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240 LED dash light Q's

BryantTF242

New member
Joined
Jun 14, 2011
Location
San Jose, California
so I am looking into swapping all my dash and gauge lights in my 82 242 over to LED, I am on superbrightleds.com looking at what I could get, im guessing either one of these #74 or #24 will work for everything? I cant find any results in the search option on what others did and I know there are threads up about this. let me know of what I should get!
 
I wrote this up over on OVT, it's still a WIP but it's fairly complete:

I haven't seen this posted comprehensively anywhere, even though people ask about doing it fairly often. So here's what I've found you'll need to convert your 240 over to using LED lights (both interior and exterior). STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS.

Exterior:
You'll need 1156 and 1157 single element bulbs, plus a set of 1157 double element bulbs if you're running fog lights in the rear.

4x 1157 single amber (front turn/running)
2x 1156 single amber (rear turn) (use white if non-clear housing)
4x 1156 single white (rear backup/brake)
2x 1157 double white (rear running/fog)
2x 41mm festoon bulb (wagon)
2x BA9s bulb (sedans/coupes)

Running side markers? No problem: 2x T10 #168/194 wedge base

This assumes you're running brake lights in the upper location with a single filament connector. Connections are the same regardless, but if you're using the single pole connectors and buy the 1157's you'll have to mod them (solder or aluminum foil) to bridge the gap.

You will also need an electronic flasher module, as the lack of load on the turn signals will cause the OEM flasher to not flash. You'll need CF13GL-02 or equivalent european 3-pole flasher. Pinout looks like this:
6619573923_5e76f1888b_o.jpg

I picked one up from my local Autozone for about $12. Just make sure the pinout is the same, the PN won't matter.

Interior:

2x 40mm Festoon bulbs (overhead/tailgate)
2x T10 #168/194 wedge base (main cluster illumination)
3x T5 #74 wedge base (center console)
?x T5 #74 wedge base (1x per 52mm gauge or console switch, lower center console light)
2x BA9s base (fasten seatbelt, center and lower center console)
?x B85d twist-lock (turn signals, warning lights) NEEDS VERIFICATION

If after installing them all, the light levels are acceptable and you don't feel the need to dim them, then you're done. If you'd like to be able to dim them at some point, pick up a PWM dimmer. I found one on eBay for ~$15 that looked like a near drop-in replacement for the stock dimmer.

You'll also want to make sure you don't buy exceptionally long bodied T5 #74 bulbs. They tend to either go too far into the receptacle and don't disperse light, or bottom out in a gauge before grounding to the body - and then not turning on. You might find that the upper center console LED isn't anywhere near bright enough even after taking these precautions, in which case an 'accent light' module might do the trick. Also do not buy 'super bright' or even white LED's for the turn signal indicators, they will be extraordinarily bright and blind you at night while making turns.

Your bulbs should look something like this:
6619574141_b9d1a60c9b_m.jpg

1156/1157 tail/turn
reverse/running
 
I used eBay for the most part, it was a little more work but I have a TON of LED's available for projects now.
 
I used superbright leds on my Volvo, and VLEDs on my Lincoln. Both companies have great customer service, and their products last. I have 4 years total on my on my current LED swap on my Lincoln with no issues.
 
so i dont need to do anything right? like i just pull out the old bulb, put this in, and go? I realize that LED's only work one way in terms of power flow, but other than that, thats all right?
 
so i dont need to do anything right? like i just pull out the old bulb, put this in, and go? I realize that LED's only work one way in terms of power flow, but other than that, thats all right?

Except for the turn signals, yes you only need the LED. You may need resistors for the brake light. That will have to be confirmed.
 
Man volvogeek, where were you when I did this a year ago?


Notes for a 240


Only thing I have to add is that some of the #74 housings like the shifter and center console backlight, will short out if you put in the bulb as is, you will have to bend the wires on the bulb to be on a single side instead of both.

Other thing is that for my instrument cluster backlights, I hammered out the old bulb and soldered really bright #74s in there.
 
hmmm.... that explains why I keep on burning out the shifter light.

Man volvogeek, where were you when I did this a year ago?


Notes for a 240


Only thing I have to add is that some of the #74 housings like the shifter and center console backlight, will short out if you put in the bulb as is, you will have to bend the wires on the bulb to be on a single side instead of both.

Other thing is that for my instrument cluster backlights, I hammered out the old bulb and soldered really bright #74s in there.
 
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