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Comments
Which lights?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Does it have automatic on and off headlights that us a light sensor on the dash that "sees" the light of the sky to determine when to turn the headlights on and off.
It's very easy to get the light switch and the twilight sentinel controls confused in their operation with each other.
Also does your car have the battery saver feature where if you leave the headlights or any others on, they are turned off after 10 minutes or so?
I'd have to dig out my 93 manual and see which features were available then. The battery saver may have been on Limited models with certain option packages.
I know that the twilight sentinel switch on my 98 holds the lights on and if I turn the headlight switch on, I'll get confused as to how to get them off.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
OR you can check the switch for high/low beams. which I think is on the bottom of the steering column connected to the turn signal arm at the top by a wire link that moves the switch.
I have a 93 book but I can't check on it now. If you know how to use a meter, you can check that switch. When you pull on the turn signal level do you hear and feel a switch clicking like it's switching between connections for high beams and low beams?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
A little disappointment, though after driving at night
My problem is there are a lot of lights out in the radio buttons.
All of the lights are out in the Automatic Heat/Cool panel. I have read in a "Fix-Ya" and others that these are typical problems that keep re-ocurring, what gives? Poor design? I have a '97 Regal and all the dash lights work!
I am a technical person. I am willing to learn how to remove these units and find out how to replace the bulb(?) or are they LED's? Or is it something utterly impossible for any human to fix?
Any help would be really nice.
BTW I Googled my problem and Google directed me here and I could not find the thread addressing this Dash light, HVAC panel/Radio problem.
fred
As a case in point, my cruise control stopped working about two years ago, and when I finally got sick of not having it, I took a small screwdriver and wedged up the steering wheel button for the cruise control. When it popped off, I noticed that the cruise contact microswitch was broken into three tiny pieces. There was enough cord to allow me to pull out the switch, and disconnect it. I ordered a replacement switch from a local GM dealer (seems like it was about $12 or so) and popped it back in...voila, my cruise was fixed.
The bottom line is that the switches and lamps behind the button faces were not designed to absorb the constant finger/thumb pounding they apparently receive, and those components simply fail under the abuse. Very poor design, and it makes an otherwise very pleasant car look rather slipshod when the lights start failing.
Of course GM will only sell assemblies and not the bulbs or L.E.D.'s It keeps Delphi going. But let's try to break the un-repairable curse on these lights.
If someone would respond, I would appreciate.
If CHILTON's is the answer on "how to remove these assmblies, THEN I WILL buy a Chilton's and disect the HVAC and radio lights and find out availability. MOUSER or DIGIKEY have almost anythng imaginable for lamps/indicators.
Fred
Fred
www.atlanticelightbulbs.com
It's a 14 volt bulb that should last longer than the 12volt bulb that was "engineered" in the USA. Why pay $40 for a replacement switch/bulb (Steering Wheel controls) when it's only a $1.15 bulb?
CAMOWN America wake up!!
Fred
Send your donations for my solution to the following PayPal address............just kidding
I have a silver 1998 Buick LeSabre that has many, many electrical problems. The first problem started when the battery holder broke off inside my main electronic transmitter (I guess you could call it "keyless entry," since it has the lock/unlock buttons) and the spare just stopped working altogether. I replaced the battery and everything and still no luck. Couldn't lock my doors after that, but I could still drive the car. The second problem is that shortly after that, the horn starts randomly honking by itself. I could be sitting at a stoplight and the horn would suddenly go off for no reason. The only way to turn it off was to keep pushing the horn until the noise stopped. Couldn't lock the doors and could'nt beep the horn if I needed to. Kind of dangerous, but I could still drive. The third problem is that shortly after the horn problem, the alarm AND the horn start to go off simultaneously at random times as well. The only remedy to this problem was to disconnect the battery and leave it unplugged for at least an hour. Couldn't lock the doors, couldn't beep the horn, and couldn't go long distances for fear that the alarm would go off (thus enabling the anti-theft feature and preventing me from starting the car.) But I could still drive, as long as I had a wrench (or whatever it is ) to disconnect the battery. The final problem is that now, after all of these other problems, the car will not start. I still have auxillary power (all the lights come on, the radio plays, windows roll down, etc.,) but the car won't run. Any guesses as to what may be happening? I was going to take it to the dealership to see about it, but they want $85-$100 just to look at it, let alone attempt to fix it and as a college student, I just can't afford that much for a diagnosis. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
The battery holder posts broke off in the remote. I assume that means you're using a different remote? If they broke off they probably can't be soldered back into place on the circuit board or repaired. I replaced one of mine that did something like that with an Ebay with the same code number on the back. Then they can be reset to the car by connecting posts 4 and 8 in the assembly line diagnostic connector underneath next to steering wheel and then pushing buttons. I believe the directions are in the owner's manual in the glovebox. Both remotes have to be done at the same time or it only learns one.
