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Post by dk58 on Mar 23, 2005 23:40:01 GMT -6
I know this is a topic that has been around for awhile but my shift light is out under the shifter. Is this an easy fix or should I leave it alone? It's little things like this that bug the hell out of me though..... Any help would be great, thanks.
oh, Its a 01 by the way
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scottydl
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Post by scottydl on Mar 24, 2005 11:36:38 GMT -6
About half of us have the same problem, and I think all of us have decided "it's not worth it". (There is a previous post about it somewhere around here.) I successfully reached and removed the old bulb under my shifter, only to learn that a new bulb accomplished nothing; apparently bad wiring is the more likely culprit. On an unrelated topic, how are your HiLites front lighting working out (that was you, right)? I'd still like to try a set, but am a little afraid they won't last past the 3-month warranty. Feel free to PM your response if you'd like, to keep things on topic.
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 27, 2005 16:11:53 GMT -6
I just replaced the light under the shifter in my 96 yesterday. It was not hard at all. I'm not sure if the precedure is the same with an 01 but from the pictures I've seen the inside is very similar so it might be. All you have to do is open the storage box between the front seats and unswrew about 6 screws then pull out that box. Next open the ashtray and there are two more screws, take those out too. On the shift nob there is a U shaped pin on the back side you can pull out with a flat head screwdriver. Take the U shaped pin out and then slowly pull the shift nob off. There is a small wire that goes to the button on the shift nob so if you pull to hard you could rip it off. After you have taken the shift nob off remove the remaining piece that has the decorative wood on it. I found it was easier the get the piece off if you shifted to 1st gear. There are some wires hooked to it so you can only lift it so high before you have to unplug them. Flip the piece over and change the bulb. When I did mine the bulb was bad and the wires going to it had broken, so I just stripped them and put them back together. It works great now. Like I said I don't know if this will help you or not with a 2001 but I hope it does.
Jon
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Post by onehunglow on Mar 28, 2005 15:35:00 GMT -6
Ughhh - I cringe at this problem - such a design flaw in such a beautiful car....
The bulb is relatively easy to change - you can get the bulb at Radio Shack but there is a blue cover (like a condom) that goes over it...
GM does not sell the bulb plus blue cover so you can replace the light and it will be white (out of color with the rest of the dash but at least you will see the settings) or get a blue bulb from a scrap yard (which is what I am waiting for) and have it look like stock new
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 28, 2005 15:43:05 GMT -6
I just slid the litte blue "condom" off the old bulb and put it on the new bulb. Pretty easy.
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scottydl
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Post by scottydl on Mar 29, 2005 8:31:58 GMT -6
It's not that the job itself is overly difficult, but many of us have found that (1) the wiring and not the bulb is the problem, or (2) the bulb seems to blow frequently and is not worth replacing constantly. My extended warranty even covers "instrument lighting" so I should be able to get my wiring replaced... but if they decided not to honor the claim, then I'd be stuck with the labor charges of removing the whole center console. Therefore I've decided to live with the unlit shifter up to this point.
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Post by onehunglow on Mar 29, 2005 9:19:44 GMT -6
I agree it's a pain - but the Aurora has such a beautiful dash lighting 'aura' - and burnt out items just stick out - and I don't know about you, but it gives the impression to any passengers that one is neglectful on maintenance in general.
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 29, 2005 15:34:21 GMT -6
scottydl,
You said the bulb seems to blow frequently. How often is frequently in your case? Is it every couple of months, twice a year or something? I was just wondering because I just replaced both bulbs and it will suck if they burn out in a month or so.
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scottydl
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Post by scottydl on Mar 30, 2005 10:12:30 GMT -6
scottydl, You said the bulb seems to blow frequently. How often is frequently in your case? Is it every couple of months, twice a year or something? I was just wondering because I just replaced both bulbs and it will suck if they burn out in a month or so. Actually I don't know; that's what I've heard from others, and not personally experience b/c my shifter light has never worked (bad wiring).
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 30, 2005 15:31:33 GMT -6
I have found from personal experience that the problem with the wiring is that because the shifter goes back and forth so often, the wire ends up breaking right off at the point were it comes off of the wiring harness.
It can be fixed very easily. Just strip the wires on both ends and twist them together or solder them back together.
The trick is to leave some extra wire so that theres some play in it. This way it won't break off again. Also use good quality wire.
