I apologize for the long rant for what should be a simple replacement. So my 2001 GMC diesel dually exhibited the classic odometer/gear selector failure . I did the pounding on the cluster face to get the intermittent failure to correct itself but that only worked for a while . Online searches said this was a common failure and can be corrected . I have been waiting for warmer weather due to plastic parts involved that have to be removed . Yesterday was warm here so I removed the cluster .
There is a common solder failure point on this vintage GM product. Plenty of videos showing how to perform the repair . Between my wife and I we have 60 years of solder experience so the repair was easy to perform . So far so good
The " while I am in there " syndrome struck and I figured I should replace the 24 year old cluster lights . This is where it all went wrong
. So there are 10 bulb holders that are a simple 1/4 turn to remove from the PCB . Six are larger in size the other four are smaller . Online searches found several topics stating the bulbs are " easily pulled out " of the holders and replaced with wedge style bulbs . No frigging way !!!!
I pulled/tugged and used soficient profanity and nothing . Stepped up to using tools with the results being two broken glass bulbs . I went to four different parts stores and they all said they should pull straight out . No one at the parts store were successful pulling out a single bulb .
After a LOT of online research it looks like the bulb/holder are assembled as one piece from the factory. They are wedge style bulb bases but the leads are extended and wrapped around contacts inside the holder . That's why they won't pull out
. So I have ordered two different aftermarket bulb holders from an online retailer and these bulb holders ARE designed to take the wedge base bulbs . I hope I ordered the right sizes .
It should have taken 5 minutes to replace 10 bulbs . The new holders are due Saturday so hopefully all will be well this weekend . What a pain in the a$$ !!! The pics below show the back of the cluster and the two different bulb holders/bulbs . End of rant , again I apologize for the used band width .
