Thanks so much for this you're an absolute hero! Owned my VW for 3 years, never realised there was a bulb behind there since it'd blown before I got the car!
Thank you for making this video - I'm not a "handy / fix it" kind of guy, but I performed the steps exactly as you outlined and I was able to fix this issue without any difficulty. I would never have figured out that there was a light bulb behind that switch that caused that temp control panel to go dark (I figured it was a blown fuse, which obviously it wasn't) and your video made this a quick and easy fix for my 2001 Jetta.
Thanks David! I love getting feedback on my videos. On some of them people tell me the dealer wanted to charge them hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, and the problem was just a fuse (check out the comments on the Jetta air conditioner repair video). Fifteen years ago I thought cars were so complicated repairs could only be done by professionals. Then I started to figure things out on my own. Most stuff is really simple.
Just got my Jetta wagon a couple days ago, it’s a hand me down car from my sister since she got a new van. My first car also, but here I thought maybe it could’ve been a fuse. I’m glad I ran across this video I’ll check it out when I get up tomorrow. - Update, I didn’t have any double sided tape, just stick a decently thick piece of paper towel in between the pliers when pulling the control nob out. But anyhow, all it was, is a loose bulb lol. Just to think my sisters bf was too lazy to do anything about it and she drove it like that for years, here I just found your video and it’s helped me out a lot, thanks.
The video was excellent! I just removed my burned out bulb after being frustrated not being able to see the darn climate control knobs when it got dark out. Its a really easy job, and saves a trip to a dealer or mechanic. BTW- The light is tiny, so be careful, and the tape trick over your pliers is a great idea! (Sticks to the bulb nicely.) The bulb is white , and the covering is red, so don't worry about getting a red bulb.
Excellent video !! You explained the steps very well, in a concise, easy to understand way. If I lived close to you, I would gladly vacuum your car in return for making this very useful video.
Thanks! This saved me a $80 repair. Took me less than 5 mins to do it with the two pairs of pliers you recommend. Ended up using backward wrapped electrical tape instead of double sticky tape since that was all I had.
tried electrical tape. and nope. saw your vid with the 3m D.B tape and WAA LAA it came out. Thank you for telling that little bit of info! saved a lot of work.
Thanks for the excellent how-to video. Appreciate you for taking the time to do it. Was expecting a bigger job. Btw- VW dealer charges $8 for that bulb! I have a 2002 Passat, original owner. The bulb finally burnt out.
This works on a 2005 Volkswagen Passat station wagon 1.8 T. Two separate mechanics said that Volkswagen told them they had to replace the entire panel which was like a $300 part plus labor. Auto parts stores don’t show that this bulb (2721) works but it does. I broke the bulb getting it out because I was too lazy to put tape on The screwdriver but fortunately it was pretty easy to pull out the remaining end. I used the double stick tape trick to reinsert it easily.
It is very easy ... i was wondering where this bulb might be ... i googled it and found this video ... its very help full video. Thanks for uploading it. Lol
Hi Sam, thank you very much, precisely followed ur instructions and it worked!! saved me some money at the garage and glad to find some things are simple with VW!
You're the man! Like a couple of the other comments on here, I've been wondering where in the WORLD that bulb was!!! Ha! (I'm glad I didn't tear the dash all apart looking!!)
I have to do this bulb replacement on a friends 2003 Passat. Nice video. Now I know what to do, thanks to you. Suspect VW must have a special bulb puller tool.
@sam1174 Have you ever had issues with no interior lights working? Such as dome lights, visor lights, dash or trunk light? I recently replaced the brake/ running light on the drivers side... not sure if that could have had anything to do with it or not, but I’m stumped. No fuses are blown, I’ve seen some videos where they pull the black box out from under the carpet, but I’m not having issues with door locks, windows etc. just strictly interior lights.
I replaced the bulb, but they still don't work. The pins inside the small housing seem to be popping out enough to make contact with the bulb pins.. Is there a fuse just for the climate control bulb? EDIT: Found a solution. The two tiny pins on the actual bulb were sitting the tiniest bit above and below the pins inside where the bulb goes, so to fix this, I first carefully bent the bulb pins inward, plugged it back in, it didn't work, so I had to carefully bend them both outward, and it worked. I know how frustrating the simple things like this can be, so I thought I would keep this comment here for anyone else who is running into the same issue. Remember not to touch the bulb with your fingers, use rubber gloves!! The tiniest bit of oil on the glass can cause the bulb to overheat and melt the delicate wire inside. Plus, it's always a good habit to use rubber gloves when dealing with any sort of electrical component.
