Replacing the dashboard backlight bulbs of a VAZ 2114

Author: Anastasia Safonova12/29/201612/29/2016

The dashboard of the VAZ 2114 car displays data that allows the driver to monitor the condition of the car - fuel and engine oil levels, speed, revolutions and engine temperature. The panel must always be in good condition, which is the key to the accuracy of the data shown by the sensors and the absence of discomfort caused by non-functioning backlighting. Quite often, VAZ 2114 owners are faced with the problem of the dashboard backlight not working. The problem is resolved independently, without visiting car services or contacting specialists.

• Why do light bulbs fail?
• How to choose dashboard lamps
• How to replace light bulbs

  Required Tools

• Replacing the backlight
• How to disassemble the dashboard
• Replacing backlight bulbs

What are dashboard lights for?

VAZ 2114 is one of the highest quality, dynamic and beautiful models of the domestic automobile industry, with excellent technical characteristics. However, it also has its drawbacks, one of which is the dashboard, which is not particularly reliable and of high quality. A common problem with the dashboard is the rapid failure of the backlight lamps.

Working illumination of the dashboard of a VAZ 2114 car

The backlight bulbs provide the driver with various information that allows them to monitor the condition of the car and diagnose possible malfunctions in a timely manner. There may be several reasons for their operation:

• the battery is discharged;
• holding the handbrake;
• lack of fuel in the gas tank;
• a decrease in engine oil pressure is a reason that requires stopping the car to avoid engine damage;
• accumulation of water in the filter. Excess liquid is drained to prevent it from entering the pump;
• malfunctions in the fuel system;
• engine malfunctions.

Failure of instrument panel lamps may cause the driver to miss a breakdown or malfunction that could cause an accident. For this reason, you should not delay replacing light bulbs.

Functionality check

After completing the replacement, install the panel inside the car, connect the connectors, but do not rush into final fixation - you still need to make sure that everything works properly.

To do this, turn on the ignition and see if the backlight turns on. Then check whether the indicator lights responsible for:

• hand brake;
• oil pressure;
• fault signal, etc.

Then test the turn signals, headlights and side lights. If everything is in order, then complete the panel assembly.

Why do light bulbs fail?

Before changing incandescent bulbs, you need to understand what caused the dashboard to fail. The reasons why the backlight stops working may be:

• burnt out incandescent lamps or LEDs stop working;
• oxidation of connectors;
• defects and short circuits in the electrical circuit;
• fuse box failure;
• deformation of the common contact board;
• failure of the dimensions system;
• no negative battery.

What kind of light bulbs are in the headlights of the VAZ 2114?

Types of lighting fixtures

For installation in the headlights of the VAZ 2114, double-filament lamps with an H4 socket are used, the power of which is 60/55 W. They perform simultaneously the functions of high and low beam. This allows you to reduce the size of the headlights and reduce heat. However, such versatility also has negative sides. If one thread burns out, the other can still work. But, since it is impossible to drive without low or high beams, you have to change a partially working lamp. At the same time, headlight bulbs are always installed in pairs to obtain the same glow mode on the left and right sides. It turns out that because of one burnt-out filament, you will have to change two lamps, which is uneconomical.

Halogen lamps are installed at the manufacturer's factory. This is a modification of conventional incandescent lamps, the bulbs of which contain pairs of halogens - iodine and bromine. This makes it possible to increase the heating of the coil and increase the brightness of the glow. However, the temperature of the flask, which has to be made of quartz glass, also increases.

In addition to halogen lamps, the following are installed in the headlights of a VAZ 2114 car:

• incandescent lamps. They are cheap, but dull and short-lived. Currently practically not used;
• xenon lamps. They have increased brightness because the plasma arc glows. They do not have filaments, therefore they are more resistant to stress. The disadvantage of xenon is the need to use an ignition unit, which takes up extra space;
• LEDs. These are relatively new lamps that have managed to win the preference of most car enthusiasts. They are safe, the supply voltage is only 12 V. The service life is up to 50,000 hours (halogen - up to 2000). Practically do not heat up. The disadvantage is the directional emission of the light flux. While halogen or xenon samples shine evenly in all directions, LED lamps emit in one direction, so several crystals mounted on a cylindrical base are used at once. In addition, the LEDs are equipped with diffusion lenses that evenly distribute the flow in all directions.

Despite the clear advantage of LED lamps, it is recommended to choose halogen designs. This is required by regulations that prohibit tampering with the vehicle's structure. Unauthorized replacement of lamps can result in a high fine or deprivation of your driver's license. Bulbs in the VAZ 2114 headlights should be installed only standard ones, which are installed at the manufacturer.

Types of headlights

The headlight unit on a VAZ can have two design options:

• Bosch (BOSH);
• Kirzhach.

Outwardly they are very similar. Experts distinguish them by small details - the shape of the blender arches or the rotation diffuser. Kirzhach has a long, narrow reflector with a partition and no top wall. Bosch has walls on all sides, and the reflector is short. For an inexperienced person, it is easier to distinguish these designs by the shape of the plug on the back of the headlamp - Bosch products have one and are made in the form of an oval. These subtleties are not accessible to everyone, but only to experienced car enthusiasts.

