Little button on steering whell don''t light up!

My fan button on the steering wheel doesn't light up. How difficult it is to replace the bulb? What are the steps to do so? Also the lights on the gear shift don't light up, Is that normal?

Thanks.

I have the same problem but with the volume control. Also my gas tank and trunk buttons do not work on my remote or on the door panel...is the fuse under the hood or under the back seat behind the driver...thanks for the help

. . my gas tank and trunk buttons do not work on my remote or on the door panel...is the fuse under the hood or under the back seat behind the driver..
This is for a '98 Aurora and shows the location of all the fuses.
There's also a link on the website to get an owner's manual.

http://home.achilles.net/~howardm/aurora/underhood.php

On the 01 aurora you need to gently pry out the switches. This is most easily done when the temperature is warm and the plastic on either side of the switch is soft so that you can push it back. Both switches on each side come out together as one unit. Unplug the wiring harness. You can go buy a new switch set (this is how the dealer would do it) for a lot of money or you can replace the bulb for about $1.00 or less. If only one bulb is out, I would replace both anyway so that the brightness matches, and I'll bet the other one goes out soon anyway.

To replace the bulb you need soldering skills. Do this in a location where you won't lose small parts, as there are several inside. You take the switch apart from the back side by pushing the plastic side pieces back with a small screwdriver alowing the central portion to slide out. Now you will be inside of the switch and the light bulb is right there. It is soldered on to the circuit board in its little white "boot". Pop the bulb and boot off with your fingers. Take the old bulb out of the plastic boot and take the green plastic sleeve off of the bulb. Go to radio shack and buy a new 12 v bulb that is the same physical size. I replaced my bulbs with 60 milliamp bulbs, they are slightly brighter than the old bulbs. You might see if you can find 40 or 50 instead. Put the green sleeve on the new bulb. Solder the new bulb on to the contacts. Don't try using the plastic boot. Don't cut the wires on the new bulb to length until after you solder it on. I found that the long wires made excelent "handles" to control the bulb position with until soldered in place. Once soldered on the board, bend the extra wire back and forth a few times and it will break at the solder edge. Put it back together and you should be in business.

I called the dealer about these lights too (I also own a 2001), the switches are about $18/each. Might be worth replacing the switch than going thru all the trouble of taking the switch apart...in my opinion anyway.

I called the dealer about these lights too (I also own a 2001), the switches are about $18/each. Might be worth replacing the switch than going thru all the trouble of taking the switch apart...in my opinion anyway.

I'm not sure I believe $18.
Are you sure you were talking about the same thing as the dealer?
On the classic you get both switches, heater and radio, under 1 part number, and the price depends on the color and is about $250.

I called my dealer. They wanted $19.00 for the hvac switch and $30.00 for the radio switch. If you have soldering skills, this is a 5 minute job. If not, go buy the new one. I have to say, I just assumed they were going to screw me big time on a new switch, so I didn't even bother asking. At the price, I would call it a small time screw job. One other issue, radio shack stocks the light bulbs, my dealer needed to order the switch.

I called my dealer. They wanted $19.00 for the hvac switch and $30.00 for the radio switch. If you have soldering skills, this is a 5 minute job. If not, go buy the new one. I have to say, I just assumed they were going to screw me big time on a new switch, so I didn't even bother asking. At the price, I would call it a small time screw job. One other issue, radio shack stocks the light bulbs, my dealer needed to order the switch.

I'd like to know the GM part number for the switch you were quoted on.
It seems amazing to me that the switch on a classic would cost so much compared to the same thing on a Gen 2.
A classic # is 16246133 for a Light Oak switch, this is listed at $305.77, GM Parts direct sell it at half price for $152.88.

I'd like to know the GM part number for the switch you were quoted on.
It seems amazing to me that the switch on a classic would cost so much compared to the same thing on a Gen 2.
A classic # is 16246133 for a Light Oak switch, this is listed at $305.77, GM Parts direct sell it at half price for $152.88.


Didn't ask the part number. But our conversation was pretty clear cut so I doubt he quoted some other parts. I agree, though, I would have expected gm to take you to the cleaners on that kind of part.

