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Door control panel lighting on 1993 vs. newer years

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Old 01-10-2003, 01:49 PM
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Default Door control panel lighting on 1993 vs. newer years

On my '93 SSEi, the driver'* door panel switches are lit by a tiny amber spotlight set into the lower edge of the door pull above the panel. I could swear that I've seen actual backlit door controls on newer models (i.e. the lock button and window buttons are internally lit). Am I right?

If so, can I retrofit backlit buttons from a newer junkyard donor without having to swap out the entire door panel? (I don't mind a little electrical work if the newer switch panel will physically fit the existing door panel.) TIA...
Old 01-10-2003, 07:12 PM
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The only thing I can remember are the backlit "Window" lights on the 87-91 models.
Old 01-21-2003, 09:43 PM
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Yes, the 2000+ Bonneville door buttons are backlit.
Old 01-21-2003, 09:55 PM
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Mine has red backlit lighting on the all four door panels, both the window and mirror wording are lit up...

The red is kinda nice
Old 01-22-2003, 08:55 AM
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Does anybody know what size bulb they are. Im thinking about changing them to white so its britghter, and adding a couple in the rear as well. I have a 98.
Old 01-22-2003, 01:01 PM
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I believe they're actually just LED'*. I've never had mine apart to see for sure. You could go brighter, but it might be too distracting. Can anyone confirm my suspicions?
Old 01-23-2003, 09:05 AM
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So does anybody know what size led it is?
Old 01-23-2003, 12:41 PM
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Now we need to know if they're 12 volts or if there'* a voltage divider in there. Who'* gonna have their door panels off next? Once we figure this out, we can figure out future possibilities.
Old 01-23-2003, 02:09 PM
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Radio Shaq is probably your best bet unless you have a supply at work

If they're standard 12v LED'*, I'd just find a standard 12v of the same diameter. If it'* too bright for your taste, you can just put a resistor in series with one of the leads and knock it down to the right level. The ultra-bright LED'* will probably be WAY too bright, but you can do the same to them too. These LED'* are pretty dim, and they're an odd color. After the upgrade, you'll probably find a truer red.
Old 07-12-2003, 05:15 PM
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Originally Posted by jr's3800
I didn't see anything in there but the wires it plugged into... Other that that it looked like a standard round led... I didn't see anything that looked like it would reduce or divide the voltage to it.. I know the 87-91 bonnies used the rectangular LED... I think it was also a 12 volt LED... My 91 needs new ones.. Radio shack maybe... What do you think Will?
There is an approx. 555 ohm current limiting resister built right into the LED socket housing. If you remove the LED from the socket, look into the socket, it'* the tiny circle near the edge of the socket, like it'* moulded right into the base of the socket


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