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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) => Topic started by: Skunksmash on October 28, 2008, 04:01:26 am

Title: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Skunksmash on October 28, 2008, 04:01:26 am
I would like to know the best way to go about replacing the bulb in the air conditioning control unit. I am talking about that little unit that you see every time you get in your truck. It has levers on it that control blower motor speed, hot/cold air, and AC on/off, among other things. Mine no longer lights up, and at night it is a real pain cause i can not see anything on it when i want to use it. I assume that you can pull the unit out, but is there a little bulb inside it or something?
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: zieg85 on October 28, 2008, 06:19:11 am
4- 7mm bolts hold it in, the bulb is right there, easy to change
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Skunksmash on October 28, 2008, 08:54:51 am
What about a totally new unit? My face has a big crack in it.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: GoatBeard on October 28, 2008, 09:19:47 am
Is there one bulb in those or one bulb on either side of the unit -- I noticed that mine is real bright on one side and not so bright on the other side...
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: JJSZABO on October 28, 2008, 09:58:38 am
Mine is a single bulb unit.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Skunksmash on October 28, 2008, 10:07:17 am
I bet a brand new one from somewhere is like $500.00
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: VileZambonie on October 28, 2008, 10:07:27 am
My face has a big crack in it.

You totally set yourself up right there!  :D
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Skunksmash on October 28, 2008, 10:08:58 am
Naw seriously though, do yall know of anywhere that you can just buy the clear plastic face for the unit?
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Captkaos on October 28, 2008, 10:12:18 am
There is only 1 bulb in all of them.
It has been a while since I looked at one, but I seem to remember that the face doesn't come off easily.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: GoatBeard on October 28, 2008, 02:44:33 pm
Is the bulb fixed in place or is it one of those on the end of a wire that could be moved around?

Just wonderin' why mine would be bright on one side and not on the other -- only thing I can figure is that the bulb moved.   ???

I would think you could easily find a plastic "face" in a junkyard.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: hotrod24 on October 28, 2008, 03:24:33 pm
if you dont have a/c this will work

http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.asp?ZTM=cadegekc&GHOME=www.gspp.com&TITLE=
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Captkaos on October 28, 2008, 03:33:37 pm
Yes the bulb has a socket that it locks into.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Prong on October 28, 2008, 08:16:14 pm
The bulb is on the right side of the control unit. You don't have to remove the unit to replace it, just carefully snake your hand around the vent cables. Just be careful not to knock off the vacuum lines from the control head--then you'll have to pull the unit to fix that and the bulb (don't ask how I learned that).
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Prong on October 29, 2008, 04:00:50 am
While we're on the subject, does anyone remember the bulb part number? Mine recently burnt out and it's been awhile since I replaced it and can't remember what it is.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Skunksmash on October 29, 2008, 07:15:30 am
There is only 1 bulb in all of them.
It has been a while since I looked at one, but I seem to remember that the face doesn't come off easily.

Yeah i have taken one off but it's a pain, and thus i imagine that finding a replacement one would be real hard. Probly have to buy a whole new unit for a million bucks.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on October 29, 2008, 07:56:36 pm
Here's a pic of the socket from above.  The face is the black strip at the bottom.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/Parts%20n%20Pieces/GEDC0028.jpg)

To find a new faceplate, just get the whole unit at the junkyard and swap them or use the whole unit.  or if it's expensive, take the faceplate off of one in the junkyard and just buy that.

The bulb is the same as the ones in the instrument cluster, the little blade looking ones. 
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: hotrod24 on October 29, 2008, 08:14:20 pm
is your truck a/c or w/o a/c?
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: 78 Chevyrado on October 29, 2008, 08:34:15 pm
is your truck a/c or w/o a/c?

with a/c. 
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: 82K10WI on October 29, 2008, 08:53:49 pm
Are you looking at replacing the face or whole unit. i have one just sitting on the shelf collecting dust. i dont remember if its a/c or not. ill check this wkd when i go down to the shop. if its a/c you can have it if you pay for shipping.
Title: Re: Ac control unit: Bulb replacement?
Post by: Skunksmash on October 30, 2008, 04:23:41 am
Are you looking at replacing the face or whole unit. i have one just sitting on the shelf collecting dust. i dont remember if its a/c or not. ill check this wkd when i go down to the shop. if its a/c you can have it if you pay for shipping.

Just to clarify, i was the one asking about the face plate. But yeah my unit works, but the face has that crack going across it that these trucks sometimes get. Although i really do only need the face plate, i don't see any way to get another face plate without getting a whole new unit.