steering wheel cruise bulbs

[elmsjetta]

hey guys! the bulbs in the on off switch on the left side of my steering wheel have gone out, is this an easy fix? and if so how do i do it>


thanks!

 

[JDraper]

depends upon if you have a bulb setup or a fiberoptic setup. According to my local dealer , Ford did both. My '01 has had the bulbs burnout on both sides, and it was a piece of cake to replace them. I replaced the right side one myself, but got pissed and had the dealer do the left side one under warranty when it went. The dealer claimed he had to order a whole new cruise control wiring harness to replace it because "Ford uses fiberoptic lights in all the new vehicles". Yeah, right!! Mine has bulbs! I haven't checked yet to see if they replaced the bulbs with a fiberoptic setup though.

If you have bulbs, here is how to fix it:

1: Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery for 5 minutes to disable the airbag sensors.

2: Pull the plastic plugs out of the steering wheel base behind the airbag. There are 2 on each side.

3: Remove the four bolts that hold the airbag assembly in place, and lift the airbag assembly out of the way.

4: Things get a little fuzzy in my memory here, but I think you have to unscrew the cruise control circuit board from the steering wheel. Either that or it snaps in place.

5: Remove the cover from the circuit board and remove the small colored cover from the bulb.

6: Remove bad bulb and install new bulb. Reverse order of steps above.


Good Luck!

 

[TPLYNCH]

You may want to wait little while, cause the ones on the right are gonna go out too. Trust me, I know.... Oh, and you headlight switch light too if it hasn't already!

 

[bluevolume]

Originally posted by JDraper
...6: Remove bad bulb and install new bulb. Reverse order of steps above.
Good Luck!

I was with you till the "install new bulb" part -- where do you find such a bulb? I tried to get one for my '95, and was never able to. I found a Ford parts guy who would work with me, and he found a '95 Thunderbird uses the same bulb for the window control light. I didn't get around to having him order it.

Also, is it necessary to disconnect the battery when removing the airbag? I've done this a couple times without unhooking the batt.

Thanks,
Blue

 

[XplorerKid]

"Also, is it necessary to disconnect the battery when removing the airbag? I've done this a couple times without unhooking the batt."


i would recommend it if u dont u always have the chance of acidentally making the air bag explode ( open as if it was in a crash )
so i would jsut take the extra 30 secs to un hook the battery..


PEACE

 

[bluevolume]

It isn't a matter of taking 30 seconds to unhook, I just don't want to lose all my radio & engine computer settings.

 

[XplorerKid]

Originally posted by bluevolume
It isn't a matter of taking 30 seconds to unhook, I just don't want to lose all my radio & engine computer settings.

yea i understand that is a paint to have to reprogram the radio but i sure rather do that than have to buy a new air bag
i dont think they are cheap

peace