Vettemaster1985

Hey guys, new member her looking for some expert help. Just like most c5 owners, my climate control lights capped out. I fixed the display with the numbers/temp, resistors about 2 years ago, resolider them, and all was good. Then this past fall all the background lights went out. All the bulbs were replaced with upgraded l.e.d. bulbs 2 years ago as well. The display is working fine still. My question is, Is there something inside the unit that just controls the light bulbs? AND can this be replaced/ resolidered or is it time to get another. Any money saved here will go towards MORE GO FAST PARTS. Any ideas wold be much appreciated.

huesmann

Do you mean the CC display, or the button illumination?

Vettemaster1985

Only the cc display is working. All other lights are out.

huesmann

Even the amber LEDs when the buttons are pressed "on?"

Vettemaster1985

Those still work. I guess I mean , like when you turn on the headlights and all the gauge lights at night are on the back ground ones don't light up on the hvac.

FX VETTE

Did you do the LED upgrade yourself? If so, you could get back in there and check the LEDs with a 9v battery w/wires until you locate the bad spot. Could be one of the soldered areas came apart.

Vettemaster1985

I guess that's kinda what I was wondering, all of them are out so is there something that went bad to control all of them cause with the oe bulbs , if one is out the others will stay on, something has to control the lights . Mostly wondering if anyone else has had the same issue or more well versed in leds, maybe if 1 led goes out it causes the rest? I'm stuck here.

Vettemaster1985

And yes I did the led conversion myself and I remember the 1st time I put it back together a couple leds were not working due to a bad solider job but some of the others still worked, then I pulled it out re soldered the all better and wa la ,, they all worked . Stayed that way for almost 2 years no problems.

FX VETTE

Ok, well I'm no expert at all - but since you're thread is a few days old and you are still seeking help I'll give my advice. I've had mine apart a few times and performed the same modifications you did. I remember there were a couple of bulb areas that affected all 14 bulbs. So if I were you, I would give the old 9v test to the LEDs you already replaced. Don't use the 9v to check the 5 factory amber LEDs though, you could fry those (I don't remember those ones having resistors).

FX VETTE

Could also be a circuit that came undone after your prior job and 2 years of riding eventually shook it loose - if so, simply needs a jumper to complete it.

Hope this helps.

Vettemaster1985

Sounds like a start. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate the help. .

huesmann

It's the illumination lights that have failed, not the LEDs.

Vettemaster1985

Makes sense. . Any idea what the fix is?

FX VETTE

Same bulbs in this case...they were upgraded to LED.

Vettemaster1985

All of them went out at the same time. I think it's something else.

huesmann

So both the new illumination LEDs and the button operation LEDs (normally amber) went out?

Vettemaster1985

The amber ones still work when ac or defrost is on. As someone said earlier the illumination lights are not working, the temperature display is.

Vettemaster1985

Does anyone have a idea what controls the illumination lights? Could all of the LEDs of failed at once, possibly, but not likely, and one light being burnt out will not cause the others to go out like Christmas lights. Lol.. before I did the upgrade 3 oe lights were out and the others still worked.

SilverC54me

Yes, all of the LEDs could have failed at once.

There is the possibility that some are still good but have bad solder joints and others have failed. I would replace all again.

FYI, there are 2 circuits that have to work for the button lights to come on. One is fed from the BCM and the other is the dash illumination circuit. I found this working on a HVAC controller out of the car testing the install of LEDs.

Gary