Map Light bulb issue
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Teching In
Joined: May 2017
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Map Light bulb issue Hi guys,
I'm trying to replace the map bulbs in the mirror of my 2002 Formula. SuperBrightLED.com says they are a 214-2 but that's a dome light style led and the mirror map light has a plug in bulb. They look like 194s, however they are so sunken in, I want to know if I just break them, will I have anything to grab onto in order to pull out the remaining pieces? I don't know how to get them out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Tia.
I'm trying to replace the map bulbs in the mirror of my 2002 Formula. SuperBrightLED.com says they are a 214-2 but that's a dome light style led and the mirror map light has a plug in bulb. They look like 194s, however they are so sunken in, I want to know if I just break them, will I have anything to grab onto in order to pull out the remaining pieces? I don't know how to get them out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Tia.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Eastern MA
They are 194 and are a pain to remove. I think I used a thin curved plastic bar/puller I had from a kit to try and get behind the bulb to pry/pull it out. It was some years ago so I don't remember exactly. Between that and wiggling with my fingers, I managed to get them out intact.
Some people break and pull the remainder, but I didn't want shards of glass in my face from looking up at the mirror when pulling the bulbs. I don't remember if I had any success in attempting to remove the silver reflectors. If you can get those out then removing the bulb becomes easier.
Also check how the new LED bulbs look after you lock the car. One pair I tried were still on very dimly. Another pair were fine. I think the second set were labeled as CANBUS. Our cars don't have CANBUS, but the extra resistor on the LED Bulb was enough to make sure they were fully off.
Some people break and pull the remainder, but I didn't want shards of glass in my face from looking up at the mirror when pulling the bulbs. I don't remember if I had any success in attempting to remove the silver reflectors. If you can get those out then removing the bulb becomes easier.
Also check how the new LED bulbs look after you lock the car. One pair I tried were still on very dimly. Another pair were fine. I think the second set were labeled as CANBUS. Our cars don't have CANBUS, but the extra resistor on the LED Bulb was enough to make sure they were fully off.
Last edited by VIP1; Feb 7, 2024 at 05:26 PM.
I've had luck wrapping hard to get bulbs with tape (a small strip of duct tape or masking tape), fishing it around the bulb enough to get as much of the adhesive in contact as possible and making a little pull tab that I can more easily grab and wiggle the bulb out.
When that doesn't work, I crush the bulb like VIP1 said (while wrapped with tape so very minimal, if any shards fly out).
When that doesn't work, I crush the bulb like VIP1 said (while wrapped with tape so very minimal, if any shards fly out).
