I've got some bulbs out on my dash cluster and would like to replace them. I pulled the cluster and then twisted out the bulb holders. The bulbs looked exactly like I thought they would (the kind of bulb that seems very common in GM interior lighting), but for whatever stupid reason, they were soldered into the sockets. I thought this might have been a hack job by the previous owner, but the sockets actually say "replace entire assembly".

Problem is, nobody (by which I mean Autozone and O'Reilly) sells the blubs and sockets as an entire assembly. The blubs have the same numbering as the bare bulbs that everybody else sells (i.e. 194, 192, etc.), they're just soldered to the sockets. I was able to track down some generic sockets for the numbered bulbs, but doing it that way was going to end up costing me more than $50.00USD.

Anybody run across this before? Is there a better/cheaper way to do this?

Thanks.

 

They're not supposed to be soldered in, I have a bunch of those and the bulb pops right out.

 

Yeah that's what I thought--In fact, what really prodded me to change the bulbs was the fact that I needed to pull the cluster to fix my trip odometer. Another guy here has a great how-to on doing that, and he also covers changing the blubs. In his pictures, the blubs just popped right out of the sockets--so I know there are other people here with "normal" sockets.

These particular sockets/bulbs, however, came from the factory soldered. It's one of the dumbest things I've ever seen on a car, because the sockets were clearly made to be reused and the bulbs are identical to the replaceable bulbs you buy of the counter. Some genius just decided that things would be better if the two were permanently joined together.

 

Strange, I have never seen those before. I have about 20 and the bulbs just push out.

 

See those now and then, I thought they were a brighter bulb deal. I hit a local junkyard and pulled 20 out of a couple cars, later S10s have them for sure. Guy charged me a quarter each, pretty cheap I'd think. Looks like a standard socket will interchange though, and use the push in bulb.

 

They are known as a "pc" bulb(as in pc-194, pc-168, etc.), and yes they are designed that way. You local dealer either has them in stock or should be able to get them easily for you. I'm kinda surprised that NAPA or other aftermarket stores don't have them. They are actually pretty common among GM vehicles. They are a bit spendier, however. Aftermarcket probably $3-5, dealer $7-10.

 

Good write up here with wattages and candlepower, the smaller bulbs are at the bottom of the page.

THE HERD: Light Bulb Replacements

 

hey i had those in my car as well i just bought the cups the little black tabs form a the dealer for areound 5 bucks for all the ones i needed and just baouight the bulbs at autozone reall stupid the way the did that but thats your best be and not to much $$$

 

Yep they are soldered in and you can buy replacements, the bulbs and the bulb holders come together at Advance Auto or order them. Kind of expensive.

 

I got replacement sockets at O'Reilly for a few bucks. The sockets accept the common bulbs, 192 and 194. I was able to get a brighter Halogen bulb from Radio Shack to fit with no problem.

Melrin1969
90 Camaro RS - 305TBI

 

Sice half of mine were burned out, I just bought 15 for my 89's gauges (everything but the idiot lights across the bottom). PC-194 from my local NAPA at just under $3 apiece, including the socket. I depleted their stock to near zero

 

ijust replaced the pc-194's with normal sockets and my choice of bulb. that way if I ever have to replace them again I only have to get standard bulbs.