Light behind heater/ac controls gets very warm

[RoosterXP]

Has anyone else notices the controls get really warm only when the lights are on? I havnt had any problems as of yet but is there any remedy for the hot gauges?

 

[JBallou]

I have noticed it myself, seems to be the bulb that is causing it. Don't know a solution. Not to worried tho.

 

[rtbctd]

I just replaced all bulbs in hvac control,they were all burnt black. also dealer only bulbs

 

[KIKER]

Mine just burned out a few days ago. How hard is it to replace them?

 

[TLane]

I replaced the bulbs behind the controls in my car with LEDs. I bought generic LED bulbs and proper sized dropping resisters and soldered them in place of the factory bulbs. The factory bulbs were the type that stick through a PC board and then twist to lock in place. The plastic bases of the bulbs had given away over the years and the wires to the bulbs no longer made reliable contact. Problem was solved by soldering in the new bulbs. I had to measure the polarity with a meter prior to taking the panel inside to solder in the bulbs, LEDs are polarity sensitive. I think the LEDs should generate a lot less heat than incandescent bulbs. I haven't opened up the truck to see what it looks like, however. This might not work on a truck, and I would only advise it to someone who's handy with a soldering iron.

Do the bulbs dim when you dim the dash lights? You might try running them on dim and see if it's cooler - just as a test to verify that it is the bulbs.