uncovered yet another design flaw <sigh>

How many of you 348 guys have some, or all of the lights out in your buttons next to the shifter? (unlock, lock, fuel door, dome light)
Well, 3 out of 4 of mine are out... so I figured i'd tear into it and replace the bad ones. they should be just like the dash light bulbs right? WRONG!

As most of you probably already know, those 4 buttons are one complete and SEALED (considered unserviceable) assembly... but that wasn't enough to discourage me. I carefully forced it apart only to discover that the bulbs are micro-tiny and are soldered into the PCB inside the unit... not like a 74 bulb, and NOT plug-in type replaceable. Actually the whole design is stupid... way over-engineered like the rest of the car.

Anyway, i'm going to Radio Shack or similar to find the bulbs and fire up the ol soldering iron. But those without these tools and/or skills will probably have to live with your dark buttons, or replace the entire button assembly.

If anyone really wants me to photo-diary the repair, let me know before the weekend.

 

Daniel, the buttons you sell are just the cap & actuator, the light is not part of that assembly. When pressed, the brass contact you see touches the contacts on the central circuit board and completes a circuit... unless it was broken clean off by some violent action, I dont see any reason that part would ever need to be replaced.

I thought about that, if its doable and they would be bright enough, I will definitely go that route.

ok so, i'll do a photo write-up on the fix for you guys... happy to do it.

 

ok guys... this is going to take longer than I expected (of course). I went to the biggest electronics distributor in Vegas, they had 1 or 2 of half the LED's they carry, and were out of the other half... including (of course) the ones I need for this project.
So, I had them order the right ones for me, but no clue when they will get them in. Radio Shack had nothing for this, not even the standard light bulbs.

In case anyone wants to get a head start, go find yourself four 3mm (T-1), 12V white LED's (or green, but they wont be as bright)... with integrated resistors, or you'll be soldering a 550 or 680 ohm resistor to each one, if you get a lower voltage LED's.
(if they are 2.xV LED's, you'll need four 680 ohm resistors. if they are 3.xV LED's, you'll need four 550 ohm resistors)
Until I pull this thing apart again, I wont if there is a possibility that you may only need 1 resistor, but they're cheap, if you dont use 3 of them, you wont be out but a few nickels.

As if that didnt suck enough, some guy T-boned me in my work van on the way there... just a fender-bender thing, nobody hurt or anything... but my driver door and front fender are all caved in.

 

The worst baby! but you dont actually think that everyone who lives in Vegas is charmed, and we spend all our free-time in casino's emptying the chip trays... do you??