Important! They have no fundamental difference in design, but installing one instead of the other will not work. Therefore, you should know which headlights will fit the body of a given car, so as not to find yourself in a difficult situation when purchasing. In addition, Kirzhach headlights are more difficult to disassemble than Bosch.

There are also Chinese analogues of headlight units for the VAZ 2114. They can have any shape, since they are not subject to general standards. Purchasing such products is a big risk. You can, with equal probability, get suitable headlights, or have lighting fixtures that do not match the shape of the sockets.

Manufacturers of lamps for VAZ 2114

Since lamps with an H4 socket are used in headlights of many models from different manufacturers, all manufacturers of car lamps produce such lamps. Among them are the following companies:

1. A world-famous Dutch company, known for its low prices and good quality products;
2. A German company with a long history and rich technological experience;
3. Narva. This is another manufacturer from Germany, known for the quality and durability of its products;
4. Bosh. Another German company that does not need any special introduction;
5. Company based in Hong Kong and Germany. Produces a wide range of reliable lighting equipment.

The above list can be continued for a long time. Today, a big name of a manufacturer is not a guarantee of high quality and reliability. There are a lot of fakes on the market, which are not only cheap, but also completely inconsistent with the original. Therefore, it is better to make a choice based not on the name, but on the characteristics of the light bulbs.

The best lamps for VAZ 2114

Let's consider which low beam bulb can be used for installation in the headlights of a VAZ 2114 car:

• Bosh A 12-60+55 VAZ H4 plus 60;
• Osram H4 Night Breaker Unlimited +110%;
• General Electric H4 12V 60/55W P43t GE;
• Philips H4 3700K X-treme Vision +130%;
• Koito WhiteBeam III Premium 4500K.

This list is far from complete, however, a simple listing does not make sense. It is important to consider that all lamp models have their own purpose and specificity. When purchasing, you need to select samples for existing conditions and loads.

Main conclusions

The VAZ 2114 headlights have halogen lamps with an H4 socket by default. These are two-strand designs in which one thread is responsible for the high beam and the other for the low beam. In addition to halogen, the following can be used:

• incandescent lamps;
• xenon;
• LED bulbs.

Most users prefer LEDs, but according to the rules it is necessary to use standard halogen designs. Express your thoughts about lamps for the VAZ 2114 in the comments.

How to choose dashboard lamps

Today, the automotive markets offer a wide selection of different lighting devices for the dashboards of domestic cars: both standard lamps and modernized expensive analogues, which allow you to completely change not only the panel, but also the entire interior lighting.

Location of various sensors and indicators on the dashboard

Experts often advise using LEDs instead of standard lamps - they are more reliable, have lower power consumption and have an attractive soft light.

There is a wide range of instrument panel lamps available in the automotive markets.

The table below lists the lamps that are optimally suitable for the VAZ 2114 dashboard.

Table: Lamps used in the backlight of the VAZ 2114 dashboard

The cost of lamps for the instrument panel is low, and the replacement process itself is not difficult.

Which bulbs are better to put in the headlights of a VAZ 2114?

The dashboard of the VAZ 2114 car displays data that allows the driver to monitor the condition of the car - fuel and engine oil levels, speed, revolutions and engine temperature. The panel must always be in good condition, which is the key to the accuracy of the data shown by the sensors and the absence of discomfort caused by non-functioning backlighting. Quite often, VAZ 2114 owners are faced with the problem of the dashboard backlight not working. The problem is resolved independently, without visiting car services or contacting specialists.

How to replace light bulbs

Installing new lamps is a simple process that novice car owners can do.

Required Tools

To replace you will need the following devices:

• Phillips screwdriver;
• a set of new light bulbs.

Replacing the backlight

To improve the quality of dashboard lighting, it is advisable to replace old lamps with new LEDs - they provide brighter and softer light that does not irritate the eyes, have minimal power consumption and allow you to more accurately read data from devices.

Before you begin installing the lighting fixtures, you need to remove the decorative trim from the music system - the instrument panel and radio on the VAZ 2114 are connected to each other, so this step cannot be avoided. Dismantling is carried out by snapping off the fasteners with a flat screwdriver. The cover is removed from the bottom edge and very carefully, as all the latches can be damaged.

How to disassemble the dashboard

Dismantling the VAZ 2114 dashboard is the first step in the process of replacing backlight bulbs. Without removing the plastic cover it is impossible to get to the lighting fixtures themselves.

Scheme for disassembling the VAZ 2114 dashboard

The dashboard on the VAZ 2114 is disassembled according to the following scheme:

1. Three self-tapping screws are unscrewed, the lower protrusion and the cover are removed.
2. There are five screws on the right console trim that also need to be removed.
3. The screen is removed and the negative terminal is disconnected from the battery.
4. The wiring harness is disconnected from the cigarette lighter.
5. The handle is removed from the gear shift lever.
6. The stove fasteners are removed.
7. The bolts that secure the steering wheel block are carefully unscrewed.
8. Decorative inserts, lamp sockets and LEDs are removed from the panel.
9. The hydraulic corrector illumination lamp is removed using a 21 key.
10. The upper and lower screws are dismantled.