All of my dash lights the ac control unit have gone off whilst i was changing a fuse, only a light on the headlight switch is on, i turn the headlight switch on its light will go of but nothing comes on. Any ideas would be great!
Sorry for the late reply. You can get the bulbs at any auto parts store. Like wades623 said, the bulb is white. The plastic is tinted red. They make little colored caps that go on the bulbs to change the color, but with the red plastic the final color is going to be a mixture of the cap color and the red plastic (in other words it will be ugly and dim). You'll never get yellow or green, but you might be able to make the lights purple if you use a blue cap,
sam1174 The radio display light is not working on my 2008 Jetta. Have you had to change that light in your daughter’s car? If so, can you make a video on that process? It would be appreciated! Thank you!
My climate control doesnt work...actually the one in the middle same as yours...what should i do? I have to replace all my climate control pannel or i have to change my light bulb
Dude, i thought that the climat control didn't have lights at all since mine and my brothers was always broken on mk4s. I'll try to change the bulb lol
So I just removed most of the center console so I could get access to the back of that control unit to change the bulbs, and there is no bulbs on the back. I watched your video and then screamed in to the void. Now I have about 25 M20 screws to put back. Urgh....
Not sure if you figured out what your problem was or not, but another commenter said that the little pins on the bulb weren't lining up with the pins inside the housing. Maybe that's the problem.
Murray Kitson would these fit on a mk4 jetta? www.amazon.com/Air-Condition-Control-Switch-Volkswagen-Octavia/dp/B00ABW7VAE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TY1PDVV3ZP1VR9CYHMK
yup, i got em in, and installed them. unfortunately, the center ring doesnt get the red tint from the red light shield inside. so i think i will tear that red shield off, then stain the knobs clear plastic blue. i shall post pics when i got em.
The body styles changed between 2004 and 2013 so the climate control unit is completely different, however changing the bulb still might be done the same way. Try pulling the knob off. If there's a bulb under there then go ahead and change it. If there's no bulb then it's obviously not going to work. Wouldn't your 2013 still be under warranty?
Thanks so much for this you're an absolute hero! Owned my VW for 3 years, never realised there was a bulb behind there since it'd blown before I got the car!
Thank you for making this video - I'm not a "handy / fix it" kind of guy, but I performed the steps exactly as you outlined and I was able to fix this issue without any difficulty. I would never have figured out that there was a light bulb behind that switch that caused that temp control panel to go dark (I figured it was a blown fuse, which obviously it wasn't) and your video made this a quick and easy fix for my 2001 Jetta.
Thanks David! I love getting feedback on my videos. On some of them people tell me the dealer wanted to charge them hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, and the problem was just a fuse (check out the comments on the Jetta air conditioner repair video). Fifteen years ago I thought cars were so complicated repairs could only be done by professionals. Then I started to figure things out on my own. Most stuff is really simple.
Just got my Jetta wagon a couple days ago, it’s a hand me down car from my sister since she got a new van. My first car also, but here I thought maybe it could’ve been a fuse. I’m glad I ran across this video I’ll check it out when I get up tomorrow. - Update, I didn’t have any double sided tape, just stick a decently thick piece of paper towel in between the pliers when pulling the control nob out. But anyhow, all it was, is a loose bulb lol. Just to think my sisters bf was too lazy to do anything about it and she drove it like that for years, here I just found your video and it’s helped me out a lot, thanks.
Your video is spot on!!! I had the bulb out in 90 seconds and the new one in 60 seconds.....
Thanks!!!!
The video was excellent! I just removed my burned out bulb after being frustrated not being able to see the darn climate control knobs when it got dark out. Its a really easy job, and saves a trip to a dealer or mechanic. BTW- The light is tiny, so be careful, and the tape trick over your pliers is a great idea! (Sticks to the bulb nicely.) The bulb is white , and the covering is red, so don't worry about getting a red bulb.
Excellent video !! You explained the steps very well, in a concise, easy to understand way.
If I lived close to you, I would gladly vacuum your car in return for making this very useful video.
My daughters car. :-) I'd never let mine get that dirty.
DUDE THANK YOU SO MUCH IVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THIS BULB WAS FOR EVER
Thanks, I wished I had watched this before I started to fix the bulb. Would have saved me at least half an hour. Very helpful....
Thanks! This saved me a $80 repair. Took me less than 5 mins to do it with the two pairs of pliers you recommend. Ended up using backward wrapped electrical tape instead of double sticky tape since that was all I had.
Good thinking! You just need something sticky to grip the bulb.
tried electrical tape. and nope. saw your vid with the 3m D.B tape and WAA LAA it came out. Thank you for telling that little bit of info! saved a lot of work.
