2002 Tahoe Climate Control Lighting

[TwiztidPixel]

My climate control unit in the dash is completely dark at night. The amber lights for AC, defrost etc turn on when activated, but the back lighting is completely gone. Is it normal for all of the lights to just go at the same time?

I will admit, this is something I noticed when it started getting cooler as I don't use AC. So, I have no idea when this happened.

I checked any fuses that made sense and they're all good.

Does anyone know what bulbs go in this thing? I realize they're soldered in and some are different voltages and/or sizes.

 

[Tonyrodz]

My temp control lighting is also out in my 03. Probably happens due to old age.

 

[ScottyBoy]

There's a tiny bulb in each of the buttons along the bottom, those usually burn out first. Then in the main panel behind the three knobs, there's four light bulbs. But these light bulbs are wired in series (like old miniature Christmas lights) so when one bulb goes out, the other bulb is dead. They are wired in two sets of two. So if one bulb dies, you actually have two bulbs go dark. If you have one bulb in each series fail, then all four of the bulbs will go dark.
And @Tonyrodz , if you have the 03+ AC panel with the two "sliders" to adjust the temperature, then the bulbs in your panel are wired the same way, two sets if bulbs in series. The 03+ digital AC control is the only one that has each bulb with it's own positive and negative lead, not Daisy chained to another bulb. All 00-06 overhead rear AC controls are wired in series as well.

 

[ScottyBoy]

Check out this thread I did back in 2010. It explains a lot about what I just described, plus it had a LOT of detailed pictures.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/thre...e-yukon-ac-control-backlights-with-leds.16839

 

[Tonyrodz]

There's a tiny bulb in each of the buttons along the bottom, those usually burn out first. Then in the main panel behind the three knobs, there's four light bulbs. But these light bulbs are wired in series (like old miniature Christmas lights) so when one bulb goes out, the other bulb is dead. They are wired in two sets of two. So if one bulb dies, you actually have two bulbs go dark. If you have one bulb in each series fail, then all four of the bulbs will go dark.
And @Tonyrodz , if you have the 03+ AC panel with the two "sliders" to adjust the temperature, then the bulbs in your panel are wired the same way, two sets if bulbs in series. The 03+ digital AC control is the only one that has each bulb with it's own positive and negative lead, not Daisy chained to another bulb. All 00-06 overhead rear AC controls are wired in series as well.

That' what I have. I wish I was easier then soldering. Like the old days, the bulbs just twisted in. Do you know what the number of the bulb is?

 

[TwiztidPixel]

There's a tiny bulb in each of the buttons along the bottom, those usually burn out first. Then in the main panel behind the three knobs, there's four light bulbs. But these light bulbs are wired in series (like old miniature Christmas lights) so when one bulb goes out, the other bulb is dead. They are wired in two sets of two. So if one bulb dies, you actually have two bulbs go dark. If you have one bulb in each series fail, then all four of the bulbs will go dark.
And @Tonyrodz , if you have the 03+ AC panel with the two "sliders" to adjust the temperature, then the bulbs in your panel are wired the same way, two sets if bulbs in series. The 03+ digital AC control is the only one that has each bulb with it's own positive and negative lead, not Daisy chained to another bulb. All 00-06 overhead rear AC controls are wired in series as well.

Ah, it all makes sense now. I checked out your thread, looks like a pretty simple project. One more thing to accomplish over holiday break assuming I can find the bulbs.

Thank you!

 

[ScottyBoy]

That' what I have. I wish I was easier then soldering. Like the old days, the bulbs just twisted in. Do you know what the number of the bulb is?

Sorry, I do not know the part number on the bulbs. I don't ever replace the bulbs, I always just remove them and install LEDs in place of the bulbs. I have found a bulb from Radio Shack that replaces the small 12v bulb behind the temp sliders. It's an exact match, but it's a bit dimmer than the original.

Ah, it all makes sense now. I checked out your thread, looks like a pretty simple project. One more thing to accomplish over holiday break assuming I can find the bulbs.
Thank you!

Finding the bulbs will be tricky. I tried several times ordering bulbs made by "Eiko" which I thought would work based on the specs I read online. I just wasted my time and money because they we're WAY too bright, so bright that the AC control panel was getting hot! But the Radio Shack bulb I described above will work in the bottom buttons on the 00-02 AC panel, but slightly dimmer than the original stock bulbs.

 

[drowssap]

This might sound dumb BUT....I have an overhead panel that is dark. I gave it a few good taps and they turned on!

 

[TwiztidPixel]

I went ahead and just ordered some LEDs and resistors, gives me a reason to convert everything else inside lol.

Sent from my ZTE Axon 7 using Tapatalk

 

[TwiztidPixel]

Well I went through the process of soldering all the LEDs in and got nothing. I'm not sure if I got the polarity wrong or what.