It's been five years since I last messed with my dome light and now I've finally got it repaired. When I went to get a bulb the parts catalogs are listing a DE3021 which is a T2 3W bulb. Problem is that bulb is too small - looks like it needs a T3 such as a DE3175.

My concern is going from the "recommended" 3W to a 10W bulb. Realistically that's still less than an amp of current for the 10W, but I figured I ought to double check. What bulbs are you folks using in the dome light? I was going to check the factory books as well but foxed.ca is down at the moment. I also do not want an LED; just not a fan of the look (especially because I've misplaced my lens for it).

Thanks.

 

foxed.ca is up now

Foxed.ca - Mazda RX-7 Manuals

 

I'd go LED just for the amp savings.

 

I went LED with these. I know you said no to LEDs but they really make it bright in there.

 

Thx - Just placed my order.

 

Haha, well alright. I originally wanted to stray from LEDs because of the harsher, brighter light, but perhaps I was a bit quick to dismiss them. That would also make the current increase a moot point. Still not a fan of them for blinkers or brakes because of the instant on/off, but that's an aside.

Anywho, I'll give an LED a shot and try to find my lens. Apparently 1980 has a different lens than 79, but you can seemingly only find the 79 version for sale. Hopefully I can locate it in my stash.

 

i got my led from rockauto. Love it. I have a 85 and was able to buy the lens brand new from the dealer. Not sure about your 80, have you checked there?

 

Find a “warm” LED. That will be closest to the incandescent bulb in color temperature.

 

I haven't checked the dealer yet, no, although from what I was finding online the 80 model appears to be unobtainium. As I mentioned, the lens for 79 is available everywhere (which is extremely similar to the 80 version by the looks of it), but the two have different part numbers. The lens for 81+ is also quite common, it's just that darn 1980 model... Tomorrow I'm going to take a look through my bins, as now that I've seen a photo of it I know I have one somewhere.

It's the same issue with finding "warm white" LED headlight bulbs - quality options just don't exist. I see a couple no-names out there but I'm not exactly keen on them. As of writing this I have a Sylvania LED DE3175 installed and even though I'm not nuts on the color, it's so much better than the complete lack of light I had before, and it only draws 1W. For now it'll do but I'm keeping my eyes open for warmer color options.

 

I buy all of my led bulbs through superbrightleds. They have great products and their customer service is top notch plus you can shop all bulbs bu year make and model! Here's a link:

https://www.superbrightleds.com/vehi...sid=PjOcr5NHDt

 

Are you referencing the dome light cover? I have both 79 and 80 model cars and the dome light cover is the same. I know early 79's had a milky white colored cover before they went to the clear one with diamond cut pattern inside. Hmmm, maybe this will be another one of those new things that you learn by hanging around here....

 

I upgraded all the bulbs, in and out with LEDs.....they are super bright....

 

I hate bulb shopping for my car , half of the stuff online doesn't even work . That being said i THINK i got sent a 80's dome light for my 79 which as you stated , is slightly the wrong size .
I recently had a whole fiasco with the tail lights , the dash would light up when i would hit the brakes ! Turns out the bulb was shorting . Cleaned the conectors and added a little bit of tape between the two nipples and it solved that.

 

As Banzai states -79/80 lens is identical except for optics. If your replacement is not fitting right then its not a 79/80.

Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Probably but I ordered mine from Rock Auto and the part was "79'80" did not fit my car. Had to go to pepboys .

 

Not sure what you get from the auto stores or on line. My input is based from OEM factory parts.

 

I just used my old broken one and eyeballed it for the dome light.
For the bulbs used FSM.

 

Thank you, I was hoping that might be the case. The parts catalogs refer to them with different part numbers so I wasn't sure what the difference was. Good to know it was just a color/pattern change and fitment remained the same. Thanks again.