Heater lightbuld changing how-to

how to change the backlight on the heater controls in a 99 spyder

First of all before you attempt this (if this is all your going to do...) consider how badly you need the light. When you are all done you will kick yourself if you didn't need it this badly...

Note: There may be an easier way to go about this but it was the first time I ever disassembled my dash.

Estimated time: 1 1/2 hours

Prerequisites: security code for your stereo if it's stock (I didn't have mine and now my radio won't work till tommorow when I call)

Tools: Assorted screw drivers, bandaids, Needle nose, small wrench or kid sister, beanbag to punch or a kid sister (I'm just kidding really!)

1) pop off your stereo trim plate. Start at the bottom prying with a screw driver it will pop out and then the rest should come easily. Bottom comes out first
2) Rethink if you really need that light
3) Take off the side panels of the center console. There is a pop rivit in a very inconvient place next to the seat (last to come out!) and a screw and a pop screw up front, one is covered up you need to pry off the cap.
4)Once both side panels are off begin to take out your little pocket below the stereo (2 screws on each side.) Phillips head
5)Remove the mounting brackets for the stereo (4 screws on the front all phillips)
6) wiggle stereo back and forth on mountin brackets and manage to remove it's 2 screws on each side.
7) remove the stereo by unplugging all the cables on the back and then place it and the mounting brackets aside. Write down the serial number if you don't have your security code for the stereo.
8) remove the golden screws from the front of the heater console. 4 phillips again
9) there is a bracket in the back that can be popped out of place. It's white, it's fragile, and it needs to come out so you can manuver the controls so that the top of them are visible. Be careful not to break the remaining front plastic bar in the process. You will get cut up in the manuvering of it. Apply band-aids hit the punching bag and go back at it. This was the hardest part
10) once the top is visible you will see 2 red wires coming off a wire harness. I unplugged all the harness's so I could manuver them better. This red one goes to a little light bulb socket. Have your kid sister or use your super small wrench to twist this and pull out the light.
11) run to autozone and get a replacement. Note: the one by me only had a bulb that looked like it fit but was slightly longer in size. If when you put it in the hole it wont go in all the way pop off the front of the controls just a bit. It slides in then and twist it again with the assistance of a kid sister. Pop the front of the controls back on if you popped it off a litt.e
12) test the lights. Believe me you want to at this point.
13) try to remanuver the controls back into place and get the white plastic part to snap in. This will take a while, the punching bag may comme in handy..
14) reassemble everything you took out. The side panels are a pain due to the side panels of the center console. It took me a few tries but eventually you get it.
15) Turn on your car and input your sercurity code for the stereo if it tells you to.

Note: This took me a while to get it was the first real disassembling I did on the car. I may have done it a hard/wrong way but.. The light works, nothing is broken. Comments are welcome though I hope I never have to do it again....