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Replacing bulbs in heater control panel.
We all experience burnt bulbs...
Parts needed
These are the replacement bulbs you will need to do this little project.
Tools needed
Simple Phillips screw driver
Ok lets do this!
Remove both of these screws.
First you want to remove the ashtray and expose the two screws that are holding the bezel in place.
Remove the ashtray holder by simply lifting it upwards.
Once the radio is removed,notice underneath the bezel two screws,they need to be removed.One on the left and one on the right.
You need to remove the radio to access the control panel bezel.
Right screw...
Once these two screws are removed,gently pull towards you the control panel face plate.It might be a little stiff since there are several wiring harnesses that haven't been touched probably since the car was manufactured.
Now disconnect each harness very gently,there are small fiber optic wires connected to them.I will show you more in depth a little later on...
Gently now....
Now that the harness are disconnected,you will notice that those fiber optic lights are the small black wires that are inserted into the top of each harness.Leave them alone for now.Don't worry about it.
Here is one of four light bulb holders that are connected to your heater control.
I had a few that were simply broken or were burnt.
Each light holder go in a specific place.One is for the heat control on the left panel,two are for the heat exchanger one on the left and another on the right,and the last one goes to the far right at the heater blower speed control.
I omitted to tell you that you would need a 10mm open closed wrench to loosen two nuts holding the control module in place,by loosening these nuts you will then be able to pull that panel towards you and have better access to the bulbs holders,
One of the burnt bulbs...
These are the two central bulb holders.
The replacement bulbs are next!
Here is a better view of the bulb holders.
Once the bulbs are replaced,you need to refit the control module back in place.Make sure both nuts are loose enough to let you slide that module back in place and then re tighten both nuts.It may need some fine tuning at the end of this operation to make sure your face plate fits perfectly.
The key here is to be patient,you were able to remove it,your able to put it back in place.
Now those fiber optic wires!
I strongly suggest that you insert every fiber optic wires inside the switches before connecting them back to the panel.They all go at the top of each switch except for the hazard one witch has its own light inside.
Just above the screw driver is the fiber optic light sticking out the top of the switch.
Now connect all of the harnesses back where they belong.There are five (5) of them,one for the dome light far left,one for the sun roof,one for the hazard,next the electric antenna and last your rear back glass defogger.
Now install your control panel face plate,this is where you might need to fine tune the adjustment of the control switches to make it fit just right.
Don't forget the two screws under the face plate.
Reinstall your radio and don't pinch any wires while doing so,otherwise you will have to start all over again.
Radio is back in place.
Radio face plate is on...
Put the ashtray holder back in place,and reinstall both screws holding down.
Voila!
All four bulbs where replaced.
All done!
That wasn't too hard now was it?
It took me more time to add this subject to my site then the whole job itself.
