Brights indicator problems - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

87Skier · 06-04-2015, 03:16 AM

I keep having problems with my brights indicator in the instrument cluster. I replaced the bulb and then took it for a drive. About 20 minutes in, the light quit again. Its an 89 Suburban.

Anyone else have this issue? Any good fixes?

Thanks

**hatzie** · 06-04-2015, 12:54 PM

That's a printed circuit to bulb carrier problem.
You could try replacing the twist in bulb carrier.
Glue on some small thin pieces of plastic to the housing to change the "locked" position of the bulb carrier. That will move the contact points on the copper on the flexible printed circuit.
The other option is a new printed circuit... They are under $100 but still not cheap.

Dead Parrot · 06-04-2015, 05:20 PM

Those bulb carriers are all the same. Swap one from a different light and see if the problem migrates or stays. While you have them out, lightly sand the contacts on the carriers. After a few decades, some corrosion is possible. Are the bulbs bad when you pull them? Could be a bad batch of bulbs.

87Skier · 06-08-2015, 07:00 AM

I ended up leaving that one alone, but about a day later it started working again and has been working since. It makes me suspicious that there is an issue with corrosion.

On my 72 I ended up scrubbing the contacts with lemon juice (cleans the copper without eating into it) and haven't had a problem with it since. I'll probably pull it and do the same for this one.

It had about 4 burnt out bulbs in the cluster. I replaced them all and this is the only one I had issues with.

06-04-2015, 03:16 AM	#1
87Skier Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 715	Brights indicator problems I keep having problems with my brights indicator in the instrument cluster. I replaced the bulb and then took it for a drive. About 20 minutes in, the light quit again. Its an 89 Suburban. Anyone else have this issue? Any good fixes? Thanks __________________ 1972 GMC Jimmy Custom 4.8L (L20)/6L90E/NP205 1989 Chevy Suburban V2500 350/Turbo 400/4.11 gears 1996 Chevy Suburban K1500 350/4L60E

06-04-2015, 12:54 PM	#2
hatzie Moderator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wentworth, NH Posts: 4,977	Re: Brights indicator problems That's a printed circuit to bulb carrier problem. You could try replacing the twist in bulb carrier. Glue on some small thin pieces of plastic to the housing to change the "locked" position of the bulb carrier. That will move the contact points on the copper on the flexible printed circuit. The other option is a new printed circuit... They are under $100 but still not cheap. __________________ 1959 M35A2 LDT465-1D SOLD 1967 Dodge W200 B383, NP420/NP201 SOLD 1969 Dodge Polara 500 B383, A833 SOLD 1972 Ford F250 FE390, NP435/NP205 SOLD 1976 Chevy K20, 6.5L, NV4500/NP208 SOLD 1986 M1008 CUCV SOLD 2000 GMC C2500, TD6.5L, NV4500 2005 Chevy Silverado LS 2500HD 6.0L 4L80E/NP263 2009 Impala SS LS4 V8 RTFM... GM Parts Books, GM Schematics, GM service manuals, and GM training materials... 1973-1991 GM Light Truck Service, Unit/Overhaul, Wiring Manuals, Parts Books and Some 1968-1999 GM Service Training textbooks in PDF 1988-1998 GMT400 CK service manual project 1988-1993 GMT400 CK parts books. 1967-1972 GM Light, Medium, & Heavy Truck Service Manuals in PDF Please include at least the year and model in your threads. It'll be easier to answer your questions. And please let us know if and how your repairs were successful. Last edited by hatzie; 06-05-2015 at 04:32 AM.

06-04-2015, 05:20 PM	#3
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,620	Re: Brights indicator problems Those bulb carriers are all the same. Swap one from a different light and see if the problem migrates or stays. While you have them out, lightly sand the contacts on the carriers. After a few decades, some corrosion is possible. Are the bulbs bad when you pull them? Could be a bad batch of bulbs.

06-08-2015, 07:00 AM	#4
87Skier Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 715	Re: Brights indicator problems I ended up leaving that one alone, but about a day later it started working again and has been working since. It makes me suspicious that there is an issue with corrosion. On my 72 I ended up scrubbing the contacts with lemon juice (cleans the copper without eating into it) and haven't had a problem with it since. I'll probably pull it and do the same for this one. It had about 4 burnt out bulbs in the cluster. I replaced them all and this is the only one I had issues with. __________________ 1972 GMC Jimmy Custom 4.8L (L20)/6L90E/NP205 1989 Chevy Suburban V2500 350/Turbo 400/4.11 gears 1996 Chevy Suburban K1500 350/4L60E



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.