Gauge cluster lights

[Dr. Overkill]

Gang,
I think my hoe's SES light bulb is burned out. Anything I should know about--tips, things to avoid, etc--before digging in to it? Anyone know the replacement bulb # offhand, so I can pick one up in advance? And if the bulb turns out to be ok, any other things to check while I have it apart? I've never had the cluster out before, so I'm going in blindly :cool2:

(I'm considering doing a new gauge face for it while I'm in there, too )

thanks,
_dennis

 

[Dr. Overkill]

I picked up a couple new #74 bulbs, but I can't find a store that carries the socket. I've read that GM solders the bulbs to the sockets, so you have to replace both. So after calling every parts store near-by, I called the dealer and was informed that they don't carry the sockets. I was referred to the service dept where I was told that GM's policy is to replace the entire instrument cluster. WTF?!?

Anyone know the GM part # for the socket so I can try that route instead? Or know a store that carries it? Remember, this is for the tiny #74 bulbs that go in the warning indicators, not the larger (#192?) bulbs that illuminate the gauges. I've found plenty of those larger ones, just not the smaller ones.

thanks,
_dennis

 

[Dr. Overkill]

Continuing the conversation with myself here... ;-)

I was preparing to pull the instrument cluster out today, so I could try swapping the SES bulb with another to verify that it is the bulb that is burned out and not something else, and OF COURSE the thing is working today. Go figure.

I'll just keep an eye on it with each start-up and see if it quits working again.

_dennis

 

[mygreen98]

sounds like bad contact or the bulb filament. i think the bulb pulls out of the socket, if it does not, and the bulb is definitely burnt out, why not break it out of the socket and solder in the new one.

 

[Dr. Overkill]

sounds like bad contact or the bulb filament. i think the bulb pulls out of the socket, if it does not, and the bulb is definitely burnt out, why not break it out of the socket and solder in the new one.

I've been told that the bulbs are soldered into the socket and at least one person said he tried to remove it so he could solder in a new one and failed.

I'm going to drop back to my original plan of swapping it with the seat belt bulb and see if the problem moves. If it does, it's definitely in the bulb or socket. If not, there's a problem with the circuit or the computer.

_dennis