Instrument Panel Lights - LED Replacements?

[Number_35]

The dash lights in the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan burn out fairly regularly.

I bought a 10-pack from NAPA c. October 2024, replaced a bunch, replaced another one a few months ago, and now see yet another one has failed.

In fairness to NAPA, I can't remember for sure whether I replaced all seven back in 2024, or only the four or five that had failed. So it's possible the failures since then have been originals, and the replacements have been good. I don't know.

It's not a terrible job to pull the instrument panel out and replace a bulb, but I'm considering replacing them all with LED units.

Is there any reason not to? Thanks.

 

[The_Jeff]

Incandescent bulbs have a warmth and color temp that's pleasing to the eye. They also dim well.

LEDs are cooler, which looks cool, but can hurt your night vision. Their color palette might clash with the green/ amber (or whatever) tint Dodge put in your gauges.

If you have to contort to reassemble the wiring to test things, the LEDs have a 50/50 shot of working the first time as they need the +/- polarity correct.

The alternator warning lamp may need to be incandescent to property trigger the field current, but that's probably not a problem on Dodges as their alts are computer-run.

Also the OE bulbs made it 19 years, so doing it for longer life may exceed the design life of the van.

 

[Opelman]

What # bulbs does your Dodge use? The Opel uses 194s and I replaced them with red led lamps.

 

[wings&wheels]

If they use those plastic base twist in bulbs SuperbrightLeds has decent ones in several colors. Superbright isn't my first choice, but their stuff is usually decent. If 194, don't go any further than Sylvania Zevos. Both should dim, and as notes do not use for alternator lamps,

 

[mk378]

I put Zevo 1157s in my camper tail lights and they're really impressive. Yes $10.00 each but so much better than the cheap ones I tried.

Incandescent dash lights should last forever if you turn the dimmer down a bit.

 

[fozzdesy2001]

I did all LED dash lights and they made me crazy after a year with some flickering and others burt out. I put all orginal back in still working when the car was sold 2 years later

 

[Number_35]

What # bulbs does your Dodge use? The Opel uses 194s and I replaced them with red led lamps.

PC74 - I think they're 1.4 W.

 

[Number_35]

I put Zevo 1157s in my camper tail lights and they're really impressive. Yes $10.00 each but so much better than the cheap ones I tried.

Incandescent dash lights should last forever if you turn the dimmer down a bit.

Thanks, that's good information - the same van has had LR turn signal/brake light bulb (3057) fail every year or so.

I keep a spare, and can change it out in < 5 minutes, but would pay more for a more durable bulb.

 

[Number_35]

I put Zevo 1157s in my camper tail lights and they're really impressive. Yes $10.00 each but so much better than the cheap ones I tried.

Incandescent dash lights should last forever if you turn the dimmer down a bit.

I should get in the habit of turning down the dimmer whenever leaving the van. I suspect they blow when going quickly from 0 to 14 V, and that turning up the intensity as required is much easier on them.

I've seen decades-old incandescent bulbs in substations still working fine. The secret - they were never turned off, but for safety reasons were left on 24/7.