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2002 Buick Century, odometer & shift indicator lights out
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Johnh
New User
Feb 9, 2012, 8:07 PM
Post #1 of 3
(14046 views)
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2002 Buick Century, odometer & shift indicator lights out
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2002 Buick Century, 3.1L, 103,000 miles, pristine condition and runs great. This has been a very good car but it has always had electrical issues. It was always burning out directional and taillight bulbs and fuses which i repeatedly replaced. Then about a year ago all my dash lights and center stack(radio/ac control) lights went out. In the beginning they just got dimmer and dimmer till they went out completely. I had mechanics tell me it was a bad headlamp switch, or a bad plastic & brass contact disc inside the steering column, or just a blown instrument panel and that the whole instrument cluster would need to be replaced(big money). I rarely drive at night so I just lived with it.
About 3 months ago when I was replacing a fuse I noticed arcing in the fuse box when I was replacing a fuse. Figuring I had a bad short somewhere I took it to a mechanic and he found a bad stripped wire in the trunk. He fixed/repaired the wire, installed new bulbs and fuses and I haven't had a bulb problem or fuse problem since but the dash lights were still all out. Now the strange part starts........about a month ago I get in the car one night, turn on the lights and all the dash and center stack light are back and work fine just like new and have been fine since......EXCEPT the odometer and the shift indicator lights which are in a small window at the base of the instrument panel just above the steering column. They are still out.
I need to sell this car soon and would appreciate any help you can give. I can't sell it with an odometer that is out. I have been told it's a big job(3-4hours) tearing apart this dash board and I don't know even where to start.
One fellow on another forum mentioned the possibility of a couple of bad resistors in the dash???
Thanks for your help, John.
(This post was edited by Johnh on Feb 9, 2012, 8:11 PM)
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Johnh
New User
Feb 14, 2012, 6:14 PM
Post #2 of 3
(13951 views)
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Re: 2002 Buick Century, odometer & shift indicator lights out
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 This is just a FYI to the guys on this forum. I didn't get any replies here but a got one from a guy on Link removed..not allowed and he directed me to some YouTube videos concerning this LED odometer problem on GM cars. Turns out this is a pretty common problem(bad resistors on instrument cluster circuit board).
Long story short, watched the video twice, dash disassembly, repair, then reassembly took about 1 1/2 hours and cost $1.15(resistors at Radio Shack). Wow I'm happy, I have my odometer and shift indicator back.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Feb 14, 2012, 6:24 PM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Feb 14, 2012, 6:49 PM
Post #3 of 3
(13942 views)
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Re: 2002 Buick Century, odometer & shift indicator lights out
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See you taught me something. We been sending those out for repair. I am sure to be on the safe side our shop will continue sending them out for repair. We aren't too good with soldering solid state...LOL. Thanks for the follow up
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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