2003 Suburban HVAC Button Lights

[rjdjbd]

Hello / I have a question regarding the HVAC buttons on my 2003 Suburban that light up at night. I discovered the other night that the far-left button (Off) no longer lights up at night. What does it take to gain access to the actual bulb. I'm wondering if it's pretty straight-forward and easy to access and replace the bulb or not worth the effort.

Thank you

 

[OR VietVet]

I am interested in this too. I have a single light out on my display as well but I just had not asked about that yet.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I am interested in this too. I have a single light out on my display as well but I just had not asked about that yet.

I'm sure @05Single or @Thatsquishykid717 might be able to answer, as they're lighting gurus.

 

[05Single]

Have to tear apart and resolder new lights on the mother board. Not easy but doable if you have the skill .

 

[05Single]

Before

after

 

[Thatsquishykid717]

@05Single said it exactly right. If you can solder small areas it’s not super hard. Watch a how to on YouTube. Very easy to take them apart though and bench test them

 

[Fless]

Thread resurrection. Same AUTO HVAC head and my snowflake bulb is out; I'd like to tear into this to replace it using an incandescent bulb. Anyone (@Sam Harris @05Single?) know what size and voltage (12v?) bulbs they take? Link?

 

[clandr1]

Here is a Youtube video I found that should help. I'm also linking to the bulbs you need to buy if you want non-LED replacements.

2003 to 2007 Silverado, Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban Trailblazers Automatic Climate Control Light Bulbs

Chevy Climate Control Light Bulbs. These are brand new replacement light bulbs for the automatic climate controls.

carradiobulbs.com

 

[Fless]

Funny, I just looked at that video. I did buy bulbs from them for my 4x4 and (I think) headlight switch a few years back. Thanks!

EDIT: not the headlight switch but the fog light and wiper switch.

 

[George B]

I have done this too. Not too bad a job.

 

[Fless]

I have done this too. Not too bad a job.

Yeah, looked pretty easy. I have a solder sucker and that makes the desoldering pretty easy. That head unit looks like it's easier to take apart than some of the other modules.

 

[George B]

Yeah, looked pretty easy. I have a solder sucker and that makes the desoldering pretty easy. That head unit looks like it's easier to take apart than some of the other modules.

It is. It’s easy peasy.

 

[clandr1]

It is. It’s easy peasy.

Is a solder sucker truly necessary? Or could it be done with only a soldering gun and new solder?

 

[George B]

Is a solder sucker truly necessary? Or could it be done with only a soldering gun and new solder?

It really helps to clean out the holes for the lamps. At least have some de-soldering ribbon. I have a sucker and it beats ribbon hands down.

 

[Fless]

Is a solder sucker truly necessary? Or could it be done with only a soldering gun and new solder?

You could do it without a solder sucker. He shows how in that video, and I've done it that way. It's just so much easier to do it with one.

 

[Fless]

If you do much circuit board soldering and get one of these you'll wonder why you waited so long. I started off with a Radio Shack sucker that was separate from the iron. But a few years back I got a sucker that has a heated hollow tip, making it so much easier. I don't recall where I got it but it's just like this one:

Vacuum Desoldering Iron

Compact design 40 Watt 110V AC DeSoldering Iron.\n

carradiobulbs.com

 

[George B]

If you do much circuit board soldering and get one of these you'll wonder why you waited so long. I started off with a Radio Shack sucker that was separate from the iron. But a few years back I got a sucker that has a heated hollow tip, making it so much easier. I don't recall where I got it but it's just like this one:

Vacuum Desoldering Iron

Compact design 40 Watt 110V AC DeSoldering Iron.\n

carradiobulbs.com

View attachment 353917

Game changer!

 

[Sam Harris]

Good deal man! Sorry, not very active lately. Should be super easy though. I did all LEDs for my interior controls though, so no idea of voltage / size. (I should say, I mostly did… still haven’t finished, after mucking up my driver door panel.. definitely need to finish and fix that..!)

 

[S33k3r]

Good deal man! Sorry, not very active lately. Should be super easy though. I did all LEDs for my interior controls though, so no idea of voltage / size. (I should say, I mostly did… still haven’t finished, after mucking up my driver door panel.. definitely need to finish and fix that..!)

This might help: Door Panel Light (LED)

 

[Sam Harris]

This might help: Door Panel Light (LED)

Thanks, those are actually pretty nice looking. I haven’t actually replaced any incandescent bulbs for the interior lighting, as I feel it’s bright enough, and not at all glaring. (Also added the footwell lights -one of my first mods ever) All I’ve done is the interior controls / gauges, etc… kinda wish I would have gone with green, rather than blue.. but oh well. Now I need to finish the job. Lol. Everything but the door panels have been swapped from incandescent, to blue, dimmable LEDs. I’m still very happy with it. The steering wheel controls were a PITA..