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scottydl
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Post by scottydl on Mar 31, 2005 9:25:52 GMT -6
It can be fixed very easily. Just strip the wires on both ends and twist them together or solder them back together. The trick is to leave some extra wire so that theres some play in it. This way it won't break off again. Also use good quality wire. Hmm, maybe I'll try this after all. So did you add new wiring when you fixed this in your car? When you mention the wires at the harness, is that on the end of the wiring at the light socket, or the other end? I never disassembled my shifter when I replaced my bulb (which didn't do anything), I just removed the center console bucket and reached in blindly to change the bulb by "feel".
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 31, 2005 19:06:58 GMT -6
The wire that goes to the shift light comes off of the wiring harness at a 90 degree angle so it gets bent back and forth and back and forth every time you move the shifter. Thats were it was broken on my car, closest to the wiring harness.
I would guess that is the only place where it could break because it gets the most stress. If you look closley at the wire you should be able to tell if it is broken by wiggling it and seeing if it is loose.
Yes I did add some new wire because I wanted it to have some extra length so it would have some play and it would be able to move without being bent.
Now did you replace the little red light that lights up each individual gear such as: P, R, D, etc. Or did you reaplace the bluish green light. There are two down there.
You can get the replacement bulbs at an auto parts store like Advanced Auto Parts. I bought some that came with two bulbs to a package for about 2.48 each.
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Post by onehunglow on Mar 31, 2005 20:09:37 GMT -6
Hey Buccsfan... This red light you are talking about...in the center console - what year Aurora do you see that? I have a '01 and I don't think there is a light besides the blueish one...anyone?
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 31, 2005 20:19:23 GMT -6
I have a 96 so yours might not have it. It lights up each individual gear when your shifting. On the center console next to: Park, Reverse, Drive. Its there so you can see what gear your in. I can take a picture of it if you want?
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Post by onehunglow on Mar 31, 2005 20:27:35 GMT -6
Oh its a 96...sorry
The other gens have the red selector on the front speedo cluster - vertically between the tach and speedo and the shifter is illuminated by a bluish bulb (which apparently also burns out often I am finding out)
But I like all Aurora's so you can post a picture if you like
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Mar 31, 2005 21:20:03 GMT -6
Here is what mine looks like with both lights working. onehunglow, I wish the classics had the shift indicator in the same place as the 2nd gens. In my opinion putting it on the center console between the seats was a major design flaw that should have been changed even before the 2nd gens came out. Or at least have had it in both locations.
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Post by onehunglow on Apr 1, 2005 8:31:24 GMT -6
Yah okay ...but your traction control switch is placed better than the new gens...where you have to consciously press it.
Ours in on the flat blank area near the front of the ashtray (or CD holder for us non-smokers) and I am constantly hitting that button inadvertantly and setting on my "no Trac" light..
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scottydl
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Post by scottydl on Apr 1, 2005 9:30:25 GMT -6
Now did you replace the little red light that lights up each individual gear such as: P, R, D, etc. The red one (although it was a clear bulb), my bluish backlighting still works. If the weather stays nice this weekend, I'll take the whole thing apart as you did and see what I can see.
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Apr 1, 2005 14:12:20 GMT -6
scottydl, when you take off the piece with the decorative wood shift the car into 1st gear it makes it a lot easier to get off.
You'll see what I mean once you start to take apart everything.
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Apr 1, 2005 14:16:21 GMT -6
Yah okay ...but your traction control switch is placed better than the new gens...where you have to consciously press it. Yeah I guess nothing is perfect. One thing I have learned is to never buy the first model year of a car. Wait until atleast the second year when they have worked out some of the bugs and/or poor design features.
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Post by onehunglow on Apr 1, 2005 14:39:43 GMT -6
yes - but I bet you were the first on the block to own this new car that every one asked "who makes Aurora?"...I have owned Auroras since they came out and I never get tired of the compliments to this car....I have even heard that from a fast-food window attendant!
Yes GM...please bring back Olds
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Apr 1, 2005 15:06:47 GMT -6
Your right I was the first on the block to have an Aurora. In fact, until I bought my Aurora I had never even seen one.
I bought my 96 in 2003 and one day when I was getting my hair cut I asked my barber "what year do you think my car is?" He already new it was used so he thought about it for a minute and said, "a 2002." I have always thought that the design of Auroras looked ahead of there time. I mean 95 thru 99s still look up to date now. Unlike your 95 honda accords, toyota camrys, ford tauruses, they look ancient. You know what I mean?
