Grand Prix Fog Light Switch

tblake · #1 08-02-2008, 10:23 PM

Hey guys, noticed the other day that my orange indicator for the fog lights no longer lights up. I was wondering if anyone knows if this is just a regular incondescant bulb (hopefully) or if its an LED. If it is currently an LED, then I must have a wiring problem because LED's never burn out. BTW my fog lights come on as they would normally except my indicator doesnt light up. Tonight I bought an LED replacement and a resistor to make the LED work work in a 12V circuit without burning up. I was just hoping someone has replaced this bulb before to give me some pointers. Thanks!

doctorhrdware · #2 08-03-2008, 12:17 PM

It has to be an incandescent lamp, due to how warm the switch gets.

tblake · #3 08-03-2008, 07:22 PM

yeah, but the warmness could also be due to the illumination. I pulled a wiring diagram and it looks like its a bulb that takes 12V B+, so I'm hoping its an incondescant.

Anyone know how to take the switch apart?

doctorhrdware · #4 08-03-2008, 11:44 PM

I had to pulled the dash bezel. The switch panel that goes to the dash bezel broke off. I had to epoxy the switch panel. I don't remember how the switch comes apart.

tblake · #5 08-04-2008, 07:39 PM

I actaully just replaced the bulb. It was an incondescant with an orange cover ofer the top. The switch came out of the dash by just a couple snaps. It was a little hard to get apart and the old bulb had to be desoldered, but I got it done. I installed a blue LED bulb with a 330 ohm resistor. I used this site to figure out what resistor I needed and entered. just have do enter the LED's forward voltage, current rating, and 14.4V (B+). The LED had to be soldered in, and since its a diode, it can only go in one way to produce light. I should have snapped a few pictures, and probably should have bought a red LED for the button illumination since its the same type of incondescant bulb. Oh well, if I have to go back in, I'll know what I'm up aginst.

BTW, has anyone ever replaced the bulbs inside their digital DIC? I swear its one thing after another! It seems one of those display bulbs is on its way out now. When its out, if I tap the dash above the DIC, it will come back on.

tblake · #6 08-04-2008, 07:40 PM

BTW, thank you Dr Hardware for all the help!

doctorhrdware · #7 08-04-2008, 08:29 PM

No problem. I usually use a 1.2k resistor on the led's it is a good general starting point for dropping resistor for the led.

tblake · #8 10-16-2008, 05:28 PM

Hey guys, Just a quick Update, I actually switch the blue LED to a yellow one (which actually illuminates sort of orange).

I also had to do this in another GP, so I decieded to snap some pictures and make a write up in the tips and maintenance sub-forum. If your interested, jump over there and have a look.

1997-2003 Grand Prix Fog Light Switch LED Conversion

Thanks!

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