HVAC dash module lightbulb out
 

I have a 2002 SC2. One of the light bulbs in the HVAC control module on the dash has burned out. Are these easy to replace? What would be the procedure for dash disassembly to get at it?

I've never laid eyes on a 3rd gen Sat so I don't know the dash config.

I do have a chilton's 91-02 S car book but it's general about everything and specific about nothing. But I'll look.

Hardest part will likely be ID'ing the bulbs themselves. Might have to go to the GM dealer on this one unless someone on the forum knows what they are and where to get them. If you're lucky, they switched from the tiny minibulbs to normal size but I doubt it.
Change whatever bulbs are within reach, since you'll be rattling them around assembling/disassembling which effectively prematurely ages the filaments.

Well, I guess I can crack it open and see what it looks like. After these messages we'll be right back!....

So I opened up the dashboard getting to the climate control.


If anyone's interested in the process for that, here's a link to that.


http://www.cardomain.com/ridepost/63...turn-s-series/


In the end, I had to admit defeat and put everything back together. The lights are LEDs soldered to a circuit board. I have neither the equipment or the talent required for soldering. So, there's that.


In the process of doing this, I found that I had more broken pieces. Fortunately, I can live with them.

That is an awesome documentation of a pain in the ass journey that did not have to end in defeat. You could either get a replacement board/AC Head uni from a salvage yard and hope it functions AND has two working bulbs, or pull that board with switches attached and find an electronics repair shop to solder it for you. Just check the voltage across it so you know what to replace it with.

If you do, I'll make a sticky out of the whole thing. Hell, I might anyway
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Other members----please feel free to document your repairs and projects in the "how to" step by step guide method. I'll post them as stickies . The forum is a bit lacking in "how to"'s. The more pictures the better!!

Thanks derf! Maybe one day i'll learn how to solder and do this repair myself. There may be some LEDs out in my IP as well, so I'll make a weekend project of it sometime. At least I know how to tear it all down!

I'll make a new post so you can sticky it.

Why thank you! Many others will benefit.
I did not know they had gone to LEDs for 3rd gen dash. I'm waiting for a few more bulbs to go out on my 97 sc2 before I open it up, as the older dash covers have a history of never really fitting quite right afterwards, presumably due to distortion while removing it (so I have READ)

After removing the dash yesterday, I heard no squeaks today. I'll keep you posted if I hear any. Then again, it'll depend on age, exposure to sun, cleaning chemicals, etc.