Digital AC control, button lights don't work...?

[lightsout]

The AC unit itself works great, but the lights for the buttons on my AC control are not working...only the green lights(defrost, and recirculate). How do i fix the white button lights?

I pulled out the circuit board and checked the little bulbs, and they are ok. Is there a fuse just for those lights, or do i maybe have a bad connection?

[lightsout]

ANYONE??? i'm killing myself trying to find out the problem.

i took out the entire unit and vents to paint them, and to fix the problem with the button lights...<p>

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What do i need to do? take the circuit board to a computer specialist, and have them check out the unit.

should i just try buying new little bulbs on the circuit board?

i want them to work...i hate guessing where the buttons are at night when its dark in the car.

[Darktide]

unless you have a magnifying glass it would be quite difficult to see whether the filament in the bulbs are intact or not. I would certainly just buy a new set of bulbs and test that. I highly doubt the circuit board has any issues.

[wfo_1974]

I would say that get a new control unit/head unit if you have problems i might have one i will sell (spare part) if you need it let me know i just replace the whole thing when the lights like that do not work, the one i have is good however just let me know if your interested.

[lightsout]

i checked the fuses related to the a/c and heating unit. they are all good! i bought a used replacement and put it in, and had the same problem...then tonight i ran over a huuuuge pothole and the lights on the left side came on. I just got home and decided to tap on the unit...the lights went back off. It MUST be the little bulbs. Where the hell am I going to buy those tiny little bulbs, the dealer or a computer shop? I want a different color too!!

[Darktide]

autolumination.com. If you look under the 24/74/instrument light section you'll go down and see bulbs labeled "neo base bulbs" or something to that effect. There are 3 different types but they are easily identifiable (autolumination.com will tell you how) buy their base sizes. It's pretty simple and they offer different colored lights for you as well.

[lightsout]

dude...YOU ROCK!!!

i'm going to go with the LED replacement, instead of the bulb replacement!!!

this site is going on my bookmarks b/c i would love to change out soo many bulbs in my car!!

[lightsout]

i ordered 6 of these true blue LED's!! I have 2 ac control units, and 2 BOSE stereo's, and am fixing them both so i can have a backup or sell the spare :-)



THANKS A MILLION!!!

[Darktide]

Cool. They should work out well. Congrats.

If you get any LEDs for the gauges I seriously suggest getting a wide angle LED. I used the normal LEDs and I had a bunch of dark spots.

[wfo_1974]

sounds like you got it wooped i might to look into the led lights thanks

[lightsout]

lets hope they are the wide angle LED's...if not, i'll rig something up to make them work

[Darktide]

definitely let me know. That fear is exactly what has been stopping me from changing the color myself. I've been tempted to go with just colored bulbs lately but I've been putting it off because I love LEDs

[lightsout]

fo sho Darktide!! i'm painting interior parts tonight, and ill post pix of the LED's after install!!! i don't think the lights will be here till wed or thursday(3/20/08)

keep checking on this post!!

[lightsout]

http://www.ledtronics.com/markets/smt_index.htm

take a look at this link, if you areinterested in changing out the colors of the window and door controls on your doors. They also have the LED's for the Bose and Non Bose stock stereo's. you can replace the filament bulbs on your HU to LED's, like i plan to do ASAP

scratch that...they have a minimum order of 3000 LED's for the LED's that i want. At $0.42 per LED, its not worth it to me.

[Darktide]

I already replaced my stock stereo. I've also already replaced the door control LEDs, they were pretty easy. I've only had a problem with 1 single LED and that was for the AC button on the HVAC panel. Other than that all of mine work perfectly. Go to ebay. They have a ton of LED vendors. the LEDs are fine, the resistors that they bundle in "for free" suck big but hey they at least function. The resistors just can't be bent too many times or they snap. I'm ordering another set from 'sureelectronics' he's out in Hong Kong but it only takes a few weeks to get them.

[lightsout]

FIXED IT!!!

the LED's are 120 degree LED's. I want to find some 180 degree LED's. they work good for now.

[Darktide]

even in day light you can see some of the cold spots... That's they I never invested in them. They have new LEDs for the #74 bulbs that we use in the instrument cluster that uses 3 SMT LEDs. I've been tempted to try those out. But I also bought those batch LEDs and I've been tempted to try and rig up something myself.

[lightsout]

keep mw posted with what u decided to go with, b/c i already want to change them again

i thought maybe putting some silver paint on the tip of the current LED's would reflect the light more to the sides, and not straight out...maybe?

[Darktide]

You seem to be the one to go to about paint if you ask me. Though from what I know of LEDs and how they work. Some people have told me if you take some sand paper and scuff up the outside of the LED it'll help diffuse the light. I think that that might be what you are going for. Other than that I'm completely unsure of what you could do to help eliminate some of the cold/hot spots.

For the time being I'm going to be leaving those bulbs alone. I'm still waiting for a good alternative for the gauge lights so I want those bulbs to match the gauges so I don't have a bunch of different colors all over the place (and I'm low on cash, gotta love buying a car from a large dealership, getting 3 tires that match and 1 that doesn't, then them telling me it's not a big deal that they have different ratings). *sigh* I'm done ranting.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for any alternatives.

[lightsout]

sweet!! thanks!! save your pennies, I DO EVERYDAY!!!

[4puresky]

What size bulb did they require and how many. My lights are going out and I would like to purchase some LEDs to replace but I don't want to pull out the whole thing to look to see the bulb size.

[lightsout]

http://autolumination.com/74.htm

your stock bulbs would be the Type B Neo-Wedge

the LED's would be the Neo - Wedge LED Instrument Panel Bulbs Type B.

[4puresky]

How many would be needed for both the bose radio lights and the air conditioning unit? I know there are three in the ac but not sure of the radio portion.

[lightsout]

the radio lights are different...they have to be soldered in. i don't know who will be able to do that around where you are. you could try a computer repair shop. You will need some sort of wiiiiiiide angle LED, or a triple LED that covers all 180 degrees.

you only need 3 for the Digital Climate control.