replace bulb in dash switches
 

The bulb under my "options" button on the right side of the instrument cluster (DIC buttons?) has burnt out. I fully disassembled the button (removed instrument shroud, 3 screws on the button cluster itself, un-clipped the front half and rear half of the button cluster) and have discovered the bulbs have no markings and are in fact soldered onto the circuit board. I've never actually seen these bulbs before, they're just tiny bulbs and not user replaceable.

A search for the part number labeled on the button cluster in GM parts direct (part# 15285916) comes up with nothing. There is another part# listed on the circuit board itself 62500048 and that similarly comes up with no results.

How many volts should these bulbs take? I'd have no problem swapping them out with LED's if I knew the specs.

Or... I suppose I could just replace the whole button cluster, did they change the part#? Whats the new part number?

Wow, they apparently soldered them in this time. On the C-5, they were replaceable. The lamps of course are 12volt but which ones and a source of supply on them we'll have to wait till we see exact measurements. Do you have any pictures of them?

Just one more of gm's genius moves.....the whole switch bank has to be replaced....my reset button is currently out....I feel your pain.


Ron

You could just order the whole assembly, install it, and keep the original one as a source for additional replacement bulbs. I think that's what I'll do when the time comes.

unfortunately i had to reinstall everything so that i could drive and i didn't get any pics.

i've also noticed that now i have two bulbs burned out on that side, the two bottom ones now. apparently it didn't appreciate me taking it apart...

does anyone have a part# for the button assembly?

Instrument panel Cluster and switches Switch Driver info dis
05-09 $61.59 $45.64

20844869

This was for an '07

You could take it apart, and replace it with an LED designed for dashes and get the color you want. This is frequently done to instrument clusters all the time.

Google it .....

not bad at all.

I have a light out too. I had to solder new tiny bulbs into my C5 automatic climate unit so I'm comfortable doing the same here, I just need to get the bulb and a source for them identified.

I would measure the voltage to the bulb before assuming that it is a 12 volt bulb. Lots of electronics like this run on 5 volts too.:thumbs:

For anyone who has taken the unit apart do they look like these? These are the C5 climate control bulbs.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#1505k414/=6dfx1v

We mod/fix these for the C5. Anyone want to send us their part to see if we can fix these?

If the car can drive without it I'd be happy to. Anyone happen to have instructions on how it comes out?

For reference you just kind of yank on it...:ack:

http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s...vecomplete.flv

I'll remove mine tonight. JDub PM me where to send it.

I just replaced all of mine with LEDs from Radio Shack. I needed to put resistors on, to bring down the voltage, & I had to cut the rubber bulb covers to keep the light from turning blue. I also scuffed the LEDs to bring the brightness down. It came out well though. I had to drill the board slightly to allow the LEDs to fit where the bulbs were.

The car drives fine without the board... It's just a group of buttons.

I replaced mine also because of two of them being out. I dont have any use for the old one. So JW send me info if you want it to experiment with.

I have no idea why the "Option" button seems to be out on so many of our cars. It just seems like by far that is the one button whose light goes out. Mine has been out for years.

I took mine out tonight. I'll post some pics up tomorrow AM. Soldering in new ones should be a snap. Looking for a good bulb source now.

What is the voltage? 5V? 12V?

I have a spare one with the Option LED burnt out. PM me if interested

Lee

Here are the pics I snapped. The bulb looks to be a T1 size kind of like these: http://www.topbulb.com/find/prod_lis...Category_E_727.

Still wondering whether it's 12V or 5 V.

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...00510-2052.jpg

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...00510-2052.jpg

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...00510-2053.jpg


http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...00510-2055.jpg

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...00510-2100.jpg

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...510-2100-1.jpg

Just picked these up at the Rat Shack. I'll see if they work tonight or tomorrow. And yes, that is a wireless Z06 mouse. :thumbs:

http://i346.photobucket.com/albums/p...00511-0940.jpg

I installed these last night and they are a perfect fit. My soldering isnt good enough for the plastic centering pieces to go back on the back side but IMO they are not needed. My blackberry locked up on me so I don't have pics of how the bulb looks but the bulb size and brightness are spot on.

