You can see the original on the left has holes for the lights to go into and the replacement does not
Good day all. My original driver side door switch panel finally gave up the ghost. l have been looking at several possible replacement units, like the SwitchDoctor. l have already ordered
a random unit from Amazon but when it arrived there is no way no how my LED lights (or even factory for that matter) will fit into it as there is not holes in the circuit board for them to
go into. Plus there is no electric contacts on the top of the board anyhow to power the LED's. l thought this was just a manufacture defect but when l look closely at the photos of the
unit from the SwitchDoctor, it is the exact same way! What gives?!?!

 

The reproduction replacements all seem to have LEDs soldered to the board already. Meaning the bulbs are not removable or serviceable. If your other LEDs are white it shouldn't be an issue, maybe a slight shade or brightness difference. If you had a different color, then you're out of luck.

 

Yea, the reproductions just have nice clean white modern soft lighting LED's soldered in.

Here's a photo of what they look like illuminated. Be careful if you've already got a matching set of passenger side door LEDs, cause if the whites don't match it might bug you.

I ended up liking the reproduction styles lighting color, so I purchased a passenger side unit as well since it was supposed to have the same lighting color to match their driver side unit. But unfortunately they were way the hell off(although the passenger side door is an exact replica, so the bulbs can be replaced/removed just like the OEM model). The ones that came in the passenger side reproduction were essentially orange in person. I still need to locate where I can find a close matching in color bulb for the passenger side buttons. The white LEDs I had are more of a bright white, compared to the really sleek and clean looking white that the drive side reproduction units have soldered in. Ended up bugging me so much that I just have no bulbs in them for the time being til I find the right bulbs.

 

the pre-wired LEDs on the repros look pretty good to me.

 

Oh, and this is what the factory/OEM unit with original bulbs in it looks like as a final comparison to the reproduction unit I posted above. Not the specific driver side(I can't seem to find the picture I took originally), but it at least shows the color difference.

 

Thanks for all the replies! So l guess if l want to keep my blue LED's l'm SOL? Or try and find a used used OE unit? So l take it Chevrolet no longer makes these? Ugh..

 

Here's a used OEM unit that's likely as cracked and brittle as the one you've got now

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-2004-C...oAAOSwJYhfdp2Z



Or you can get a new repro one and with a steady hand paint the white letters blue

 

Basically you're SOL. Now, if you want to risk cracking the sucker open, and attempt to remove the current LEDs, and then resolder your new blue ones onto the board, that's up to you. Someone who's used to working on electronics and has a steady hand with a soldering iron can probably do it, but do you really want to go through all that and risk breaking it?

And yes, seems as though GM has discontinued this part.

 

Thanks again for the replies. l love this forum. Yeah my 52yr old hands aren't as steady as they once used to be even though l am very good at electrical work, l wouldn't trust
myself on an item that delicate. l looked at that used unit JDM and mine looks better than that one haha. Mine is actually visually perfect, its just the left mirror button has failed. l can
tell it is in the switch itself as it feels very odd when you push on it. Almost like there are little rocks inside it haha. Well l guess l'll just keep my eye open for a good looking used panel. Thanks again everyone!