As it turns out, the blulbs on the side that still had the original bulbs went out last week and I replaced them today. Took me ten minutes total including getting out and putting away the tools.

On the 01 aurora you need to gently pry out the switches. This is most easily done when the temperature is warm and the plastic on either side of the switch is soft so that you can push it back. Both switches on each side come out together as one unit. Unplug the wiring harness. You can go buy a new switch set (this is how the dealer would do it) for a lot of money or you can replace the bulb for about $1.00 or less. If only one bulb is out, I would replace both anyway so that the brightness matches, and I'll bet the other one goes out soon anyway.

To replace the bulb you need soldering skills. Do this in a location where you won't lose small parts, as there are several inside. You take the switch apart from the back side by pushing the plastic side pieces back with a small screwdriver alowing the central portion to slide out. Now you will be inside of the switch and the light bulb is right there. It is soldered on to the circuit board in its little white "boot". Pop the bulb and boot off with your fingers. Take the old bulb out of the plastic boot and take the green plastic sleeve off of the bulb. Go to radio shack and buy a new 12 v bulb that is the same physical size. I replaced my bulbs with 60 milliamp bulbs, they are slightly brighter than the old bulbs. You might see if you can find 40 or 50 instead. Put the green sleeve on the new bulb. Solder the new bulb on to the contacts. Don't try using the plastic boot. Don't cut the wires on the new bulb to length until after you solder it on. I found that the long wires made excelent "handles" to control the bulb position with until soldered in place. Once soldered on the board, bend the extra wire back and forth a few times and it will break at the solder edge. Put it back together and you should be in business.

Are you saying that I should be prying out the switches themselves individually or the rubber that is connected to the steering wheel. By doing this, the switches will follow?

Also can you tell me if the swiches on the dash for trip and trip reset can be pry out the same way to replace the bulbs?

Thanks.

Are you saying that I should be prying out the switches themselves individually or the rubber that is connected to the steering wheel. By doing this, the switches will follow?

Also can you tell me if the swiches on the dash for trip and trip reset can be pry out the same way to replace the bulbs?

Thanks.

The two switches on each side are housed together. For example, don't try to pry out the volume control, pull the volume control as a unit with the channel control and the rest of the harder plastic housing. The softer plastic which makes up the center of the steering wheel will flex out of the way as you pull it. Just pull it straight out. You can get a bit of a grip along the top and bottom towards the back of the steering wheel (closer to instrument cluster). It requires some force and some rocking motion and is probably done best without any tools, just bare fingers. I recommend doing it when the temperature is a bit warmer so that the plastic is less brittle.

Probably those other switches pull out with a similar gentle, yet aggressive force, but I don't know for sure, I haven't done it.

On the 01 aurora you need to gently pry out the switches. This is most easily done when the temperature is warm and the plastic on either side of the switch is soft so that you can push it back. Both switches on each side come out together as one unit. Unplug the wiring harness. You can go buy a new switch set (this is how the dealer would do it) for a lot of money or you can replace the bulb for about $1.00 or less. If only one bulb is out, I would replace both anyway so that the brightness matches, and I'll bet the other one goes out soon anyway.

To replace the bulb you need soldering skills. Do this in a location where you won't lose small parts, as there are several inside. You take the switch apart from the back side by pushing the plastic side pieces back with a small screwdriver alowing the central portion to slide out. Now you will be inside of the switch and the light bulb is right there. It is soldered on to the circuit board in its little white "boot". Pop the bulb and boot off with your fingers. Take the old bulb out of the plastic boot and take the green plastic sleeve off of the bulb. Go to radio shack and buy a new 12 v bulb that is the same physical size. I replaced my bulbs with 60 milliamp bulbs, they are slightly brighter than the old bulbs. You might see if you can find 40 or 50 instead. Put the green sleeve on the new bulb. Solder the new bulb on to the contacts. Don't try using the plastic boot. Don't cut the wires on the new bulb to length until after you solder it on. I found that the long wires made excelent "handles" to control the bulb position with until soldered in place. Once soldered on the board, bend the extra wire back and forth a few times and it will break at the solder edge. Put it back together and you should be in business.

I just purchased a 2001 3.5L. One of the steering wheel lights was out.

