Pricey TOYOTA a/c panel lights

I'm new to the site. I have an '06 TuRD TACO 4x4. The a/c panel lights died a few moons back and Toyota wants my first born in payment for one bulb. Not bad except I need two. I went to Amazon and got some LEDs that were supposed to fit my vehicle. They didn't. I contacted the vendor thru Amazon and 'splained the issue. He/she said to turn the LED 180 degs and it should work. Uh...The hole's too SMALL. Ok, I attempted to install after turning the LED 180 degs and hey! Check it out... The hole's STILL to small.
Let me back up a bit. Prior to trying to insert the light, I checked for juice and I had 7.5 vdc at both sockets. after attempting a second insertion, I have no volts. None! I do have instrument lights at the speedo etc
I checked the fuses under the dash on the drivers side as well as under the hood. Can't locate any fuse marked cluster except the 7.5 amp under the dash marked Gauges.
Anyone have any ideas aside from use a flashlight? Anybody?

 

Have you lost any other lights since the voltage disappeared at the sockets? Certainly sounds like a fuse issue, but if you've been through them already I can't imagine what else it would be.

Unlike you, I took out a second mortgage on my house and bought two of those bulbs from a dealership. How two incandescent bulbs the size of a fucking a thumb tack can cost $12 each is beyond me...

 

$12 bucks! Dang, but now that I have read this I will probably pay it when the time comes to avoid the hassle. That does for sure sound like a fuse issue though.

 

I still have my dash lights such as speedo, tach, etc. Lost my 4x4 rotary switch light and lockup button light. But I lost those a couple of years back. I just recently decided to see 'bout replacing the a/c panel lights. Guess I shoulda stayed with the flash light.
The only major thing I would want to if it could be done is to replace the electro controlled transfer case with a unit with a neutral position so I can tow it without a driveline disconnect.
I've thought of perhaps using a plugin map light to illuminate the panel.

 

I bought these for my '08. I had to file the edges a bit to get them to fit, but they work fine ( might have to turn 180 to get correct polarity )

If this is what you got, there is some minor fitting to be done, nothing terrible that can't be done with a nail file or fine sand paper.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0146AMHEG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00

they also aren't stupid bright like some of the LEDs I have seen

 

Ok...2 days later...I decided to check my parking lights and found they weren't coming on. And this putz checked the tail light fuse and YUP....You guessed it. Blown. Changed it and now I got juice at the light sockets. Now to try to shave a LED to see if it will give me lite.

 

Just remember, LEDs are polarity specific, if they don't work the first time, turn them 180° in the socket

Clean off the ridges from the PC board edge, that's what was blocking mine for going in

 

After some filing the edges of the LED back boards I was able to coach them in. Still not happy I had to modify what was supposed to be a fit, but they still work. thanks for the info.

 

Look at it this way, NO, they aren't a perfect fit, but for the little elbow grease involved, you paid less for 6 of those than ONE crazy over priced bulb from Toyota.

That's a win