LED power window switch mod 00-02 Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban

[ScottyBoy]

I did this mod on my 2001 Suburban, but all 00-02 Tahoes and Yukons have the same door switches, so this write up should apply to all those models. 03 on up have different switches, they have tiny SMT LEDs in them from the factory.
I like the look of Blue LED's so I decided to replace all the backlighting on all my interior switches and guages. I decided to start with the window and door lock switches on the doors.

I started off by purchasing some 5mm blue LED's along with the resistors needed for them from www.oznium.com

Then I removed the drivers side switch from the truck. To open up the switch, you have to remove all the buttons. I used a small screwdriver to pop them off. Be careful, they are only held on by two lil plastic tabs on each switch. Its one lil tab on each side, so pry under the side right where the switch pivots.

Now with all of them removed...

You can now pry the switch open. Just work your way around the switch, undoing the tabs.

Now you have the switch open to work on it.

You'll see some clear plastic light diffusers surrounding the stock bulbs, these will have to be removed. If you leave these in place ans just swap an LED in place of the stock bulb, it will look like crap. For even light coverage on every switch, I hot glued an led into each switch.

Just carefully pry up at the bottom parts where it srround the bulb.

These will not be reused.
Now you will need to find the hot and ground for the lights, which I've already done for you. The ground is the far left outer row, the hot is the far right outer row.

This is where you will solder your hot and ground leads for the LED's.

For each led, you will need to solder a hot and a ground wire to it, and solder a resistor into the hot wire. (unless you chosse to skip this step and pay the extra $$ for prewired LED's)

Heres all the LED's wired up and ready to go, with heat shrink tubing over all the solder joints.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Now you can glue each LED in place as close to the center of each switch as you can. For the lock swich button, I used two LED's to get better light coverag on the switch. Also used two for the WindowLock button. I cut the two clear "legs" off the window lock button and hot glued and LED on each side firing light up into the switch.

And heres the window switches with the LED's....

Now once you get all the LED's glued in place, test each one before you solder tham all together. Then once you are sure they are all working, solder all your hots and ground together and cover them with heat shrink tubing.

Now tuck all the loose wires out of the way and glue them down if you have to. Make sure you have enough slack at the top of each wire where it connects to the LED so the switch can pivot freely.
Put everything back together in reverse steps from how you took it all apart. Heres some shots of the end result.

And with the switch mounted back on the door.

And heres the passenger side switch in action...

This mod looks GREAT at night, and even during the day.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Also, I skipped a step. I removed the stock bulbs by cutting the off with a small pair of cutters. Be careful making sure that no solder or wire is touching each other after you remove it.
If your stock bulb is burnt out, you can just choose to leave it there if you want to.

 

[ScottyBoy]

I'll also do these for other members for some cash. Just mail me your switches. PM me.

 

[stayedge]

wow beautiful! i would mail you mine =/ but i need them
how much would this run?

 

[Doomsta510]

I'm sure I could do this myself but I probably wouldn't have the time to, what are you asking for this on all 4 doors?

 

[Huck]

How much to do this for a 2005?

 

[ScottyBoy]

How much to do this for a 2005?

PM me.

 

[DSHZNET]

I tried sending you a Pm but it wont go through because i havent posted enough. but send me a message saying how much you would charge me to do all four of my switch panel for a 2001 tahoe.

 

[casper]

would you be interested in doing one on a 06 yukon I will bring it to you i am in NE Oklahoma but go to the LA area once a month

 

[carcrz]

hey scotty are the switches real bright at night???????

 

[waxworkz]

i will start my window switches on friday, any hints for the mirror switch??

 

[Rivieraracing]

Nice mod, looks good and super bright!! Anyone know what bulb would be a direct replacement for a burnt out OEM one? Not sure if I'm ready to fully rework all the switches!

 

[vatahoelt]

Nice mod, looks good and super bright!! Anyone know what bulb would be a direct replacement for a burnt out OEM one? Not sure if I'm ready to fully rework all the switches!

this bulb should be suitable.

RadioShack part number 272-1154

 

[Rivieraracing]

That's the same bulb I bought and used for my A/C buttons and comparing them to the still working window switch buttons, the a/c button seem a ton brighter than the window switches. I'll just have to crack one open and see what's in there!! Thanks for the help!

 

[vatahoelt]

That's the same bulb I bought and used for my A/C buttons and comparing them to the still working window switch buttons, the a/c button seem a ton brighter than the window switches. I'll just have to crack one open and see what's in there!! Thanks for the help!

that's probably because the window switch bulbs have those blue coverings on them, maybe?

 

[ScottyBoy]

that's probably because the window switch bulbs have those blue coverings on them, maybe?

Yeah, the window switchs have blue coverings on them, plus the bulb is in a diffuser to "spread" the light to the switches. There isnt a bulb right behind each switch. But the AC buttons have a bulb directly behind each switch, thats why they are so much brighter. Thats also why I decided to glue an LED directly beneath each window switch, because I wanted them brighter to match all the rest of my LEDs.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Did you separate the board from the plastic where the wiring harness connects? Looks like you didn't have to but was curious if you knew the right way to do so! I'm just replacing the bulbs with regular ones and couldn't figure out how to separate them without breaking the board!

 

[ScottyBoy]

Did you separate the board from the plastic where the wiring harness connects? Looks like you didn't have to but was curious if you knew the right way to do so! I'm just replacing the bulbs with regular ones and couldn't figure out how to separate them without breaking the board!

You can't separate it unless you unsolder each harness pin from the board. I figured that out and just left it alone and did all my soldering on the top side of the board.

 

[Rivieraracing]

That's what I figured as well, not sure if I'm gonna try that or not!! Thanks for the response and this thread!