Before reading these messages, I removed the mechanism as you suggested and soldered back in another 12 watt bulb. Now none of the 4 steering wheel lights work.

The other 3 worked before. In fact, before I removed the mechanism, I tested the replacement bulb by touching the leads to the solder points were the burned out bulb had been attached. The new bulb lighted up, as did the other three old ones.

The actual functions (stereo and climate control) work fine. It is just the bulbs.

It sounds like I either blew a fuse that is dedicated to these four tiny bulbs (makes no sense to me), or I did not correctly snap the harness back in.

The burned out bulb was on the left side. Unless the left harness controls both the left and right buttons, I don't know why a bad conncection on the left would affect the right. Anyway, I checked the harness connections several times so I don't believe that is the problem.

If there is a fuse dedicated to these four bulbs, for the life of me, I cannot find it in the manual. It has generic descriptions such as interior lights but they all work. As far as I can determine, only these four bulbs do not work.

any ideas are appreicated. Thank you.

I just purchased a 2001 3.5L. One of the steering wheel lights was out.

Before reading these messages, I removed the mechanism as you suggested and soldered back in another 12 watt bulb. Now none of the 4 steering wheel lights work.

The other 3 worked before. In fact, before I removed the mechanism, I tested the replacement bulb by touching the leads to the solder points were the burned out bulb had been attached. The new bulb lighted up, as did the other three old ones.

The actual functions (stereo and climate control) work fine. It is just the bulbs.

It sounds like I either blew a fuse that is dedicated to these four tiny bulbs (makes no sense to me), or I did not correctly snap the harness back in.

The burned out bulb was on the left side. Unless the left harness controls both the left and right buttons, I don't know why a bad conncection on the left would affect the right. Anyway, I checked the harness connections several times so I don't believe that is the problem.

If there is a fuse dedicated to these four bulbs, for the life of me, I cannot find it in the manual. It has generic descriptions such as interior lights but they all work. As far as I can determine, only these four bulbs do not work.

any ideas are appreicated. Thank you.


Sorry, I have no idea. I have replaced all 4 of my bulbs with radio shack bulbs and they all work. Have you tried plugging in each side seperately to see if one side or the other works without the other side plugged in.

sounds like you soldered in an LED, if you soldered it in backwards and all other lights are wired in series all would quit.

The original bulbs are regular light bulbs, not led's. I think radio shack refers to them as micro bulbs or something along those lines. I wish the original bulbs had been led which probably would not have burned out for decades.

sounds like you soldered in an LED, if you soldered it in backwards and all other lights are wired in series all would quit.

Sounds like a good theory except the bulbs do work when I put 12 volts directly on the circuit board. Also I am not reading any voltage on the harness that plugs into the module. Therefore whatever my problem is would seem to be related to lack of power to the harness.

But I will check out your suggestion. Thanksl

Got my car back from the garage he put a new bulb in for the lights around the steering wheel. They work now the only problem is that all the lights in the car are bluish green annd the light bulb he put in is regular orange. Also now the buttons for the seat warmers don't light up anymore. Should I ask the guy to change it????

If you know that the lights in the steering wheel are good, which you can test by removing the module and putting 12 volts DC on the contacts and seeing if the bulbs light up, you may have a blown fuse or two. Same thing for the actual steering wheel controls.

The fuses for the steering wheel controls and the lights are, on the 2001 at least and probably other models, located under the "hush panel". This panel is a large one, just below the steering column. It snaps out without much effort and without any tools. (be sure to empty the container that holds your change or you will have coins everywhere).

After removing the panel, you will see all kinds of wires, harnesses and connectors. But if you look around carefully, you will see a little black box about 3 inches tall, 3 inches wide and one inch thick. On the lid, it will say "2 amp fuses only" or something like that. Pry off the lid and the fuses are inside of there. Test them or better yet while you have it apart replace all 4 of them. You may need needle nosed pliers or a fuse puller to get them out. I have short fat fingers and big hands and I managed to do it so I don't think it is that hard.

Thanks to my friend Jim, who is the electroics mechanic at the local Olds dealer and a good friend of mine.

The instructions from apostolakisl posting were extremely helpful and acurate. Thanks a bunch!