HVAC light bulb source

[my white eddie]

Hey guys, I'm back with another fun one. Wondered if any body
had a source for the HVAC control bulbs. They are very tiny little
buggers with the socket attached. Ford wanted 12.99 each and
I have to buy at least 5 before they will order them. They look
kinda like the older radio display bulbs, but do not have the "tail"
on them. Hints, tips, alternative options, will all be appreciated.

 

[bobflood]

Look on autolumination.com website. I think that you will find both incandesent and LED bulbs in the holders that will fit for a lot less money. Unfortunately, I do not know the size. Good luck.

 

[my white eddie]

Thanks for that link. I don't know the actual size either,
but I can do some poking around on the interweb thingy!

 

[koda2000]

autolumunation.com has all kinds of weird bulbs and good prices. the only problem is the organization of the sight sucks. it takes a lot of time to find what your looking for, but they will probably have it if anyone does. let us know how you make out, as it will help someone else.

 

[Joe Dirt]

They're a 194 bulb. Fairly easy to find.

 

[gonenuke]

I believe the neo-wedge bulbs t4 type b are what I used. look for the non led ones

T4

I just checked out the site bulbs are half way down the page.

 

[my white eddie]

they are most definately not a 194 bulb. much smaller and no "tail"
on the bottom. I have a Eddie Bauer with automatic climate control
and these are the bulbs that light up my selector buttons accross
the bottom of the control panel. I will post what I find in my search.

 

[koda2000]

They're a 194 bulb. Fairly easy to find.

really? that's a large bulb without a base. are you talking about the manual HVAC controls? i assumed (perhaps incorrectly so) that the OP was talking about bulbs for the EATC. if it is the large bulb, the base can be transferred from the old bulb.

edit: if it's the small bulb with the non-removable base, it's probably the T4, which is the same bulb as the fog light and rear defroster buttons use. good luck trying to get a color match though. they may look green (or blue) but they project as white. you may be able to get the green "mouse condoms" off your old bulbs and install them on the new ones, but they usually rip.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Sorry- I was thinking manual controls...

Auto- check these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-Light-Bul...pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

 

[my white eddie]

Koda2000,
Mine are just clear bulbs, it appears the button faces have the greenish
color on them. I have used those "mouse condoms" on some aftermarket gauges before and I am not a fan. I did check that web site and it looks
like I can get 5 of the T4s to my door for under $15.
YOU GUYS ROCK!!

 

[firepop5]

I have this control in my Ex:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-Gra...094&pid=100005&prg=1088&rk=1&sd=271137698033&

The light behind the vent and floor buttons is out. Is this the bulb you are talking about? Is there a bulb behind each button or does one bulb light 2 buttons? How do you access them to change them?

 

[RoCkrMAN]

Get 194 bulbs for them. I ordered 10 led bulbs from ebay for 12.99 and did my gauges, hvac, and license plate light. They turned out really nice and bright.

 

[koda2000]

Get 194 bulbs for them. I ordered 10 led bulbs from ebay for 12.99 and did my gauges, hvac, and license plate light. They turned out really nice and bright.

again, the OP and poster firepop5 do not have the manual HVAC controls. they have the EATC. this unit does not use 194 bulbs. we have established it uses T4's (or equvalent LED if you perfer).

as far as whether there's a separate bulb for each button, it appears so, as firepop5 has 2 buttons that don't light. perhaps the OP can tell firepop5 how to get to the buttons to change the bulbs. i've had my EATC out and apart, but i didn't noitce how the buttons light up.

 

[my white eddie]

thats my controls all right. You just remove the radio surround.
(dont forget the 2 screws going up in front of the HVAC controls)
then 4 screws hold the unit to the dash. Just pull forward then
remove the nut that holds the vacuum lines to the controls and
wiggle them off of the controls (gentle here dont break them)
then you can turn the controls around far enough to use a small
regular srewdriver to turn the smal grey light sockets till they unlock.
I believe that 1 light does 2 buttons, but I did not look that close yet.

 

[Flounder]

To add to the knowledge base --

2004 Sport Trac XLT Premium with manual HVAC controls takes 161 B wedge bulbs. They're available at Advanced for $5 for two. They're held in plastic screws/plugs. Use a rubber grip pad and pliers to remove the bulb. Ge gentle.