After completing the dismantling of the instrument panel, the wiring circuit is closed to prevent dust, moisture or dirt from entering it.

Only 8 out of 13 lamps can be replaced in the instrument panel of a VAZ 2114.

Before installing new lamps, remove the plastic cover from the instrument panel

Replacement - order

Having figured out how many lamps the dashboard contains, it won’t hurt to find out how to replace them on the 2114th model. The procedure itself is not very complicated, but extremely troublesome.

1. First of all, you will need to disassemble the shield. The radio tape recorder, heater and ventilation control levers are removed from it.
2. Then unscrew the screws holding the decorative panel trim. Before doing this, the steering wheel should be moved to the lowest possible position - this way it will not interfere.
3. Find the screws - there are five of them, and they are closed with plugs. Carefully pry the latter with a knife and pull it towards you. After removing the screws, pull the VAZ-2114 panel towards you.
4. Now you need to unscrew the two screws holding the instrument panel itself. This is done with a Phillips screwdriver.
5. Afterwards, the panel is lowered and the opened terminals of the wire loops are disconnected. Then the element is freely taken out.
6. Next, the damaged light bulb is pulled out - turn it 90 degrees in any direction until the protrusions on the socket fit into the grooves. Then all that remains is to remove the product from the base and put a new one in its place.

As noted above, so that the 2114 panel does not have to be disassembled again after some time, it is advisable to immediately replace all the lamps. This will also ensure an even glow of all elements.

What to do if the VAZ-2115 instrument panel does not work

As mentioned above, it is necessary to establish the cause of the instrument panel malfunction. If they are significant and cannot be repaired, then in this case it is necessary to install a new PCB. For a better outcome when installing the panel, you need to know and follow the following instructions:

1. Replacement of the instrument panel is carried out strictly in accordance with the pinout.
2. First you need to disconnect the cable going to the cigarette lighter.
3. Dismantle the control panel. It is necessary to unscrew 2 screws located along the edges, top and bottom of the instrument panel.
4. The next step will be to dismantle the lining. The difficulty is that it is held in place by clamps, so you need to swing it a little.
5. After this, all wires going to the instrument panel are disconnected (light alarm connector, clock, speedometer, fuel level sensor).
6. The very last step is to dismantle the control panel. All the bolts that secure it are unscrewed. At this stage, you should perform actions very carefully, as you can really damage the wiring.

Damaged contact board

One of the unpleasant variants of the problem is damage to the contact board. Carrying out its repair in a garage is impossible, especially in the absence of an understanding of the placement of elements on the diagram. The presence of damage on its surface covers all the causes of the malfunction, so the best solution to the problem is to replace the assembled part.

The price of a new contact board for the “four” is 2000-3000 rubles. If there is damage to the glass or failure of the tachometer, speedometer, fuel level and temperature gauge motors, we recommend buying an assembled panel, its price is 5000-6000 rubles (instrument panel from VDO). If the backlight on the instrument panel suddenly stops lighting, then it is worth examining the condition of the wiring and plugs supplying power to the lamp. At the moment when the backlight disappears, you can operate the car, but at night there will be a problem with poor visibility of the arrows.

Useful : Designation of the instrument panel and BSK on the VAZ 2114

Solution

The stores offer several options for light sources for replacing lamps in the instrument cluster:

• traditional incandescent lamps,
• LED in a plastic socket,
• SMD LED is a more expensive and reliable option, a super-bright diode.

The choice will always depend on financial capabilities and lighting preferences

The number of backlight and control lamps is up to 19 pieces. It varies slightly depending on the design of the instrument cluster and the modification of the vehicle. Many car owners choose LEDs due to lower energy consumption and longer service life. This backlight is brighter and gives an interesting bluish color instead of the standard green. But due to the design of the diode, the brightness control of the instrument illumination will not work, always turning it on at full power. On a long road trip at night, this can be distracting and irritating to the eyes. But in any case, the choice of light sources is yours.

Nuances of choice

Nowadays many modifications of dimmers are sold, designed for different types of lamps and lighting devices.

Focusing on the use of incandescent lamps, it is necessary to select regulators that are suitable for them according to the following criteria:

1. According to technical and operational characteristics. Typically, dimmers with triacs are used for them. They are less capricious and simple to set up.
2. Based on the total load that the dimmer can withstand. Information about this is indicated on the device, for example, 300 W means that the device can serve a chandelier with 5 lamps of 60 W. It is better to buy a dimmer with some load reserve; a 350 W dimmer is suitable for this case.
3. According to the planned installation location. Depending on the installation location, you should buy a modular, monoblock or built-in type dimmer.
4. By the nature of control: using keys, buttons or using a sensor. The choice of control method depends on personal wishes, the versatility of the device, ease of use and the cost of the controller.