How do you replace the climate control bulbs?

'95 3.1. I took the dash cover off and got to the bulbs, but I can't figure out how to actually get the bulb out! Seems complicated and kind of silly for a bulb. It looks like the bulb is part of the wired socket and I'm wondering if you need to actually pull the wires off. It just doesn't seem logical. Anybody?

http://xs72.xs.to/pics/06110/100_1762.JPG

I had the same problem with my '93. I looked into buying new bulbs to no avail. Also, it's a pain to get in that thing, and the bulbs are tiny! I went to my favorite salvage yard and bought another entire unit (about ten bucks). Unfortunately, a year later, the bulbs are going out again. I guess I'll buy another used.

Anybody else want to share experiences with this issue? My wife's '93 does not have any working bulbs in the unit. My mom's '90 Lumina (dead 2.5 liter engine... would like to put in a 3.1 but that's for another post) has a fully-working unit with all bulbs ok. I would guess they would be the same. Both have AC. Maybe I'll switch those units. How hard is it for anyone else that has changed the bulbs?

i believe the bulbs in your 90 and 93 are actually soldered down and much easier to just swap the units. as for the 95 i have no idea.

As for that bulb, it pulls out with a little elbow grease, they are a pain in the ass to get out. Just about as bad as the lights for the electric windows and locks on the 90-94 Luminas.

And as for the climate control lights on 90-94 Luminas you have to replace the whole unit, the bulbs cannot even be changed out by desoldering them and putting new ones in. I have tried and it took me about an hour to just disassemble the unit. It truely is not worth it.

I fully agree with comptech_69 (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/member.php?u=391232). It is way too much trouble to swap the bulbs, even if you finally do get that thing apart. Swapping the unit is a much easier way to go. Also new bulbs would probably cost a lot more than a different unit (used). Swap the units, it's truly the way to go. vbmenu_register("postmenu_4078925", true);

i disagree, i replaced the bulbs in my old 90 lumina climate controll. the bulbs were about a buck each at radioshack at the time, and actually i was able to desolder all them without issue and soldered in a resistor and went with LED's all the way around, much cheaper on ebay. And last a lot longer. It did take a bit calculaing and finding the exact resistor needed without letting the smoke out of the LED's.