lights in heater controls not working

[Rustybux]

My heater controls do not light up. How do I change the light bulb in the heater controls? I can't figure out how to get to it. I can get the front panel that holds the switches but how do I get to the bulb in the control unit?

[SpecialWarr]

What year is your machine? From what I can see it looks like we are supposed to pull off the cover, the knobs pull off and there are a couple of screws that retain the unit into the dash. Early models have them on the side and '86 to '95 appears to be in the front. After that I would think something simple like a flat blade screwdriver should pop off the light cover from the body.

[Rustybux]

Mine is a 94. I looked at one in a wrecking yard and can't see anyplace on the back to replace the bulb. Someone said the plastic part with the where it has "hot, cold, etc" comes off and the bulb is inside there but i'm afraid to pry that faceplate off. Wish I had a good picture of the heat controls...

[SpecialWarr]

I have most of my interior apart right now so I'll see what I can do about getting some clear photos for you tonight and post them up asap. I would have done that last night but I was taking out the remnants of an old alarm system until 1am..

[Rustybux]

That would be great. If the faceplate of the heater controls are designed to be removed so the bulb can be changed, then I won't worry. I just don't want to break something.

thank you very much

[Rustybux]

SpecialWarr, did you find out how to change the bulb in the heater controls yet?

[smj999smj]

Looks like the bulbs go in from the top for auto climate control. On the part diagram linked below, refer part codes "27545M" and "27136."

http://www.nissanpartszone.com/Page_Pro ... nlPartList

I don't see a bulb listing for manual air, only a "spring control-bulb"...part code "27136E."

[Rustybux]

smj999smj, I don't have that Climate Control on my 94 XE...mine is manual with A/C. I"ve been looking everywhere on Google etc for how to change the light inside that unit. Can't find a thing. Thanks for the link though.

[SpecialWarr]

RustyBux:

Sorry about that, I've been fighting the flu for the last three days and it finally got the upper hand Friday afternoon... been in (and still am) in bed..

[smj999smj]

My thinking is that the bulbs were meant to be non-serviceable (dumb...but manufacturers do that sometimes) and you'll need to either replace the control head, or open up your control head, hoping to be able to replace the bulbs, but also take a chance on ruining the control head.

[Rustybux]

Finally found the bulb. pull the knobs off, un-clip the faceplate, remove screws and loosen the controls. raise it up a little and with needle nose pliers, remove the bulb holder.
Put in new bulb and still didn't work. checked the 2 wires at the bulb socket, found out they are both Hot with a test light. One should be ground for the bulb to work. Nowhere were any wires spliced to cause that problem. I cut one wire and from the socket, ran another wire to ground. Now I have a ground and hot wire going to the bulb socket and it works.
FINALLY.