I took my instrument panel out of my car yesterday to change a couple of blown bulbs (thats a lot of work just to change a couple of bulbs) and I went to get the replacement bulbs at Advance Auto. I didnt realize until I got there that on the bulb housing it says to replace the whole assembly. Do I have to get these from the dealer or should I try to save the housing and somehow change out the bulb that way? Also my other question is, I was planning on getting the MacEwen white overlay for my 91 Camaro. I also wanted to get the amber colored lights they have just for a different look for my gauge lights. So if I wanted to use different lights how would I do that since you are supposed to change the whole housing. Should I again try to save the housing and switch the bulbs??

 

Now that is weird.. I have read on a couple of people replacing the dash bulbs. and referring to a housing. When I did mine all I did was pull the bulb and push in another. it used the standard spade style bulbs. Even my 1980 Pontiac (winter car) is the same style. I don't think you should have to do anything with the housing. The bulbs I used in mine look like this.



------------------
89 RS Camaro, LO3 305 TBI
L69 Duel Snorkel Intake
Dynomax Ultra Flo Cat Back

- Future Mods -
DynoMax Headers (Jet Hot)

 

Yeah, the bulb does look like that but the wire ends are soldered to a housing and on the housing is says "replace entire assembly". Im thinking I can break the solder and re-solder the new bulbs to the housing but I dont know how much of a hassle that would be. I know the dealer will charge me an arm and a leg just for that little bulb and housing.

 

Really.. If that is the case. then I'd just re-solder them myself. At least it's not like these things burn out often.. I hope you figure something out. I wonder why mine is so much more different. Your's being newer should be exactly the same as mine. Oh well. have fun..

 

It is extremely helpful to use a dab of soldering rosin flux (not acid) on each joint before soldering. This will keep the joint clean, and minimize the amount of heat and time to make the joint. This is important since you are solding in a plastic assembly.



------------------
Ryan MacEwen Pruyn
MacEwen Motorsports

1987 GTA 350 6spd, White OEM instruments, 17" Borbet Type A's, 275/40ZR17's, 255/45ZR17's, Koni Sport Adjustables, Eichbach Sport Springs, Poly U, everywhere, Guldstrand Engineering Panhard rod, LCA's

 

I have no idea of what you are talking about but I will keep it in mind if I do have to do some soldering. I have never soldered anything and this will my first time, thats why I wanted to know how much of a hassle this would be. I contacted thirdgenparts.com to see if they had any of these housings from an earlier model (ones where you only have to change the bulb) lying around. I am hoping they will fit my car, if not I will have to go with the soldering idea. I havent heard from thirdgenparts yet though.

 

The bulbs are the same way on my Camaro and '89 S10. I priced them at the dealer and they wanted like $8 a piece. I couldn't get them at Autozone, but a GOOD auto parts store that sells quality parts should have them. I bought mine at one of these stores for around a dollar a piece. Don't go through the trouble of resoldering each one.

------------------
1992 Camaro Z28; Engine:383 w/Ported Edelbrock RPM heads. Lunati Solid Roller Cam 224/232 .502/.502, Fluidampr, Comp Cams 1.5 Roller rockers and lifters, Comp Cams Triple Valvesprings, SVO 30 lb injectors. Holley/Walbro 255 lph in-tank pump, Haltech E6GM DFI, SLP 1 3/4" headers, 4" Mufflex, T56, 4.10. Super Ram. 17" X 9.5" Ronal FireHawk Rims w/ 275 40ZR17 Bridgestone RE 730's up front and Nitto Drag NT 555R's out back.

Double-Pump This! EFI Rules!

 

I have a '91 also, and recently changed my dash bulbs to another color. You can do it a couple of ways, if you're staying with the clear bulbs. The original ones are soldered to the socket as a "one-piece" type thing, and you can buy them the same way. OR you can go to AutoZone and get just the sockets themselves and the bulbs separately, and be able to change bulbs anytime you want, plus you won't have to remove the cluster to change them anymore - just the lense. That is what I did. I don't have the part number with me now, but you'll find it in the bulb section - it's a black 1/2" socket, and I think it's a p/n something like 89278... I could be wrong, but if you want it, I'll look it up for you.

KAM

By the way, the sockets are about $1.79 each, I read that you want to change your bulbs to amber, so if you can't find the bulbs, I can get them for you ($3.99/2)

[This message has been edited by thunderstick (edited March 28, 2001).]

 

Thanks for the info. So Autozone does definately carry the sockets for our cars? I was planning on changing the color. I thought about amber but I think I have changed my mind, I really like how the xenon blue ones look with the McEwen overlay.

 

Yes, they do have them, and the p/n is 85835... I was way off with my last post - don't know where I got that other number. Anyways, they are black, 1/2" size, they come in those carded packs...

KAM