Lights for front window buttons

dukbludvl · February 8, 2005

Hey Guys,

I just noticed that the lights under the front passenger door window and lock buttons, as well as the ones on the front driver side (but only for the rear windows and door lock -- not the front windows buttons on the driver side) are out... can anyone advise me as to where to start looking for this problem? i wonder if a fuse has blown? why would only half the lights on the front driver and all the lights on the front passenger door go out?

Thanks.

99-2door · February 8, 2005

There are replaceable bulbs in the back of the switches. Check those first.

Metz Motorsports · February 8, 2005

I have a similar issue, the front two switches (driver and pass window buttons) arent illuminated. Mine will come on every once in a while, so no fuse or bulb burned out. So maybe a loose connection, maybe yours is too. I've had the switch cluster out and didnt find anything. I'm stumped as well.

quality

asilverblazer · February 8, 2005

My drivers side are out. Anyone know how to take the switch apart, (drivers side window and lock control)

dukbludvl · February 8, 2005

there used to be a site (something like: http://www.sourcenet.ca:9001/) that you could go to in order to get diagrams and repair information... now, the guy says he made it private, but he'll give you a password if it's for personal use... anyone know how to reach him? I can't figure it out from his site. i thought that might help us with our burned out lights problem.

dukbludvl · February 27, 2005

does anyone know how to get to the bulbs under the door lock & window switches? I took the door panel off today to replace a speaker and got the black box that has those two switches out (it's for the right front door), but for the life of me I cannot pry that black box open without feeling like i'm going to break it. please help if you've ever done this.

thanks.

71GMC_3/4T · February 27, 2005

If it's anything like the 4x4 selector switch, it's a snap-together plastic module and the halves are held together with about 6 clips. I was able to work a small screwdriver in from the side to release each clip and they have a slot for another screwdriver to pry it apart. Go gently, and don't work on it if its cold or the plastic will break. Work all the clips out a little before you try to pull it all apart.

Most likely, you have a bad solder joint at the connector pins. I fixed my 4x4 selector by desoldering and resoldering all the pins and it hasn't hiccuped since.

dukbludvl · February 27, 2005

yeah, that's right. it's held together with 6 or 8 snap clips like you're saying. i got it open last night finally.. had to snap the door lock and window buttons off to get it to come apart. the light in there is a tiny blue bulb that seems to be connected right to the green board -- doesn't look like it's easily replaceable.

has anyone replaced these bulbs? is this what yours was like? how did you replace them?

i think i might just end up having to replace the whole box.

71GMC_3/4T · February 28, 2005

Somebody here said they found similar bulbs at RadioShack. They do look like they'd be a pain to replace, and I work in electronics! I'll bet you could buy the bulbs and take it to an electronics repair place and they could fix you right up.

dukbludvl · February 28, 2005

Thanks for all of your input guys. I decided the easiest solution was to just buy the whole switch box new from P&G Chevy for $27, especially since I've already broken the bulb off and I snapped off 1 or 2 of those snaps that hold the box together when I was prying it open.

In case anyone is interested, they replaced the old part with a new part -- the P/N is 15753935.

I'll see if this new part fixes the light and then figure out the best way to deal with fixing the one on my driver's side. Hopefully, now that I've figured out how to open the switch box, I can do it more carefully on the driver's side one and just have to replace the bulb, even if I have to take it to Radio Shack or an electronics place.

asilverblazer · February 28, 2005

How didja get the switches off?

dukbludvl · March 1, 2005

asilverblazer,

I just popped them off with a screwdriver... not hard at all.

You have to first pop off the molding on top of that area... then, you have to disconnect the switch box from the electrical pin connector. then, you pop off the switches.

asilverblazer · March 2, 2005

I got to the popping the switches off but they were a little stubborn so I stopped before I broke something.

dukbludvl · March 4, 2005

Need to edit my last post -- I installed the new switch on the passenger side tonight (along with the blown speaker and the tweeter that had the broken post syndrome) and it did the job... it is now lit up under the buttons when the lights are on.

Now, I just need to order a new switch box for the front driver side... same problem over there...