How Do I Replace Light on Cruise Control Button

[explorlyon]

I have a 1998 Explorer XLT, V8.

The cruise control buttons on the steering wheel light up when the head lights are turned on. Well, the controls on the right side of the steering wheel where you set the cruise control, coast, resume, etc. does not light up.

How do I get in there to replace the bulb?

 

[Nicaraguense]

You don't

I think Napa could order them (ten at about $18 total and cannot sell them individually) Ford Lincoln Mercury CANNOT get them. They are a NON SERVICEABLE BULB. You can however buy the whole switches for about $40-$50 or so. I had the genius idea to change my bulbs out to LED's. Unfortunatly I could not find any 12v LED's that were green or white. I tried a lower voltage because it looked like the resistors were knocking the voltage down. Only to the switches:not to the bulbs come to find out. You migt could solder 12v LED's rigt to the little circuit board that is in the switch ¿Have you taken it apart yet? Pretty easy to do. My only problem was that Radio Shack here in J-town only had red ones for 12v. I will change mine out later if I get a chance. Hope that helps.
You are talking about the bulbs in the switches in the Steering wheel. right?

 

[explorlyon]

Yes, I am talking about the bulb in the steering wheel that lights up the curise control buttons and makes them look green.

How do I open the switch and get to the bulb? I am a little worried about undoing anything with an airbag in the steering wheel.

Please provide help on how to open the switch to either (1) replace it or (2) get to the bulb to replace the bulb.

Thanks

 

[Nicaraguense]

Okay

1)To open your switch before you do ANYTHING AT ALL disconnect your positive battery cable from the battery.
2) on the side of the steering column there are two plastic round things pop them out. You will see a 5/16 bolt below that. take it out.
3)Now that your airbag is loose disconnect the wiring harness to it.
4)Now, the two sets of switches have two screws each and a wiring harness to them. The wiring harness is a bit difficult to get out. You just have to try to squeeze (with screw driver maybe) and pull.
5) now, to take the bulbs out use a small flathead screw driver to take cover off switches (using the screw driver from the inside)
6) now the switches circuit board just pops out of back and there you will find you soldered in, irreplaceable bulbs. They come in a socket and you would think you can buy them. You can't

Now, to just simply replace the switches you just do steps 1-4 and replace the whole things. I recommend you take them apart, go to an electronics store and see if they can solder you in some green 12v LED's. I will eventually do the same. Until then, I can just feel my way through it having memorized the feel of my switches. (It's not the first vehicle I've owned that didn't have Cruise Control Switches that lit up).

 

[Robert]

Bulbs inside cruise switches are replaceable. You can get the bulbs from your local Ford dealer and from www.fordpartsnetwork.com. I have done both. The part # you want is E5R6-13466-BA. You'll need to salvage the green/blue cover over your old bulb to put on the new one since it is clear.

For more information see:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54734&highlight=cruise+bulb

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70047&highlight=cruise+bulb

 

[Nicaraguense]

I just

I just recently replaced mine with LED's I got at Auto Zone because LED's hardly ever go out. Man I wish you would have told me about that before and NO, you can't get it at your local Ford dealership in Jonesboro, Blacwell Baldwin Ford says it is not a serviceable bulb and Mcarty Lincoln Mercury says the same. They claim they can sell me the entire switch assembly. Anyways, mine aren't quite as bright as they were before and they glow brighter at the bottom than on top but I am just glad to have something back now.

 

[alphabets13]

ok, if the left side of my cruise control burned out, the on/off side, do i need just one bulb to light that whole side up or 2 bulbs, one for on, one for off?

 

[Nicaraguense]

One bulb is all you need

Each side of the steering wheel has just one bulb. I probably should have put two LED's per side but good luck getting just one in. If you know how to solder it is worth the $10 to get the LED's at Auto Zone, then you don't have to take you steering wheel apart again for a long time. Not a big job just a little bit of a hassle. and DON'T FORGET TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING. The airbag is not made to where it will go off. However, on the off chance that something, a spark or something does happen. I don't even want to think about it.
Good luck. I think LED's are worth it but, if you just want to do the bulb thing just do it. There is but one bulb in each side (one for ON/OFF side and one for RSM/Set ACCL/Coast

 

[Nicaraguense]

Your signature

Your signature says that you have remote start ¿Aren't you bypassing half your security doing that? I mean ¿Didn't your key have a chip in it? I kind of like the fact mine has a chip in it. Now, no matter what you do, it won't start without the key (or a key programmed for my computer at least)

 

[alphabets13]

Re: Your signature

Originally posted by Nicaraguense
Your signature says that you have remote start ¿Aren't you bypassing half your security doing that? I mean ¿Didn't your key have a chip in it? I kind of like the fact mine has a chip in it. Now, no matter what you do, it won't start without the key (or a key programmed for my computer at least)

no, i don't have a chip in my keys. maybe they started that after 96. i would not even be able to get a key made if it did. unless i went to ford that is and paid a handful. i don't need the key to start it with the remote starter, but i do need it when i get in to shift and drive. it won't shift without a key in the ignition.

 

[Robert]

The chip in the key started with the '98 Explorer.

 

[Robert]

Re: I just

Originally posted by Nicaraguense
I just recently replaced mine with LED's I got at Auto Zone because LED's hardly ever go out. Man I wish you would have told me about that before and NO, you can't get it at your local Ford dealership in Jonesboro, Blacwell Baldwin Ford says it is not a serviceable bulb and Mcarty Lincoln Mercury says the same. They claim they can sell me the entire switch assembly. Anyways, mine aren't quite as bright as they were before and they glow brighter at the bottom than on top but I am just glad to have something back now.

It depends on how you ask for it. If you ask for the bulb from the headlight switch, they will tell you it is unserviceable and that you must buy the entire switch. If you just ask for the part number they won't have any problems selling it to you as long as they have it in stock. The part number is not listed for an Explorer (I think it is for a Tempo, but not positive) but is the same bulb they used in the Explorer minus the colored cover. The last time I picked one up locally, I just went in and asked for the bulb by the part number. The guy typed it in to his computer, disappeared in the back room and came out a few minutes later with the bulb. Never asked what it was for.

 

[Nicaraguense]

I'm happy

I'm happy with my LED's I got from Auto Zone now. Besides, I didn't really need them. Yes, it is nice to have and if you know you have it, it buggs you to know it doesn't work but well, I had the switches memorized by feel.