Problem is, after fixing the "Options" bulb the ones above and below it went out (Reset and whatever the other one is). I remember this happening when I fixed my C5 HVAC bulbs too. It's like fixing the burned out bulb finds the next weakest link. So I replaced those two and they are all lit up but I ran out of bulbs and didn't want to re-install before replacing the last two. Whats even weirder is that my Mode button bulb is out on the left DIC pod now too! So when doing this I would recommend getting ten bulbs and doing all nine bulbs at once (there are only four on the left pod).

Here's a link to the bulbs I got. http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103780 You may be able to find a better source but these were readily available (although they only had two packs for four bulbs total) at my local store which is in the mall so it's not like they had a big selection.

:cheers:

I'm fairly certain it's a 12v system. I installed resistors on the back of the LEDs & they're still brighter than stock. Doing all 5 made them look uniform (I don't have Heads Up, so I didn't have to do the other side)

I was having trouble getting the pics on this page, so I threw them in a photo gallery.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...&ppuser=356691

I prefer the look of the LEDs even though they are brighter. I just feel better knowing they're not going to burn out again. It should be noted that the dimmer controls no longer works for these lights.

I figured that was your Z06 and the bulbs were just overpackaged:D...good job on this!:thumbs:

I was going to say they are LED's I thought....usually leds are direct circuit board I thought....

My "option" light is also out. Maybe GM should recall these.

Bill:
I'm curious about whether or not you use the instrument dimmer control to reduce brightness and therefore extend the life of the bulbs. I've always been one to keep them as dim as possible and have never had a bulb fail in any of my cars.

BJK

I know that Bill will respond as well...

I have my dash lights dimmed to roughly 2/3 of maximum brightness. After 5 years and 23,000 miles, no dead bulbs.

My option bulb is out too. 5 liter, mind posting up what was involved in replacing the bulb?

Thanks...

Next question how do you use the dimmer switch to keep it dim?:bigears

:skep:This is exactly what I hate about these new cars:toetap:
Something as simple as changing a light bulb should be simple but instead becomes a project when it shouldn't take more than a minute.
Send it in and get hit with the "Corvette Tax" bill again.:toetap::skep:

Worse yet ...... this must mean that these owners actually drive their cars in the dark :willy::willy:

The button backlighting brightens and dims with the rest of the dash and door backlighting when you turn the round knob to the left of the steering wheel (the same knob that you push in and release to turn the footwell and map lights on and off). To dim, turn to the left and release repeatedly until your backlighting reaches the desired brightness; to brighten, turn to the right and release as many times as needed. The setting should remain fixed unless/until you change it again. :cheers:

QUOTE=mpuzach;1574940906]The button backlighting brightens and dims with the rest of the dash and door backlighting when you turn the round knob to the left of the steering wheel (the same knob that you push in and release to turn the footwell and map lights on and off). To dim, turn to the left and release repeatedly until your backlighting reaches the desired brightness; to brighten, turn to the right and release as many times as needed. The setting should remain fixed unless/until you change it again. :cheers:[/QUOTE]

:confused: Ok I will try this again. Someone told me I have to have the car running. I believe it's a matter of turning and releasing at the same time?:bigears

Most auto's put out 13.5 to 15 AMPS. A 5mm LED standard WHITE are 3.5 forward voltage and 20 mA forward current...so you will have to place a 560 ohm resistor, 1/2 watt to step down the voltage so you will not blow the LED. All these specs are on most packages. Try Radio Shack...about a dollar for 5mm. They also offer 3mm LED's.

I hope this helps.

13 to 14.4 amps here:bigears

Anyone?

I'm pretty sure I have my brightness turned all the way up.

I thought I did but a little more detail wouldn't hurt.

- Remove gauge surround by pulling on it as shown in the link on page.
- Remove the DIC controls by unscrewing the two or three phillips head (may be torx, can't remember) screws on each one.
- Pry the clips apart to open the case.
- Cut the old bulbs out
- Solder in the new ones

:iagree:

Thanks. Off to the shack...

Thanks, did this tonight worked great:cheers:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/foru...s-or-more.html