More bulb replacing

[Todd Young <tyoung@wamnet.com>]

Car: '93 90S
Probelm: Mirror control pad not lit

I found out from fellow QListers that the directional control pad for my
exterior mirrors was supposed to be lit up, mine hasn't been since the
first day I owned it [used].

So Friday when I got home from work, I started to dig in. Removed screw
from grip section of door arm rest, pulled the lower plastic piece out.
This frees up the entire panel that houses the window and mirror
switches, but it doesn't come out very easy. I couldn't see any way that
there could be a screw holding the upper section [by the mirror switch],
so I pried down towards the handle area and outward, BINGO!, that popped
out the upper section. I was right, no screws, just a hook type area
about 1/8 of an inch wide. Then it was just a matter of gently
persuading the lower section to come out.  Just a note, the plastic
panel that houses the switches has a natural bend in it where it
transitions from the handle to the switch area, this is fairly flexible,
but don't go too far. Once I had it out, I just had to unhook all the
wiring harnesses from the switches.

Took panel inside and pulled the mirror control switch assembly out of
the panel and dissassembled it. If you have had any other switches
apart, it's not too hard to get this one apart. Once I got it apart, I
found the same small 60mA 12volt bulb that we all know and love.
Unfortunately, I only had one extra one laying around, so it was off to
Radio Shack to buy some more, I got two packs, so now I've got three
spares for future bulb replacement projects. Soldered in the replacement
bulbs and put everything back together and re-installed the cluster.
Before actually putting the cluster back into the door, I tested ALL of
the switches to make sure they all worked. Then put it all back
together. Now I have nice lights in the mirror control switch too.

Just a couple of notes:
1)LEDs would be nice, but in this case they would not work. You need the
180 angle of illumination as there are only two bulbs at the very far
opposite corners of the switch to illuminate the entire switch.
2) White light works fine, the face of the switch has a red tint to it.
3) I forgot to take pictures until I had it all back together, and no
I'm not going to tear it apart again. If anyone in the Twin Cities, MN
area has a similar vehicle that needs the repair, get a hold of me and
we can do it to your car, and then I'll remember to take pictures.
4)The vinyl around the switch assembly was cold and I left marks when
prying on it, but heating it up slightly with the vehicle heat seems to
have smoothed out most of the marks, a hair dryer set on high will
probably take out the rest of the indentations.

--
Todd Young              WAM!NET Inc.
tyoung@wamnet.com       6100 West 110th Street
612-886-5051            Bloomington, MN 55438-2664
800-585-1133 ext.5051   http://www.wamnet.com/