Thanks for the excellent how-to video. Appreciate you for taking the time to do it. Was expecting a bigger job. Btw- VW dealer charges $8 for that bulb! I have a 2002 Passat, original owner. The bulb finally burnt out.
This works on a 2005 Volkswagen Passat station wagon 1.8 T. Two separate mechanics said that Volkswagen told them they had to replace the entire panel which was like a $300 part plus labor. Auto parts stores don’t show that this bulb (2721) works but it does. I broke the bulb getting it out because I was too lazy to put tape on The screwdriver but fortunately it was pretty easy to pull out the remaining end. I used the double stick tape trick to reinsert it easily.
It is very easy ... i was wondering where this bulb might be ... i googled it and found this video ... its very help full video. Thanks for uploading it. Lol
i thought mine had no light by design...dang! looks pretty easy and only the one lamp instead of 3 or 4,,,thanks great video
Hi Sam, thank you very much, precisely followed ur instructions and it worked!! saved me some money at the garage and glad to find some things are simple with VW!
You're the man! Like a couple of the other comments on here, I've been wondering where in the WORLD that bulb was!!! Ha! (I'm glad I didn't tear the dash all apart looking!!)
If she has a dirty car, she has a dirty room, Great video man!
Thank you! It worked. Probably saved me $100+ from taking it to a mechanic.
Great, simple video, now im gonna go fix mine. Thank you!
I have to do this bulb replacement on a friends 2003 Passat. Nice video. Now I know what to do, thanks to you. Suspect VW must have a special bulb puller tool.
WOW! How awesome are you?? Exactly what I was looking for! Trying to figure out how to change that bulb. Thank You!!
Awesome video. I fixed the issue exactly as you described
Thanks! That was super easy. Good tip using the double sided tape.
Great video. I spent more time messing with the tape them swapping bulb. 👍
Thanks a ton. Could not find this info in the manual or the Haynes book. Well done!
thank you for posting this video, tomorrow I'll fix mine !
Excellent video, straight to point. I've been looking for a video like this for a while. Thanks man. Heading out to replace mine. Seeyaaa
Thanks for this. Worked like a charm. Liked and subscribed
Thanks man…I'm off to the store to buy another bulb..i hope it works..Modifying my jetta and this is just one of the small things i need done
Great video and very helpful...thanks for posting!
Thanks so much! My '05 Passat has the same set up.
great video simple and straight
Very helpful video. Thank you!
Thanks, this was a big help.
Very helpful for my VW Lupo, thank you
This video saved me! Thanks so much man ^^
Thanks, loads of help.
Very helpful video 👍
Great video. My boyfriend has had two golfs & a jetta and always had no climate control lights. Seems like a VW thing. Thanks.
you are the man.. thank you
Awesome, thx so much!
thanks,i was getting ready to pull the console apart.
I have a great question for you how do you get the back seats out .
thanks bro. very helpful video... 👍
THANKS A BUNCH!!!
thanks for the video👍
Thanks for the video
Do you happen to know what type of fitting it is? Seems like a regular T5 fitting
@sam1174
Have you ever had issues with no interior lights working? Such as dome lights, visor lights, dash or trunk light? I recently replaced the brake/ running light on the drivers side... not sure if that could have had anything to do with it or not, but I’m stumped. No fuses are blown, I’ve seen some videos where they pull the black box out from under the carpet, but I’m not having issues with door locks, windows etc. just strictly interior lights.
excellent video. what bulb exactly is need mk3 golf. the 2721 bulb comes up on searches t10. is that the same ?
thank you!!!
Can I do it without turning the key on?
Will this light up the shifter P R N D 3 2 1 also?
wow, I was getting ready to rig leds under my radio to do this... don't know why I thought it would be so hard.
I replaced the bulb, but they still don't work. The pins inside the small housing seem to be popping out enough to make contact with the bulb pins.. Is there a fuse just for the climate control bulb?
EDIT: Found a solution. The two tiny pins on the actual bulb were sitting the tiniest bit above and below the pins inside where the bulb goes, so to fix this, I first carefully bent the bulb pins inward, plugged it back in, it didn't work, so I had to carefully bend them both outward, and it worked. I know how frustrating the simple things like this can be, so I thought I would keep this comment here for anyone else who is running into the same issue. Remember not to touch the bulb with your fingers, use rubber gloves!! The tiniest bit of oil on the glass can cause the bulb to overheat and melt the delicate wire inside. Plus, it's always a good habit to use rubber gloves when dealing with any sort of electrical component.
Thanks for sharing this. Other people might be having the same problem.
thanks
All of my dash lights the ac control unit have gone off whilst i was changing a fuse, only a light on the headlight switch is on, i turn the headlight switch on its light will go of but nothing comes on. Any ideas would be great!
great video thanks
Thanx :)
were do u get the bulbs and can u get different colors besides red?
