Melting HVAC bulbs?

[jawbreaker]

Bought a 2004.5 3500 a couple weeks ago - everything is beautiful, except a couple of the bulbs in the HVAC cluster were out. NAPA had to order them, $8.00 for four bulbs. I replaced them & they went out again in a matter of days. Pulled them out & the plastic bases of the little quarter-turn bulbs were melted a little. Could I have gotten the wrong bulbs? I’d hate to get them from the stealership - they want $9 PER BULB.

Any other reason they’d be getting so hot? The bulbs in the main instrument cluster seem to be fine, this is just for the HVAC controls under the radio.

 

[mwilson]

Wrong bulb for sure...candlepower is too high..

I wore out the original set of three, replaced with three more OEM bulbs. When the second set started to go out I then replaced them with LED replacements.

I'll see if I can find the number of the LED bulbs...

 

[mwilson]

These here.....there are smaller packs available as this one is a 20 count...

Amazon product ASIN B071W6JDLS

 

[DavidC]

These here.....there are smaller packs available as this one is a 20 count...

Amazon product ASIN B071W6JDLS

Hmmm. I click on the link and it sends me to Amazon's home page. Just me ?

 

[mwilson]

Hmmm. I click on the link and it sends me to Amazon's home page. Just me ?

Try it now, I had to link it three or four times....

 

[mwilson]

This is what the LED bulbs will look like in your heater control panel...

#ad

 

[DavidC]

Try it now, I had to link it three or four times....

Works now, looks good for lighting and less heat.

 

[mwilson]

Even if you go with a different brand the Amazon link gives you the bulb nomenclature....

 

[GCroyle]

This is what the LED bulbs will look like in your heater control panel...

#ad

Mike

Got part numbers or ref info for led system?

Gary

 

[DavidC]

Typical Amazon. Amazon say's it fits my 99 2500 and the nomenclature states 2001 and up. I do not need them yet just thinking in advance.

 

[mwilson]

Mike

Got part numbers or ref info for led system?

Gary

I think the actual bulb size is the T 4.7

 

[jawbreaker]

Thanks guys, great information! Question for mwilson - are the LED bulbs dimmable with the factory dimmer wheel? Also, are they a lot brighter than the originals? I’m not planning on replacing the ones in the main instrument panel - that seems like a real project, and those bulbs are all lit just fine. But if the HVAC controls end up being twice as bright as the main gages & speedometer panel, that will bug me.

 

[mwilson]

They do dim with the dash light control.

They are not really much brighter, but will turn anything that was formally backlite as green to a blue color. The other colors stay pretty much as they were.

If you compare in my picture above it is no brighter than the satellite radio display...

 

[GCroyle]

Just finished heater control assy light bulb R&R. OE's burned out, replaced with Dorman 639-033 less than 2 yrs ago. Not a lot of night time driving in that span. All three bulbs quit.

The Dorman plastic base is melted/deformed and not keeping contact to circuit board. Not good.

Called local Dodge with, VIN No, yes we have them, black base blue "tint" uh, that's not what I have I'll stop in and look.

Took heater switch assy with me and old bulb. Bulbs look similar but new ones are longer, blue lens and don't fit into switch assy.

Parts guy, that's the number.

Me, would you check this number 5013815AA please. This was the Dorman cross ref number.

Parts guy, in stock and returns with matching bulb. Got a pack of three for $15 job is done.

Blame quart-in-teen.

 

[mwilson]

He "ASSumed" they were the same as the dash cluster bulbs...I looked up the heater a/c control panel and the 5013815AA bulbs are listed there without a direct reference to the graphic...shows a qty of (3) required....shouldn't take a Rocket Scientist to figure it out....pretty bad when the customer has to provide the correct part number..

 

[GCroyle]

I did my darnedest to make it easy described the switch control function but I finally got what I needed. Night will show the final results.

 

[crabman]

The parts guy is just a clerk, probably does know how to properly make change. {the dumbing down of America} There aren't to many REAL parts guys today, like mwilson.

 

[Crunch]

Just finished heater control assy light bulb R&R. OE's burned out, replaced with Dorman 639-033 less than 2 yrs ago. Not a lot of night time driving in that span. All three bulbs quit.

The Dorman plastic base is melted/deformed and not keeping contact to circuit board. Not good.

In looking at the Amazon reviews the Dorman bulbs are getting the worst reviews, with the biggest complaint being that they melt. I've had good luck with Dorman products in the past, but it seems like they need to have a QC meeting for their HVAC bulbs and find a new Chinese factory.