I need to replace the bulbs in my cruise control switches. I searched here and on google. I found a write up but, its got me confused. It says you need to remove the air bag. Do you really have to do that? I remember seeing a how to on this sometime back. and from what I remember it didn't mention anything on taking the airbag out. Any body no of a How To that they could post. any info on this would be great.

Thanks,
Clay

 

Yes you have to remove the air bag. It not hard though, just disconnect the battery, take the two bolts on the side of the steering wheel out then unplug the air bag and its out.

Here is the only how to i know of.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/23

 

In my opinion, you shouldnt need to take the airbag out. The face of the buttons pop off like a cover and you can take the led out with a socket. be careful though because it looks difficult to put back together. I have the face of my cruise control buttons taken off right now so I could replace the lights, but I couldn't find any replacement lights at autozone or anywhere. I haven't really spent time searching, and I haven't attempted to put the covers back on.

If anyone knows where I can find replacement bulbs let me know please. I've been wanting to do blue lights.

 

Check a junkyard for replacements that would be the cheapest

 

so if you disconnect the battery there's no way the air bag will deploy?

 

any small electrical charge can set them off. and there's a charge that has to dissipate, so you need to leave the battery disconnected for at least 30 minutes before you touch it.

when i put my new air bags in i kinda crouched down so there's no way it would hit me, kinda cringed up and plugged it in. no boom. good day. haha

 

Man. This seems like a pretty risky task to replace two little bulbs. lol

 

I have to say this is the type of thing I try to sneak into an oil change appt.

How it goes...

Service Advisor: So just the oil change today?

Me: Yep, I think that's it. Oh wait, I think I have a bulb out in my cruise control switch -- any way you could look at that.

Service Advisor: Yeah, that shouldn't be a problem...

I don't do this for anything major (honest!), but I figure, why make an extra trip to the dealer (I do find that dealer oil changes are competitive, at least in my area. Though... the Honda dealer here has an awesome service dept. Ford dealer.... not so much). Plus, if you took it in just for this, they'd likely charge you for an hour of labor - this way, it's bundled with something else (that's cheaper ).

But with the danger of the airbag potentially going off (which will end up costing you a lot more....), I'd probably let the dealer handle it. But, that's just me.

 

Everytime I pull the bag, I disconnect the battery, turn on the headlight switch, open the door, and let it sit for like 10-15mins. Then pull the bag. I know what it's like having a bag blow in your face unexpectedly.

YES...you need to remove the airbag to pull the pods. the screws are under the bag. If you just pop the rubberish cover off the pod, have fun getting it back on there properly...

I've been told '99 and older do not come lighted? But there are bulbs there? It's missing the power wire to power the lights I believe. Thats heresay, as I havn't a clue.

I converted mine to LED about 3 years ago, and they are still working flawlessly. I've got 2 5mm blue 13000mcd LED's in each pod. Here's the write-up:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394...296394&page=23

 

You might be right shane on the 99 and older not lighting up. My mom's 98 exloder does not light up and we have had it since new.

 

mine light up

 

I have a 1996 and mine light up, they are led's and they just don't POP out to replace them ( at least on mine ).

Ford charges you for the WHOLE wiring to each side of the wheel down the the steering colum, over a hundred bucks PLUS labor.

Your led's might be replaceable but mine are not UNLESS you snip them off and sauder in new ones.

 

Is there not a fuse on the 99's, when i put my BL on I removed the airbag fuse right after disconnecting the battery. Could you not just rmove that?

 

Like I said...I havn't a clue in regards to what years are lighted and what aren't.

Betcha I can prove you wrong about that little Y harness that goes from the horn button to the pods...I broke mine where it plugs into the pod and had to order up a new one.

Did you click the link? Are you talking to me?

Mine are soldered on and I didn't snip anything. No need to when and if I need to replace them either: just take your iron to the solder, heat it up, and pull. Nothing worse than an ugly solder job with twigs stickin' out of it.


time to *****:

 

Where can I get the bulbs at? I'm having my repair do this and its cheaper if I get the bulbs for him.