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Post by onehunglow on Apr 1, 2005 15:17:24 GMT -6
The Aurora's were and always been a unique design - akin to Lexus more than to Toyota or even GM (closest is maybe Chrysler Intrepid)..they just look sleek
and inside is a work of luxurious art - from the big center console to the creased leather ...
Can you imagine where this car would be if GM held on and refined it to a new generation solving the little idiosyncracies it has now?
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Apr 2, 2005 10:55:01 GMT -6
Can you imagine where this car would be if GM held on and refined it to a new generation solving the little idiosyncracies it has now? I could understand GM getting rid of the Oldsmobile line if it was not selling very well, but they should of kept making the Aurora. I mean most people don't even know that the Aurora was made by Oldsmobile. Maybe some day they'll bring it back. Look at Ford they're bringing back the Shelby Cobra.
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Post by onehunglow on Apr 2, 2005 17:09:02 GMT -6
Actually the Aurora was originally intended to be a Cadillac product. The Cadillac people at the dealer I deal with (the largest in Canada) frequently directed clients to the Aurora which fell smack between the highest model Olds had at the time (Cutlass Supreme) and Caddy.
There is geat debate why it was handed or assigned to Oldsmobile, most probably because Olds was suffering lack of sales and needed something in the high-end they believed. But Oldsmobile always had a bit of a marketing problem (thus the 'this is not your fathers Oldsmobile' ad campaigns of the 90s)...and they needed to fill the need for upper-end yuppies who wanted a Lexus-type product but would not be caught dead in a Cadillac.
Someone told me that there was a reason that the name 'Oldsmobile' was never marked on the car on the Classic series (96-99) to try and help people dissassociate with the fact they were buying an Oldsmobile.
Had the Aurora been a Cadillac, perhaps it might have continued...
Sales for the Aurora were limited but owners loved the car and the re-purchase rate was one of the highest at around 60% (47% is the industry norm). However in 2001 when Oldsmobile announced the eventual dropping of the line, it was a knife in the coffin of the Aurora.
I have always leased my cars and when my 2001 lease came to an end in 2004 I unprecedently decided to purchase the car, against all industry logic (low future resale value, etc)...the thing was mostly emotional - I knew my car since day 1, did all the maintenance, had very few problems (besides the dash lights that last as long as current song hits) and did not find any other car in that price range that I liked.
I was surprised to see actual user groups and forums of people that felt the same way I did and so I am a contributing member of this forum..
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Apr 2, 2005 21:30:05 GMT -6
Actually the Aurora was originally intended to be a Cadillac product. Thats very interesting I had never heard that before. I guess you could say that an Aurora is partially a Cadillac exspecially considering that it has a Northstar engine in it. When/if my 96 falls apart I will probably by a 99 or maybe a 2nd generation. After driving such a nice and unique vehicle I don't think I could drive anything else. Except maybe a Viper, but thats about 80,000 more than I have haha. Plus I happen to know a guy with a dealers license which allows him to buy cars at the used car auctions. When I bought my car in 2003 I only paid $4,100 for it and kelly blue book listed it for around $8,700.
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Post by bLACk AurOrA on Apr 2, 2005 21:39:40 GMT -6
i could go for a black 99 autobahn with black interior sunroof and bose
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Post by onehunglow on Apr 2, 2005 23:25:41 GMT -6
You 1st gen guys are really hooked on those huh? Look closely at the 2001+ Auroras...I think many of idiosyncracies of the original model were fixed (I don't know them all but I am reading about people having trouble changing headlights, side markers, etc which are not a problem in the new gens)
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Post by bLACk AurOrA on Apr 3, 2005 12:06:47 GMT -6
i like the front of the new generation better, the headlight and fog light setup. i think i like the dash panel on the classics and the back of the classics. id have to drive a new gen before id decide tho
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Post by BuccaneersFan on Apr 3, 2005 16:16:46 GMT -6
I like the 2nd gens front, but I think Olds should of kept the back the same as on the 96-99s. The back was very unique looking in my opinion. On the new design the back looks very similar to a Malibu or a Grand Prix.
I'm not saying I wouldn't buy a 2nd gen. I just wish they could've updated it without changing the design of the back.
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