Dash Bulbs

[luvmy02impala]

Anyone familiar with changing the bulbs in the instrument cluster? 2 have gone dead and the dash looks funny.

It is a 06 Impala LT. Dealer said I would have to replace cluster as the bulbs cannot be changed. Is this actually true?

Have changed bulbs on my older cars.

Thanks.

[j cAT]

Originally Posted by luvmy02impala

Anyone familiar with changing the bulbs in the instrument cluster? 2 have gone dead and the dash looks funny.

It is a 06 Impala LT. Dealer said I would have to replace cluster as the bulbs cannot be changed. Is this actually true?

Have changed bulbs on my older cars.

Thanks.

the warrantee does not cover any lamps. the dash cluster cannot be repaired by the dealership.the do not do any electrical/electronic repairs. they will charge you 300.oo at the least for this repair. you may also find that your vehicle will be out of service for a week.

It is surprising that this is common with your vehicle.

I would internet search for a person who can replace all these lamps for alot less.

GM uses top secret parts. repairing a sealed unit is very difficult to figure out what the components are. you will never find any info from GM on components of a sealed electronic/electrical device.

some have had success with matching the lamps used at radio shack. soldering would be required.

[auto trainy]

I just got finished doing my 01 Buick Le Sabre and I could not find the bulbs for the dash which are small with a diffuser (color cover) over it but found old ones on an old radio I had so I tested them and then swapped them,you have to be good at soldering, Good Luck.

[y2kpa2]

just how common is this that would really piss me off

[cope42]

Originally Posted by y2kpa2

just how common is this that would really piss me off

i would say it is pretty common i have a 2005 impala with 2 bulbs out and speedometer that does not read rite, fuel gauge that works part time other than that good car it does have 139,000 miles on it maybe i was expecting to much

[luvmy02impala]

Originally Posted by cope42

i would say it is pretty common i have a 2005 impala with 2 bulbs out and speedometer that does not read rite, fuel gauge that works part time other than that good car it does have 139,000 miles on it maybe i was expecting to much

Funny you mention the fuel gauge that works part time. My 02 had that issue, hardly ever read right for a long time. I just started using the trip gauge, whenever I reached 250 miles on the tank - I filled up. I think the last few years it had been inaccurate. But I don't have to fix it now, the car caught fire and burned up last month. It ran great, no troubles and had 154k miles on it. It was a good car, a nice and big car...

[cope42]

Originally Posted by luvmy02impala

Funny you mention the fuel gauge that works part time. My 02 had that issue, hardly ever read right for a long time. I just started using the trip gauge, whenever I reached 250 miles on the tank - I filled up. I think the last few years it had been inaccurate. But I don't have to fix it now, the car caught fire and burned up last month. It ran great, no troubles and had 154k miles on it. It was a good car, a nice and big car...

Was the cause of the fire some thing to do with the instrument panel?

[luvmy02impala]

Originally Posted by cope42

Was the cause of the fire some thing to do with the instrument panel?

No, but I heard that was a common issue with Impalas that the fuel gauge would read wrong. And the only fix was to replace the fuel pump.

The fire source will never be known (due to extensive damage to the car), but the insurance company investigation thinks it could have had to do with the known 3400 intake gasket issue. I don't think we will ever know.

[la1]

for the dash bulb replacement go to NAIOA (N. American Impala Owners Assoc) the moderator there was replacing them with LEDs, you have to send your cluster assembly to him. I think it is BB Engineering, not sure if he still does that. I know he currently has a DRL bypass kit

[cope42]

Originally Posted by luvmy02impala

No, but I heard that was a common issue with Impalas that the fuel gauge would read wrong. And the only fix was to replace the fuel pump.

The fire source will never be known (due to extensive damage to the car), but the insurance company investigation thinks it could have had to do with the known 3400 intake gasket issue. I don't think we will ever know.

thanks for the reply

[Tech II]

Seriously doubt it was the gasket.....

[luvmy02impala]

Originally Posted by Tech II

Seriously doubt it was the gasket.....

We will probably never know.