Volkswagen Passat (1996-2000) - Air Vent Illumination Removal and Replacement

Volkswagen Passat Mk5 (B5) (1996-2000)

Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Production	1996–2000
Assembly	Emden & Zwickau, Germany
Class	Large family car / Mid-size car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan (automobile) 5-door station wagon
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group B5
Engine(s)	Petrol engines: 1.6 L I4 Volkswagen EA827 engine 1.8 L I4 ADR/APT 20v 1.8 L I4 AEB/APU/ANB 20v Turbo 2.0 L I4 AUZ 2.3 L VR5 AGZ 2.8 L V6 ACK/APR 30v Diesel engines: 1.9 L I4 AHU/AHH TDI 1.9 L I4 AVB TDI 1.9 L I4 AFN/AVG TDI 1.9 L I4 AJM/ATJ TDI 2.5 L V6 AFB TDI
Transmission(s)	5-speed manual transmission 5-speed 5HP19 automatic transmission
Wheelbase	106.4 in (2703mm)
Length	184.1 in (4676mm)(saloon) 183.8 in (4669mm)(estate)
Width	68.5 in (1740mm)
Height	57.4 in (1458mm)(saloon) 59 in (1499mm)(estate)
Curb weight	1406 kg (3,100 lb)
Related	Audi A4

Contents 1 Tools Needed 2 Supplies Needed 3 Instructions 4 Videos 5 See Also

[edit] Tools Needed

• Two flat head screw drivers
• Needle nose pliers

[edit] Supplies Needed

• Replacement bulb (Part number-3B0-919-243A)

[edit] Instructions

1. Take two flat head screw drivers or two butter knives and insert them in-between the upper and lower housing and the dash. Carefully pry up on the top and down on the bottom until the vent starts to move. There is 4 notches that hold the small vents in and 6 that hold the main center vent in. The dash will be pushed away from the vent, but don't be alarmed, the dash is tough. Once the vent has begun the move out of the dash, carefully pull out the vent. It might be hard at first, the seal that holds the vent to the duct is sticky.
   

   

   Driver Side Vent
2. Once out, unplug the wire connector from the vent and remove.
3. Here is the side view of the vent, removed. The white part is the housing for the green "Fiber Optic" part that transmit the light from the bulb. In the vertical part of the housing, you can see the black housing that is the bulb.
   

   

   Driver Side Vent
4. I have removed the white housing, although you do not need to, to remove the bulb. Looking down into the green "Fiber Optic" housing, you can see a notch behind the bulb housing. I used a piece that I trimmed off of a circle template, however anything that is thin, hard will work. I call it the "key". There is a tab that you must disconnect to get the bulb out, hence the need for something to stick in there. Once you stick it in the notch, you will feel the "key" start to get harder to push, then it will ease up. At that point the tab is released. Note-keep this "key" that you make. It will come in handy if you need to change anymore lights.
   

   

   Driver Side Vent Bulb Housing
5. Once the "key" has released the tab, used a pair of needle nose pliers to pull out the bulb. Simple as that.
   

   

   Driver Side Vent Bulb
6. Push the new bulb in, hook up the wire connector, and push the vent back in. Make sure that the wire is not trapped in-between the vent and the duct.

[edit] Videos

[edit] See Also