Light out inthe a/c, heater switch panel

Dodge Caravan (01-03) Instrument Panel light replacement ...

? 12:25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9qi78IAPF0
Mar 4, 2013 - Uploaded by ryanthiusjunk
A common issue with the Dodge Caravan (and Chrysler Town ... I just bought a Dodge Grand Caravan (2002) and noticed that the entire dash board didn't light up at night. Needless to say I needto replace all of those bulbs and after ... do you know how to fix the 2009 caravan instrument panel lights going ...

DIY Dashboard Light Bulb Replacement - YouTube

? 8:07
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bf5w3AZR_0
Jan 7, 2013 - Uploaded by Chris Punt
How to replace dashboard lights on a Dodge grand Caravan. ...Most just want to get the bad bulb out and put new one in. it seems to me the ... pull the dash panel out far enough to turn it upside down on the column and ... Bought mine at Advance Auto, but I know it is not a hard bulb to find and can be ...

2001-2007 Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and ...

This could be a serious problem if the smoke smells like plastic or has a metallic hint ( I.E. You have a metallic taste in your mouth after smelling the smoke).
Remember the old adage " Where there's smoke, there's fire".
If you don't know how to disassemble the dash to find the problem, take it to a shop A.S.A.P. - You could burn up your vehicle by using either the heater or defroster, as they are parts of the same system.
Now for the rear defrost light;
If the light is out but the defroster works, you possibly have a burnt bulb. You'll need to remove the panel the switch is mounted in to gain access to the switch. You'll probably have to replace the switch to repair that bulb.If neither work, then you likely have several electrical issues that need to be repaired.
Sorry to bring bad - ish news!!

The control panel for the heater and A/C must be removed. Suggest you get Chilton's manual from the library. It will take you through step by step with pictures. To summarize: 1) Remove trim panel covering radio and heater controls. 2) Remove radio. 3) Disconnect the two heater control cables from the control panel. The trick to removing the cables is to compress the "claw" spring holding the cable by pressing a screwdriver from the underside of the control panel to release each cable.4) Remove control panel. Take to a workbench. From the backside of the control panel at the top, notice two large holes through which you can access the V2 Toshiba bulb holders. Turn them a quarter turn to remove them and the bulbs. The bulb is a common #74 bulb.

The lights in your Instrument Panel are not working at all? Or, do you have SOME lights on, such as the one in the heater control panel, or behind the gas/heater guages?

All of the interior Instrument Panel (dash) lights are on the same circuit (switch) so if some of them are on, you have to replace some bulbs in the Instrument Cluster. If ALL of them are out, you need to replace the Light Switch. (Unless, of course, ALL the bulbs are burnt out!) You could test the switch with a volt meter, to determine whether it is the switch, or just the bulbs.

You will have to take apart your dashboard to some extent in either case. If it is the switch, only remove as much as neccessary to obtain access to the switch. If you are going to replace the bulbs, then it is more involved. You will need the proper Driver(s) A philips head, or a torx, whichever it is. Maybe even a 1/4 inch socket set. (Metric) There are a variety of screws and bolts that hold the Instrument Cluster in place. On some models, it is neccessary to 'drop' the steering column. There are two bolts that hold the column up to the dashboard, and once you remove these, the column just kind of sags down some. One thing you must be careful of is the Speedometer Cable. This is connected directly to rear of the cluster. There is a push bar on it, that you depress, then the cable will slide off. There are also a couple of wire plugs that are attatched to the back, so you won't be able to pull the cluster out more than a few inches till you unplug these things.
Once you have the cluster off, the little black round bulb sockets just turn a quarter turn, and pull out of the circuit board. They use a small bulb with no base, it is just glass, with two wire ends sticking out, like Christmas bulbs. Just pull the old one out of the base, and push a new one back in, then replace the base into the cluster.
When putting the cluster back in, be sure that the speedometer cable is pushed back on all the way, or your speedo won't work.

To replace the blubs you have to take out the insterment cluster. This is done by romoving the light switch trim plate and disconnect the wirering harness. The remove the A/C heater control panel. Remove the plastic trim from around the insterment cluster. The unbolt and remove the insterment cluster and uplug the wires and the speedometer cable. This speedometer cables can be a pain in the **** but depress the spring clip and pull. The bulbs are accessed from the back of the cluster.
Bulbs in this cluster don't burn out very often and if none of the bulbs don't work it probley isn't the bulbs. In this cause make sure the dimmer switch is turned up if it is play with the switch see if the dash light flicker.
Oh also in the mauals they always tell you to disconnect battery when pulling electrial apart.

Unfortunately you must remove the cluster to gain access to these bulbs. Remove radio, heater fan knobs, temp slider knobs,and temp control faceplate (carefully remove bulb in faceplate), then remove the Phillips screws inside the holes where these came out that hold the cluster . unscrew or unclip and remove the speedo cable from the back of the cluster. you may have to disconnect some electrical jacks (remember where and how they go back in!) to gain complete access. Then it's just a matter of pulling out the little bulbs and replacing them. Because this is so involved I would replace ALL of them at once. Hope this helps...;-)

ljones, Did you check the "VEH stop" fuse in the left side instrument panel fuse box. There are 3 stop light fuses, 1 for all the stop lights located in the under hood fuse box. 2 in the left side IP fuse box. 1 for the upper stop light and 1 for the lower stop lights. The fuse box in the IP is where the upper and lower stop lights split. Let me know.

I've done it many times myself. Here is what I do:

Remove the trim that covers instrument cluster, radio, heater control unit. To do this, you must remove 2 screws from trim that are mounted at top of instrument cluster area. Next remove screws above cigarette lighter/head light switch. Now that should be all of them. Position your steering wheel all the way down. Pull off of the trim from the radio area. It is snap fitted so just give it a little tug. The part of the trim covering the instrument cluster is really tight. You have to be careful and pry the thing out while trying not to scratch the top of your steering column. It does come out eventually. Now remove heater/ac control unit. Should be a couple of screws holding it in. There are vacuum hoses and a heater control cable mounted to the back of it also, but you shouldn't have to pull the thing all of the way out. Just turn the light socket to remove it from the back of the heater/ac unit and R/R the bulb.

Yes, there is illumination behind the heater control panel.

You need to remove the center inst cluster upper (radio) & lower finish (heater) panels to gain access to the heater control; the light socket is behind the heater panel.

Apparently, this problem you are experiencing is quite common in VW MK4 Golfs, it's not the bulb but the lighting connection behind your switch. If you bang the right hand side sides your gan controls your fan lights should appear again. Sounds crazy but it's true. I know few people with VW Golf who have this problem.