DIY: S14 dash switch bulb replacement

[hai1206vn]

I finally got to fix the little bulbs in all my switches (except the door lock switch). I've never found any article on how to do these, so after a long time searching I got off my lazy *** to pop open and try playing with them. This writeup, in addition to the ones listed below, should help you with most factory bulbs in S13 and S14.

S14 HVAC bulb replacement zerothread/237696S13 HVAC & switch bulb replacement zerothread/282768

For S14 switches you'll need:- Switch bulbs: Radio Shack P/N 272-1092- Little flathead screw drivers or the like to pry open the switches- Scissors

HAZARD SWITCHHazard and rear defogger switches

Press the tab....

... and push it out

Pry on the tabs on both sides

Looks like this after you got both sides out. Just lift pop the gray part

then it'll fall apart

The gray piece contains the illuminating bulb. Pull it out

Untie the wires at the base, noting how it was wound. Throw the old bulb and install the new Radioshack bulb

It might take some time to figure how to put the switch back together. In the pic below, you'll see a little gold color pin on the piece on the left. That pin will have to fit over the little white piece on the right side. Also look at the white piece, there's a hole in it. This white piece actually rotates on top of a little black pin right underneath. If the white piece falls out, just put in back over that black pin.

First locate the spring in place, then wiggle the 2 parts so that the pin I just mentioned fits over the little white piece

Once they line up, test the mechanism by pressing it and feeling the clicks as though you're using the fully assembled switch. Now hold the 2 parts you just put together firmly...

... and insert the gray part. Press the gray part down, while pressing the front cover against the gray part (where my index finger is)

With a little wiggle it'll pop in like this. There are 2 little tabs at the rear of the gray part which need to fit in 2 corresponding holes on the black piece

That's it. The hard part is assembling the switch back. Just be patient and you'll get it (it took me 15min to figure out). If things fall apart, retry - be confident as there's almost no way you can destroy anything.

REAR DEFOGGER SWITCHIt's basically the same as the hazard switch. There are 2 bulbs inside.

DIMMER SWITCHTo remove the switch, pry it out of the instrument cluster with a flathead. If it's too stubborn, take the time to pop the entire bezel out first.

Pry the tabs on both sides and pull out

The light bulb is in the middle piece

CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHTo be sure you don't lose anything for this switch, work on a tidy surface. Pop the switch out of the cluster bezel just like the dimmer switch.

Pry on the sides and pull out

Here's why I recommend working on a surface where you can see every little part. The cruise switch contains 2 small black plastic holders, 2 tiny 3mm long springs, 2 little balls, and 2 15mm springs. Don't lose them!

In case things fall apart as you disassemble the switch (very likely), follow these pics. First put the 2 3mm springs in the holes

Put the 2 black plastic holders in place

Drop the 2 balls on top of the little springs and press them in slightly

Shove the 2 longer springs in

Here are the 2 bulbs you'll replace

RESULTSInside the car

Probably looks like this from outside

[sebazztard]

nice work. i def dont have the patience to mess with all that.
Modified by sebazztard at 9:51 PM 9/20/2008

[ThuG LyFe]

holy crap dude that looks sofa king awesome. i would pay you to do that to my car but yea...i dont think i'll have patience to do it either. my question is though how do you replace the light behind the ac unit? mine's all dead...

[hai1206vn]

Really it's not hard. I posted the links to other DIY at the top, one shows how to replace HVAC bulbs

[Kalypso]

email the mods, and have them add this to the articles.

[MAXIMUS Nismo]

Thanks for this. Very detailed.