A/C Heater Control Unit not lighted up

gthang · #1 03-09-2002, 08:04 PM

My heater control unit, the module where you select where you aim the air to, is dark at night with the headlights on. The A/C button is lit, as well as the temperature slider, and fan speed, but the buttons where I aim the air isn't lit.

Is there a fuse I'm supposed to replace or a bulb that's been burned? Anybody ever had this problem?

P11GT · #2 03-09-2002, 10:57 PM

nah, it should be just a bulb, remove, have a look and replace if need be. could also be a loose connection on the back of the bulb.

JKdonger · #3 03-09-2002, 11:50 PM

Ya it is deffinately the bulb, I repalced mine a while back. Should take you 10 mins at the most to take care of it.

DaPCWiz · #4 03-11-2002, 10:20 AM

yo! mine does the same thing!! hook me up with details on how to fix it / what bulb to buy!

Thanks!

A380Driver · #5 03-11-2002, 12:47 PM

You can do one of two things. The bulbs can be bought for this as a "kit" for the HVAC unit...there should be three bulbs. You can also buy these bulbs seperately from nissan/infiniti.

The second option is that you can goto radio shack and get the micro 12V bulbs. These bulbs will have the LONG leads that are REALLY thin. The reason why is you can take the original wiring off the stock bulb out of the "rubber round holder thingie" and put the new leads in and wrap them around. When you take apart the old one, you'll see what I mean.

When taking apart the HVAC unit, just be careful there are some small parts so i suggest taking off the temp cable and bringing it inside to the table. If you leave it on, just put down something underneath so parts can fall into it. The buttons in front have to pop off amd whatnot....look in your FSM it should show pictures. Good luck

boingo82 · #6 03-11-2002, 11:00 PM

Mine is fine except the fan speed light went out. My dad and I started to try to replace it...got like 30 screws removed, couldn't get the heater control unit out and said the hell with it. Anyone know how to get this MOFO out? We tried for like 30 mins. Do you have to take out the dash or something??

A380Driver · #7 03-12-2002, 12:41 AM

To get it out enough so you can pull apart the unit, you need to take off the 4 screws that hold in that front trim panel that has the two vents in it. Then unscrew the four screws that hold in the HVAC unit. You then need to push it IN while pulling one side over...keep trying a couple times, and you'll eventually get it. Be careful though that you cannot get the unit very far out of the DIN slot without unhooking the temp cable in the back. You can choose to do this if youd like, I never have becuase its just one more thing u gotta put back on (read: I dont know how to do it *grin*).

boingo82 · #8 03-12-2002, 01:10 AM

We tried something like that...couldn't get one side of it to pop out without fear of breaking something and gave up.

gthang · #9 03-14-2002, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by boingo82
Mine is fine except the fan speed light went out. My dad and I started to try to replace it...got like 30 screws removed, couldn't get the heater control unit out and said the hell with it. Anyone know how to get this MOFO out? We tried for like 30 mins. Do you have to take out the dash or something??

WooHoo! I got as far as pulling the unit out but there was NO obvious way of opening up the unit and accessing the lights. Any help, guys?

I was just gonna swap the bulb from the fan control to the directional bulb. :-)

boingo82 · #10 03-14-2002, 12:54 AM

Just hit it with a good, heavy mallet.

No, sorry I have no clue. But I'll be interested to find out so I can fix mine too.

bigjimslade · #11 03-26-2002, 02:57 PM

Same problem on my 96 G20.
Responses are appreciated.

boingo82 · #12 03-26-2002, 09:18 PM

My lights were on yesterday, then turned off again. Weird!

A380Driver · #13 03-26-2002, 10:33 PM

Yah the bulb contacts are VERYYYY small...soo what happens is that over time like the bumps and stuff, it can move it just loose enough where if u smack it a bit it might touch again.

Also, the filaments inside may have spilt and then it will get just right where they will touch again and work, but only for a bit.

Stogie82 · #14 03-27-2002, 05:31 PM

As far as taking it apart look in your FSM it will tell you how. Its not too hard just be careful not to break anything or lose any parts and you sghould be ok. Lucky me I had a broken one to take apart. Boingo have you gotten it out of the dash yet?

jvlgato · #15 03-27-2002, 10:03 PM

I had the same problem for six months, and just got it fixed a month ago, but you may not like this! I first brought it to my friendly local (and trusted) mechanic to look at while he did some other routine maintenance work. He pulled out the unit and said there were no bulbs to be found, and probably the whole unit had to be replaced. I repeat, this guy's not an idiot! So I said screw it, and lived with it for all those months, until I had a problem with the brake light switch actuator (so I couldn't move the transmission out of park) and brought it to the dealer for warranted service of this problem. (I had purchased the extended warranty.) As long as I was there, I mentioned the HVAC light problem, too. They repaired both, and the brake light switch was maybe 20 bucks, and the HVAC unit was completely replaced with a whole new unit for over 200 bucks! Ouch! I'd say I was getting scammed, but since it was under an extended warrantly, I didn't pay a dime, plus, this was exactly what my trusted local mechanic told me would have to be done sic months earlier! So now I have lit HVAC buttons again, which is very nice. But I don't think I'd pay over 200 buck for it! Note that my car is a 1996 model. Maybe after 1996 they changed the unit so that light bulbs could be replaced? Who knows. Good luck!

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