Heat/AC Control Knob Doesn't Illuminate (Bulb Burnt Out?)

[Hummjay]

OK guys, I hope I don't end up looking like an idiot for posting this because it might be as simple as a fuse replacement for the problem I have of my Heat/AC control knob light not illuminating. The Heat and AC still works, but because the light is out I can't see the controls at night. I messed around with the fuses, but didn't find anything. The other two knobs beside it are OK and they light up (fan & vent direction knobs). My guess is that the light/lamp inside the knob is burnt out, but don't know how to open it up and check it. I've heard that these lights are supposed to last "forever" and to fix it, I needed to re-solder the connection (?:roll:??) and that would be expensive. Thoughts anyone?? Anybody else ever have this issue before? Thanks.

BTW, my H3 is still under warranty (ends this month) so I might just take it in to the dealer and have them fix it unless it's something really simple that I can fix myself. That way I could also have them fix the "leaking" roof issue that's common with the H3s (when it rains a lot, water drains through the OnStar mic/speaker button on the driver's side ceiling, and I get a nice shower! :whaa: I know, I know. I need to clean drain thing on the roof rails... I think...? :roll. Anyway, thanks.

 

[alrock]

Take it into the dealer under warranty as there's no replacement bulb - you'll get a whole new control unit. Others (Brodie, Jens? the France dude) have replaced lamps in here but it's a custom job as there's no direct replacement bulb. What's kinda ironic is that this bulb is part of an internal assembly that easily pops out but I could not find a matching bulb anywhere and I looked for a couple of months.

 

[Hummjay]

Thanks Alex. I'll do that then. How weird...That's really good info to know. Glad I asked!!

 

[06 H3]

mine went out once and I hit the button out of anger...it went back on and hasnt turned off since. Its scared I guess. :giggle:

 

[SC_Hummer_Guy]

mine went out once and I hit the button out of anger...it went back on and hasnt turned off since. Its scared I guess. :giggle:

Haha in Mother Russia, button hits you! Careful Chris it's plotting it's come back! Lol

 

[cbetts]

I have the same bulb out in my truck. I am using the Braille method right now but want to fix it one day. I remember someone posting a procedure to fix it on CHO but it is now a faint memory.

 

[IndyHummers]

Yup, take it to the dealer. The whole unit needs to be changed out.

 

[H3slate]

Mine was out for awhile, hit it a few times and it is back on.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Portager]

Mine was out for awhile, hit it a few times and it is back on.

OMG the Chris fix is contagious! LOL!

Since it is under warranty take it in and if they can't Chris it, you'll get a new assembly courtesy of GM.

 

[cbetts]

Sounds like I need to try some percussive maintenance.

 

[alrock]

I've tried beating on my truck as a method of fixing things, but it's only added repairs for me

 

[06 H3]

lol, guys if you have the warranty get it replaced. I kissed my warranty goodbye years ago. If it goes out permanently I will replace it but until then my method works quite well and hasnt turned off yet.

 

[Hummjay]

Just thought I'd give y'all an update. I dropped Souljaboy off at the dealership and got him back Thursday. Everything's fixed! Ahh.... all is right with the world again!

I also had them look over everything and fix anything else broken that was covered under warranty. I had broken TPM sensors-- the warning messages had been bugging me for months. I was so tired of pushing that trip reset button to turn the warnings off every time I cranked up. And they fixed the issue with my key (not the remote) not locking the door. That was a biggie. I gotta tell y'all this... I discovered that problem one day after buying a cart load of groceries and returning to the parking lot and my remote didn't work. I thought, OK, it's a dead battery in the remote. I'll just try the old fashioned key-in-door method. Well, my key did not open the door. WTF?? :whaa: Ok I thought, don't panic, I'll just go open the passenger side. WTF? No keyhole?! :whaa: You can call me slow for not realizing this before, but it was at that moment I just realized that there was only one way--the driver's door--to gain entry into my H3 with my key! Well, I never called OnStar for anything before, but I sure did need them now. So after two attempts (had to wait for 11 mins. each time for the satellite to send a successful signal), the door latch popped. Whew! At last my door was open!! And my groceries were saved! Thank goodness I didn't buy ice cream that day! :giggle: The dealer had to get inside the door (take it off), make a new key, still didn't work. Then after a series of filing this and that, etc., the keyhole/key works great now. Thanks to the warranty-- with all that labor/time, there's no telling how much it would have cost me to fix that.

Well anyway, thanks for all the feedback everyone! :thumbs: Oh yeah, the clogged drain/leaking roof issue was not covered under warranty so I didn't fix that. I'll fix that another day. Before our rain season starts of course!

 

[08H3]

Just to verify what alrock had mentioned, I have replaced that bulb because there was no way I was paying for the control unit out of warranty. The bulbs are available at Radio Shack for about 50 cents but as stated, you do need to solder them to the board. I had a writeup on this, but I think it was on the "other" forum. If I can find the P/N for the replacement bulb, I'll post it here.

Hummjay...I just posted my sunroof drain adventure. My condolences. Seriously though, I'd fix it sooner rather than later and hopefully you won't make the problem worse.

 

[telemike]

Search ebay for [h=1]Light Bulbs for 2005- 2010 HUMMER H3 Heater Climate Control A/C Backlight[/h]

 

[Ed's06h3]

Mine did the samething except it was the fan control knob.....it's been like that for a couple of months & don't have warranty to take it to the dealer and pay a arm/leg for a new control unit...

 

[alrock]

Search ebay for [h=1]Light Bulbs for 2005- 2010 HUMMER H3 Heater Climate Control A/C Backlight[/h]

I haven't done this search yet but I thought I saw these bulbs last week when looking for other stuff. This will be great if they are available

 

[H3ATH3N]

Following up on this - I've got the problem now... Googling around I found some more current fixes on another forum and link to these
Has there been any more recent findings on this topic within H4O?

 

[Hunner]

They have them on Amazon also.

 

[Reloader]

Yup. Got mine on Amazon. You need 3 to replace them all. It's a 15 minute job. Hard part is disassembling control housing to get to sockets the bulbs are in.
I think the three bulbs were like $4-5 each. I can help you with it if you want to venture to the far west side.
Boy those be pricey on that e-bay thing. I thought I paid too much on Amazon.

 

[H3ATH3N]

Thanks Hunner & Reloader - I've been putting this (and the AC temp control issue) off for a while and figured 20 degrees above normal in AZ was a good time to stay in the shade and tinker. Just to be safe, I performed the AC Calibration first - and wouldn't you know it, it fixed (for now) the AC Temp control issue AND the non-lighting light! Fingers are crossed - but at least now I know where to go if the issue comes back.