Tried to fix the dash lights on my SD today. Heard everyone talking about this octopus in the dash for the fiber optics. What lights exactly does this thing power? The top 4 switches? I put 4 new bulbs in the Climate control unit, took one look at the octopus and said f*&%^ that!

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I found it!

While trying to figure out if I had a loose connection on my A/C I replaced two bad bulbs while I was in there. The first was on the thermostat wheel. Then I started looking to the very top back of the fire wall and saw a bunch of stuff converging dead center. Sure enough - I found the bulb in the middle, replaced it, and now my gear selector is illuminated! Sweet!

Autozone had those funky light bulbs (made by sylvania) - first place I checked! I wish they were brighter, but, they look about as bright as the rest of the switches.

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~shell
As of 2/2010:
2001 CLK55 0o\=*=/o0
13.6 @ 106mph
10K mi
1984 300SD
260K mi and going and going...
97 S600
46K miles
1991 Sentra SE-R (extremely dorked with)
www.se-r.net

Maybe you looked too hard. All you have to do is pull out the head of the octopus and replace the little bulb.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SE

Yes, and make sure that each "tentacle" of the octopus is secured inside a switch!

I found the damn thing but could barely get a finger on it. Does it just pull straight off or what? Extremely tight in there!!

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

In my 83 SD the "octopus" is the fiber optic light source for the switches in the upper console ( sun roof, antenna, rear dome light and rear window defroster ) It was also the light source for the shift gate, the space is tight, I used 17" needle nose pliers which made it fairly easy.