Steering Wheel Lights replaceable?

[luckymanz]

I searched the forum and found a couple of threads that inquired about the lights (radio volume, tuner, etc) are replaceable, but no replies. I have a 2005 Suburban and want to replace the lights. However, I do not know if it involves much more than taking the steering wheel off? Is the air bag involved?

[jyount]

First of all, YES I do realize this post is over a year old. With that said, I just did this. Yes, if you are willing and able to solder on a circuit board. I am anal about detailing so I can't stand for half the lights to work and half not. You can desolder the bulbs and solder in new ones. The bulbs I used are a perfect fit. Radioshack 272-1092, 12 volt 60ma. There is 2 in a pack for $2.19. The light output of these lights is exactly like the stocks, just take the bulb condoms (the blue things) off the old bulbs and put one the new ones. A tad of water in the covers makes them slide on the new bulbs easily. My Sub has 152000 miles on it so it has some time on the bulbs and the covers were not stuck, a little wiggle and they came off. There is two bulbs in each switch, one for each function. The switches just pull out with a small screw driver or right angle pick. The wires are short and you don't have to pull the horn button. It is always a good idea to pull the fuse for the airbags when you are sitting in front of the wheel, but you aren't working on it directly. Oh yeah GMs UV impregnation of the buttons sucks as you all know with 2000+ vehicles. When the lights are on the light shines through the buttons and looks hideous. You can touch them up with a black sharpie. It is not a perfect match, but close enough it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb in the daytime and looks like a new one at night, the light doesn't shine through it.

[j cAT]

this may not help the original poster , but I bet there are many that can use your repair experience , with what appears to be a common problem.

[jyount]

Originally Posted by j cAT

this may not help the original poster , but I bet there are many that can use your repair experience , with what appears to be a common problem.

That's the same position I am taking too. I have had 4 or 5 2000+ GM vehicles in the past couple years, they all had this problem, so common is an understatement I just started the sharpie trick with the last one, the Yukon. It worked well so I thought I would pass it on. It id not worth the dollars for a new radio/hvac/steering wheel switches etc for that problem. Surely I am not the only anal detailing guy here....

[mishalah]

Thanks. I have a couple out on my '05, too.

This is just like the instrument cluster and servo driven guages. ANOTHER GM SCREW-UP!

[jyount]

Originally Posted by mishalah

Thanks. I have a couple out on my '05, too.

This is just like the instrument cluster and servo driven guages. ANOTHER GM SCREW-UP!

Ya, I had to replace a servo on the tachometer of the Yukon I traded for my Suburban. Most people don't realize they are so cheap, and little solder work and the tach was fine. The servo was 4.95 shipped to my door for ebay. GM wants to send the cluster off and have them repaired or replaced to the tune of 2 or 300 dollars. I had the solder, fixed mine for less than 5 bucks....

[luckymanz]

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions! I can solder and will do the sharpie trick.

[jyount]

Again just an update for anyone that needs it. DO NOT turn the key on ever when working with this, trust me. I turned the key to turn the wheel I guess and left it on... After I repaired the one bulb that was out I put it back in and had ZERO lights at all.
Anyway, here is the fix...

Pull the instrument panel trim off, then pull the drivers side kick panel. Mine had a brown wire with white tracer to power this. From the BCM to the lights. This wire has a fuse inline about as big as a pencil and covered with heatshrink. You can't see the fuse, but if you don't have power, this is why. The fuse is to protect the BCM, it is only 2 amps, it is easy to pop. You may be able source an exact replacement at radioshack, don't know. I got an AGC fuse holder and soldered it in, viola a replaceable fuse inline now.