The light has seemed to have blown that illuminates my compass/temp gauge. I thought it was an issue of simply changing a bulb. So, I pulled the entire console apart and learned that whatever illuminates the compass/temp gauge is physically inside of the gauge itself as opposed to a bulb.

Has anyone had this issue?

And how do I get the gauge illumnitated again? New gauge or is there a way to replace whatever has blown?

Thanks

there are two little tiny bulbs inside the compass, you have to use a small flat tip screw driver to get them out, you can order there from dealer for cheap if you get a smart parts guy that knows how to find just the right bulb. it fits into a plastic socket that you unscrew a quarter turn to get them out. covered with a blue plastic jacket. I have the part number at home, but I am in Iraq at the moment.

You can replace the bulb. A bit of work for a single bulb. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Remove the cluster, remove the clear face, pull the C/T gage. The bulb is in the back of the gage. Small, thin needle nose will reach in the hole. It's an odd bulb in an odd base. Dealer only part?

I found a replacement at a Pick & Pull, Some s**t heads smashed the clusters, made pulling the bulb easy.

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I am pretty sure there were two small bulbs in the compass, one will light it up enough, but there are two. it is a bit of work to take it all apart and you have to be careful, but if you take your time it isn't too bad. that is why I would do both bulbs, at least on my 97 and my dad's 99 there were two bulbs in the compass, one on each top corner.

I have run across three different types of compass/temp gages. Mine had one that backlights the LCD. Accessed from a hole in the white plastic housing. Could have another on the circut board, I didn't look. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I just know the engineers would not completely hide a light bulb that deep. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I now have full lighting on the gage. There is a more standard type bulb in a normal holder for the oil pressure/voltage meters.
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