Karl’s Asylum ... for the terminally deranged

Customer Service…not dead yet!

You may have gathered - I’m a tinkerer. I’m happy enough to leave things alone if they’re working, and if they’re not I get them sorted.

When I bought the Astra, a lot of the little 5mm bulbs behind the dashboard that light up the instruments etc were dead. Coming up to winter, that’s not good - there’s nothing worse than feeling around for a switch in the dark!

So I set about removing the dash. What a PAIN that was..blood, skin..gah. Got them all working again and swore to myself that I’d be kinder to me in future and improve them.

I replaced the dials/instrument panel lamps a few months ago, with “plug ‘n’ play” electric blue “Ultrabright” LEDs. They’re nice..instead of “washed out orangey-brown” the dials and numbers are a gentle diffused blue, and the needles on the gauges are a bright “electric” blue. MUCH nicer on my eyes.

Now, since I’ve stripped the car out to fix the leak, I’ve decided that I’m going to replace all the auto-shifter lamps and the cigarette lighter lamp etc (no, I don’t smoke) with LEDs too, so I NEVER have to strip it out again to replace one.

So, back I go to UltraLEDs.co.uk, and I ordered 4 5mm ultrabright white LED replacements for the autoshift and console, 2 10mm whites for the sidelights, and 2 white LEDs built into bolts, that I can fit anywhere. I’m thinking boot lamps, or underbonnet lighting so I don’t have to go out with a torch to check the engine.

Ordered about 9pm Thursday. Mail yesterday to say “Despatched”. In our letterbox today! Now THAT’S service!

I’ll go and fit them shortly..but I have a real soft spot for LEDs..cold running, ultra low power usage, and pretty indestructible..and they’ll last for YEARS..so, hopefully the car can be reassembled and never disassembled for that again. BONUS!!

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