The bulb isn't red it is the plastics on the inside
Sorry for the late reply. You can get the bulbs at any auto parts store. Like wades623 said, the bulb is white. The plastic is tinted red. They make little colored caps that go on the bulbs to change the color, but with the red plastic the final color is going to be a mixture of the cap color and the red plastic (in other words it will be ugly and dim). You'll never get yellow or green, but you might be able to make the lights purple if you use a blue cap,
which bulb is it thou?
what type of lights is this? and how can i find the same light but red colot
What is the name of the bulb and link where I can buy it from please can’t find it anywhere
www.amazon.com/Bosch-2721-Long-Upgrade-Minature/dp/B071S7VYX5/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=2721+bulb&qid=1554646602&s=gateway&sr=8-3
Thank you!
Is this the same in a 2013 jetta?
Bad ass dad !
I showed moving pictures very well
thanks this helps!! :)
sam1174 The radio display light is not working on my 2008 Jetta. Have you had to change that light in your daughter’s car? If so, can you make a video on that process? It would be appreciated! Thank you!
My climate control doesnt work...actually the one in the middle same as yours...what should i do? I have to replace all my climate control pannel or i have to change my light bulb
That one bulb is for the whole climate control unit. Just replace the bulb.
@@sam1174 please can you show me an online shop to order the bulb?
Cheers buddy
I have a jetta of the year 2002 is the same?
Yes
Nice..
I tried this on my Corrado for some reason, the bulbs never worked. It was a lot more difficult to do.
Dude, i thought that the climat control didn't have lights at all since mine and my brothers was always broken on mk4s. I'll try to change the bulb lol
@sam1174 I am trying to change the color of the lighting. So my question is, is the bulb red, or there is something else that colors it?
The bulb is white. The red color comes from a tint in the translucent plastic pieces.
Can that tint be removed?
Why is there a dozen video's on how to change this bulb but not a single one on how to get the climate controls out???
damn your daughter has that bass cranked up!
"If you squeeze to hard you might break your knob"
Make sure you pull it straight, too. Otherwise you might break the shaft. :-)
Hello, my Jetta climate control light bulb works sometimes and sometimes not, did anyone experience the same issue?
rubber bands would probably be just as effective as double sided tape
craig zurell I’m going to try that I’m having the hardest time get the bulb out
So I just removed most of the center console so I could get access to the back of that control unit to change the bulbs, and there is no bulbs on the back. I watched your video and then screamed in to the void. Now I have about 25 M20 screws to put back. Urgh....
LOL!
My all Heater Control Unit dose not light up .. is still a bulb problem or a wire problem..
+TheSteelGamer It's hard to say. It's probably a bulb, so try that first. The bulbs only cost a few dollars.
ok tnx .. your video is informative ..
Not sure if you figured out what your problem was or not, but another commenter said that the little pins on the bulb weren't lining up with the pins inside the housing. Maybe that's the problem.
lol, i simply want to make my climate control to match the color of my gauges... so i am on the lookout for a blue bulb.
www.amazon.com/B8-5D-2721-Interior-Light-10PCS/dp/B00FZVIO9I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417229924&sr=8-2&keywords=2721+bulb+blue
sam, it is people like you that make me happy for the internet. thank you very much.
Murray Kitson would these fit on a mk4 jetta?
www.amazon.com/Air-Condition-Control-Switch-Volkswagen-Octavia/dp/B00ABW7VAE/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0TY1PDVV3ZP1VR9CYHMK
Murray Kitson Yes, they would and it looks awesome, I got those too on an Mk4.5 jetta (Same climate module, well, same car with a facelift basically)
yup, i got em in, and installed them. unfortunately, the center ring doesnt get the red tint from the red light shield inside. so i think i will tear that red shield off, then stain the knobs clear plastic blue. i shall post pics when i got em.
Had to use electrical tape with a dab of crazy clue to stick to bulb.
Iam trying to make my 2002 VW Jetta a la mans car. Oh yeah and the carpet to.
OSRAM SYLVANIA 2721 can be found on Amazon.com
all the same even skoda
Man really?! I think no body gives a shit abut your car or daugthers is dirty ... came on
you should be shame and clean it just for that comentary ...
thanks man
Very helpful video, thank you!
Thanks a lot!
Is this the same in a 2013 jetta?
The body styles changed between 2004 and 2013 so the climate control unit is completely different, however changing the bulb still might be done the same way. Try pulling the knob off. If there's a bulb under there then go ahead and change it. If there's no bulb then it's obviously not going to work.
Wouldn't your 2013 still be under warranty?