)
luv'n'stuff
J