Lights for cruise control switches

[ND4SP]

Anyone know how the cruise control switches on a 2005 Lesabre come out of the steering wheel?? The back light for them do not work. If I can get the switches out, maybe able just replace the bulbs. They still work for cruise, just like having all the lights working.

[polarzak]

Originally Posted by ND4SP

Anyone know how the cruise control switches on a 2005 Lesabre come out of the steering wheel?? The back light for them do not work. If I can get the switches out, maybe able just replace the bulbs. They still work for cruise, just like having all the lights working.

I am fairly confident they are the same as was in my 2000. (2000 to 2005 were the same body style) I used paper clips.
Straighten two out, and using a pair of needle nose pliers to turn one end of each into a right angle...maybe about a 1/16 of in inch. Insert one in the space between the button and the wheel, and one on the opposite side. When inserted far enough, turn the paper clip so the piece you bent is under the button. Then gently pull up. It should pop out. You might be able to do it with just one and work it around the button lifting a little and move on, until it pops out.
As you probably know, GM will not sell the lights, they want you to buy the entire button..they are not cheap. Someone said Radio Shack sells the lights, and I think they need to be soldered in, but I picked a whole button out at the wrecker for a few bucks..

[ND4SP]

Originally Posted by polarzak

I am fairly confident they are the same as was in my 2000. (2000 to 2005 were the same body style) I used paper clips.
Straighten two out, and using a pair of needle nose pliers to turn one end of each into a right angle...maybe about a 1/16 of in inch. Insert one in the space between the button and the wheel, and one on the opposite side. When inserted far enough, turn the paper clip so the piece you bent is under the button. Then gently pull up. It should pop out. You might be able to do it with just one and work it around the button lifting a little and move on, until it pops out.
As you probably know, GM will not sell the lights, they want you to buy the entire button..they are not cheap. Someone said Radio Shack sells the lights, and I think they need to be soldered in, but I picked a whole button out at the wrecker for a few bucks..

I will have to try that this summer, or maybe when it gets warmer this winter. Thanks Polarzak

[ND4SP]

Update:
After the previous post, the light for the Volume control gave up the ghost. I ended up buying a new switch and just replaced it tonight. I used the paper clip procedure and it works great. I now again have a lighted volume switch. I will have to see if I can get the cruise control switches out next.

[dpalomaki]

I've found a #8111 lamp to work, if you are looking for bulbs. They are rated for 14 volts. The car uses a lot of them in the controls, switches, instrument panel, etc.

[ND4SP]

Originally Posted by dpalomaki

I've found a #8111 lamp to work, if you are looking for bulbs. They are rated for 14 volts. The car uses a lot of them in the controls, switches, instrument panel, etc.

Anyone know if that is the same bulb used in the radio?? I had one burn out recently

[dpalomaki]

On my 2004 I used the #8111 as a replacement in just about all switched and controls including: cruise buttons in the steering wheel, radio, HVAC controls, door switches, HUD control, headlight controls, and shortly will be using some for the gauge back lighting. Getting to the lamps in the radio requires quite a bit of disassembly.

To my thinking, if you open a device to replace a lamps, may as well replace all in that device while it is open. By 90K miles, about 30% of the lamps in my car had burned out. Reuse the plastic base found under many lamps. Also many lamps have a clear blue film over them that you can carefully peel off and reuse on a new lamp. A few existing lamps had stiff legs to hold them off their board. I used some #22 wire insulation to stiffen the replacement lamp leads