>couldn't lock doors
Are you saying the doors won't lock from the remote? Or won't lock from the buttons in the car?
Is there an aftermarket alarm on the car? If so I'd personally take it off.
I don't know much about the alarm system that was an option on the certain option packages--I ordered my 98 with only the load leveling struts and avoided the other options in the package because I didn't want the alarm. People have trouble with the sensor on the trunk lid in Bonnevilles and suggest disconnecting it.
If you're talking aftermarket alarm, I don't know.
As for the door locks not working from the inside buttons or the remote, all I think of is the problem with buss connections which get wet and salted in some areas of the country. Then they corrode. like this or this
The pictures are ones found on the net. I did not take them.
I posted one picture to show you it's under the carpet and the plastic door sill. There is also one on the passenger side. It's wrapped with lots of tape against the bundle of wires leading to the rear portion of the car. I had a '93 leSabre where the door locks occasionally wouldn't work and the AC would revert to default control of AC on and defrost mode because this buss was occasionally not making contact.
Anytime funny things happen, check grounds. This buss is one. But your main battery cables are another. Check the grounds at the battery and where they connect to fenders, motor, etc. At the battery look for corrosion down into the plastic covering the battery cable. Check the double layer positive cable where there's a lead spacer between the top and bottom cables.
Remember to turn off the AC with the key on before disconnecting the battery. I turn everything else off.
You'll find Bonnevilles are even more popular with people doing their own trouble shooting, so you might check some Bonneville forums as well. You'll note I mentioned them.
Good luck.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I would like to retrofit one.
I would like to know what parts I need and what parts are already there (wiring, etc)?
The existing latch has a wire to it but does not appear to have an actuator. I am assuming I will have to replace it, but I wonder what the existing wire is for?
Thanks.
Just wondering - I have a '95 LeSabre Custom & would like to swap out the instrument cluster with that of a 96/97/98. Is this possible? I want a tach & other guages rather than just the idiot lights & speedometer.
Thanks
-J
I realize there might be hestitation with min orders, but those bulbs are probably used through out the vehicle, in the dash, the radio, and the HVAC controls, and the steering wheel controls..
When the snow starts flying here in West. Pa. the LeSabre will be parked in the warm garage for some TLC and all of the bulbs burned out in the areas mentioned.
EDIT: I just ordered 35 bulbs from Atlantic for $43 something.
Fred
Switches on the dead doors neither so I'm skeptical it's the door controller. Also checked the fuses (why, right? ... sheesh...)
Is there another controller? What else?
Thanks very much.
Check fuses in the rear fuse block under the seat, but I think those controll the two rear doors. I don't know that the right passenger door is through that area.
\
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In my opinion. add a can of Techron by Chevron sold at various box stores maybe twice a year and that will take care of any crude. Follow directions. Otherwise use a quality brand of gasoline and you'll not end up with tank goop.
I haven't had a car that I changed the fuel filter before 110K miles. And then it probably didn't need it.
I suspect they're commenting about filter change to try to make it sound like their chemical does something special.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Typical dealer ripoff.
Fred
1) Under the center of the driver seat, in the plastic sheath (that is only taped closed), you'll see four tan with white stripe wires connected with with a little white splicer... cut it out, splice together. This is the serial data lines.
2) Also fixed, cause it was corrupted, yellow wires connector box inside the wiring canal box underneath the carpet and along the driver's side door. 8 yellow wires connected into a little plastic box... clean the contacts.
Fixed!
How do I start troubleshooting this problem?
I have started to experience the same problem with my 1999 Lesabre Limited in the past couple of days. Nuts.
Did you ever find a solution to the problem?
Jim H.