2012 VW Bulbs

[2012VWJ]

anyone know what that tiny bulb is called next to your high and low beam light ? And how to replace it ?

 

[Nuje]

They're called "city lights".
Someone over at the Vortex posted a how-to on swapping to LEDs, but the same basics would apply if you just wanted to replace (although I'd go LED ).

 

[wonneber]

They're called "city lights".
Someone over at the Vortex posted a how-to on swapping to LEDs, but the same basics would apply if you just wanted to replace (although I'd go LED ).

Just a warning, you have to watch the polarity if you go LED.
If you power it backwards it's instantly toast.
If I recall correctly the longer lead is + but check the package indicates otherwise.
You also need a resister to drop the voltage to the lights voltage.
One for each again.

 

[oilhammer]

Man I spend SO MUCH TIME (and have to charge people so much money) to undo the tooefings associated with LEDs where LEDs should not be. Please don't do that. It isn't worth the bother, and a lot of LEDs just dim over time anyway.

Most of the small bulbs are 921.

The NCS Jettas have issues with melted DRL sockets (those are bigger bulbs, I forget which), and sometimes they'll ruin the housings. I disable my dubs' DRLs as soon as I get them. In many cases, the easiest (least difficult) way to deal with the NCS' bulbs is to just pull the bumper cover loose (not hard) and unbolt/remove the headlamp assembly... I know that sounds extreme, but I have to do this a dozen or so times a year often after someone tried to replace a bulb while the assembly was on the car and messed everything up. Headlight bulbs are not bad, so long as nobody has already messed those up.

 

[Nuje]

Just a warning, you have to watch the polarity if you go LED.
If you power it backwards it's instantly toast.
If I recall correctly the longer lead is + but check the package indicates otherwise.
You also need a resister to drop the voltage to the lights voltage.
One for each again.

Lots of the newer, better LEDs (think $25 for a pair instead of $5/pair) have built-in resistors (typically advertised as "CANBUS") as well as being polarity-agnostic. The LED brake lights (Oxilam and KaTur are the brands I've gone with) on my Mk7 (7440 bulbs) tails are like that - no need to pay attention to which way they're inserted, and the car doesn't throw any codes.

 

[wonneber]

Lots of the newer, better LEDs (think $25 for a pair instead of $5/pair) have built-in resistors (typically advertised as "CANBUS") as well as being polarity-agnostic. The LED brake lights (Oxilam and KaTur are the brands I've gone with) on my Mk7 (7440 bulbs) tails are like that - no need to pay attention to which way they're inserted, and the car doesn't throw any codes.

Nuje, thanks for the feedback.
I'll have to try Auto Zone for them.