Has anyone successfully changed out their burnt out switch light bulbs? If so where did you source the new bulbs from? I was thinking of going to a "you pull it" type of junk yard to get some, but would rather buy new. I certainitly don't want to buy new switches just for a couple stinking bulbs.

 

Only the headlight and the 4WD selector switch have a replaceable bulb. The rest of the switches have LEDs soldered in place.

 

I hope that's not true, seems that just about all the switches have at least one bulb out. That's a lot of money for new switches. Maybe I can pull one apart this weekend also to confirm.

 

Pretty sure he's right.

If your good with a solder gun, there are places that sell the bulbs online. Just order them and away you go.

 

Do you know what size the 4WD selector bulb is?

I took it out, its a small twist in bulb with a candle stick plastic neck.

Couldn't find the rightsize at AutoZone...

 

It might be a #37 bulb. Just a guess though. #37s are used elsewhere on these trucks and are very small.

 

It was always a dealer only item. The base and bulb come as an assembly for about $10. Rumor has it that it's been discontinued. Here is a DIY write-up with pictures on how to convert it to an LED.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/12

 

Thanks for the link, looks like a PITA for something that should be plug and play

 

The manufacturers do that on purpose. It's called "planned obsolesence". That way when a customer is quoted over $1,000.00 for bulb(s) replacement they end up buying a new or newer vehicle. It seems to be the way of today, they plan and we pay.
After working on my own vehicles for many years and seeing the difficulty factor increase to the point of being almost impossible I am convinced that that is the case as it is getting to be more and more difficult to do even the most basic jobs on our vehicles. Most dealership techs are not mechanics in the sense that they could diagnose and repair almost anything in a car or truck. The manufacturers have them trained to be component replacers. Just removing the problem component and put in another.
I think that an $800.00 to $1.000.00 cost for sparkplug replacement is a good example.

 

Now you wouldn't be talking about the well known 3valve spark plug job, would you? You know the one that Ford knew about for many years and neglected to remedy, in favor of passing the cost on to the customer one way or another. When will Ford stop designing crap cylinder heads? Maybe once they start giving a damn about their customers.

Mel, you said in another thread "buy American". When a customer is constantly bringing in a pos American vehicle that needs repairs every other week, it is really hard to not steer them to a more reliable and better built Japanese car like Honda. I'm not a Ford (or American) hater. I am not the traitor. The corporations that sell junk to their own people without remorse are the haters and traitors. Domestics amount for at least 80% of my work, not because most people drive them, because they break the most. GM is the worst. You can't blame the general public for getting tired of being screwed over by our American companies. Most of my customers and myself don't really matter when it comes down to "Buy American" (vehicles), as even if we could afford it we wouldn't buy a new vehicle anyway. As far as I'm concerned it is a poor financial decision. Then you have most of the parts for needed repairs of these domestic vehicles being built pretty much everywhere except for in the US. When it comes to most everything other than vehicles I am happy to shell out more money for what is usually a superior product having being built in the US. That is if I can afford it. Some American companies are just way too proud of their merchandise. When you can get an imported product of comparable quality for 1/10th of the price of the American make, for most people, I think the choice is obvious. I know it is just a nasty vicious cycle. But when it comes down to my family or yours or somebody else that I don't know, sorry, my blood wins every time.

 

The cost of warranty work is passed on to the consumers in any case, as well in a little bit added to the cost of our new trucks, so they should man up and take care of their customers without making them fight for the repairs that should be covered. It would add up to more satisfied customers and better customer loyalty, instead of the bitch sessions seen here and elsewhere about such things as plug blow out.

 

You're absolutely right. But unfortunately that's not the way they want to see it. This country would be in better shape if it weren't for horse**** like this. That BS warranty cost more than a little bit for the consumer buying a new car. If it were optional, I'm sure at least half the people would pass on it. But they make you think it's complimentary, and then when you need it, most of the time you pretty much buy that warranty twice.