Burnt odometer backlight

[AlvinBeach]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2001 Chevy Cavalier. It has 65K KM so there's no warranty. My problem is that the black light behind the odometer has gone out. But the backlight for the rest of the dashboard is fine. For example, the gas gauge, speedometer, etc. I went to the local dealer and they told me that they cannot replace just the light bulb. Instead, they said that light buld assembly is all in one unit and they need to replace the light bulb cluster...effectively replacing all the back light bulbs.

Does this sound right or am I being scammed? They said the light bulb cluster is going to cost $240 CDN + $120 CDN labour. That is on top of the $40 CDN that I paid to find out that was wrong.

Is there a way to fix just the light bulb? I mean, it must only cost no more than $15 for the acctual part!

Any experience anyone has had relatting to this would be great.

Thank you,

Alvin

[dsieczka]

I had a similar problem with my 1999 cavalier... the odometer is digital and when i had a stereo installed a tight wire grazed the bulb and snapped it off. Thus I was on a search for the new bulb.

I took the bulb with me around town to look for a replacement. Chevy said they didn't make the part-- and no auto part stores had it either. I happened upon it in a car stereo installation store... they had plenty in stock, since i guess with stereo installations this has happened before. I had the first person that installed the stereo pop the bulb in, and it's been fine.

No one i talked to ever suggested i replace the entire unit. the bulb cost me only 7 bucks, but the problem was finding it. Replacing the whole unit sounds a little fishy to me. I'd check around in some local stereo stores and see if you have any luck.


Dawn

[AlvinBeach]

Originally Posted by dsieczka

I had a similar problem with my 1999 cavalier... the odometer is digital and when i had a stereo installed a tight wire grazed the bulb and snapped it off. Thus I was on a search for the new bulb.

It's interesting that you said that. I just had a stereo installed on the Wednesday. But I firsted noticed that the bulb was burnt on the Sunday.

Originally Posted by dsieczka

I took the bulb with me around town to look for a replacement.

As far as I know the burnt bulb is still in the dash as Chevy severice rep. said they couldn't just replace it.

Originally Posted by dsieczka

I happened upon it in a car stereo installation store... they had plenty in stock, since i guess with stereo installations this has happened before. I had the first person that installed the stereo pop the bulb in, and it's been fine.

I will call the place I had install the stereo and maybe they will be able to replace the bulb.

As far as I am concerned, the Engineer that design the car was missing a few screws him/herself.

[dsieczka]

if your car stereo installer doesn't have the bulb, i'd ask him to take it out so you could go to other places and show them what you're looking for. when i called around asking for an "odometer bulb", no one had a clue.

good luck!

[Ryan2000LS]

Hay have kinda the same promble with my 2000 Ls but the Odometer is half visable and when i push on the frount of the glass(plastic) i can see it all, so i went to the GM dealer and he wanted to sell me a new Cluster witch like u said for like 200-300 altogther after i laughed n his face i said fuck it who needs to how far i have gone! but if what everey one s saying (about just a bulb) shit i might just try it

[bigdaveangell]

Chevy replaced my whole insturment cluster under waranty