I recently noticed the shifter indicator was not illuminated. Checked with the dealer for GMPP service and they said "bulbs are not covered." They said it would be about $250 to do the work and it would take about 2 hours to pull the console." Looked at the service manual recently posted up on the forum and found out you have to remove the whole shifter assembly to get to the bulb. This required disconnecting the linkage cables to get it out -what a PIA but I decided to tackle it today.

I soon found out that you can lift the boot assembly off the shifter assembly and get to the bulb without taking out the whole shifter assembly first. Whole job from start to finish took a little less than an hour.

1. Remove the console and front radio/HVAC bezel as described elsewhere on the forum - do a search. Four nuts, three screws and disconnecting a few wires.

2. Remove the shifter **** for a little more room. There is a small U spring clip in the front at the bottom of the **** that just slips out using a flat head screw driver.

3. I peeled back the boot from the frame ring to see what was going on underneath - but its not really necessary. You can see the bulb socket when you lift the boot but it would be hard to get out at this point. Disconnect the plug for the wiring to the shifter at the front.

4. There are three plastic clips each at 12 (front), 3 (passenger side) and 6 (back) o'clock that hold the boot assembly ring into the shifter assembly frame. Gently squeeze the prongs together with a needle nose pliers starting in the back, then the side and lastly the front and the boot assembly will lift right out. I don't know if the order really matters. There is no clip on the indicator (driver's) side.


5. Flip the boot over and there's the lamp socket. Twist and pull it out.

That little bulb gets hot!

6. Replace the bulb and reassemble.

Definitely not a $250 project!

 

What!!! You mean you didn't disconnect the battery and chock the wheels for safety!

Nice job.

 

EStreeter,

Thanks for your great write-up. Sure made my day a lot easier. Installed an LED bulb. Hopefully won't have to do this again.

N

 

Or you can pry up the plastic P RND21 piece and use a pair of needle nose plyers to remove the bulb. A five minute job.

 

I did the same thing, but used an LED bulb to keep the temp down. Had to file the clear plastic part to get it to fit. Works great.

 

Any hint to remove "P RND21" without breaking?

 

Use a small flathead screwdriver and gently pry under the plastic P RND21. Its been a while but I have done 2 in the past. Others have posted here that they have done it that way and none have reported breaking it. The most common problem is that the socket for the bulb gets so brittle over time that they can kind of fall apart.

 

Worked great, less than 10 minutes. Question, can a LED lamp be installed without a balance resistor? Was told by one of my local parts stores that this was needed but it didn't sound logical.