so my orchestra bulbs in the gauge cluster of my saturn died..... no biggie right.........wrong. called the parts stores and dealer no one has them. GM says they have been discontinued. ok fine ill go to the junk yard. i take the bone yard saturn apart get the bulbs they looked good. put them in one works . come to find out the other bulb is bad. this is very frustrating!! why in gods earth discontinue a bulb????its like discontinuing brake pads! you know eventually your going to need them but hey what the heck buy a new car instead!!! stupid GM
dang you GM
- Thread starter Dakota1820
- Start date
- Status
I'm sure they're still available. We just have to find the right cross-reference. Can you post a picture?
Edit: Does these pages show what you're talking about?
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152386
or
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136986
Edit: Does these pages show what you're talking about?
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152386
or
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136986
Last edited:
HAHA! Posted this GM rant earlier today! I feel your pain.
Rant: I hate GM sometimes (at least 90's-2000's)
Rant: I hate GM sometimes (at least 90's-2000's)
Next time you go, you gotta gut a few clusters. Been there, done that.
Wife has a 2003 Saturn. Dealer told us at last visit that it was getting extremely difficult to get parts. No more rubber door seals available, for instance. I needed a trans solenoid and they were able to get an OEM but it took days. After ten years in a disontinued line of carfs, all I can say is "good luck."
You could always cut the bulk connector/sockets off and wire new ones on there that have/use readily available bulb. You can get any common bulb socket from any autoparts store and I'm right there next to them will be the appropriate bulbs.
That's what I'd do.........
That's what I'd do.........
Originally Posted By: Phishin
You could always cut the bulk connector/sockets off and wire new ones on there that have/use readily available bulb. You can get any common bulb socket from any autoparts store and I'm right there next to them will be the appropriate bulbs.
That's what I'd do.........
could you elaborate on that?
You could always cut the bulk connector/sockets off and wire new ones on there that have/use readily available bulb. You can get any common bulb socket from any autoparts store and I'm right there next to them will be the appropriate bulbs.
That's what I'd do.........
could you elaborate on that?
I would be hard-pressed to believe that that bulbs could not be cross-referenced back to another bulb. I've even seen Saturn's and Honda's use 194 peanut bulbs for dash and instrument panel bulbs.
If you really find it hard to find parts, try RockAuto(dot)com. I have always found what I need there even to cross-reference something.
Replace all the instrument panel bulbs with aftermarket LED equivalents. Get the kind with a resistor built into the base. Install them, verify the polarity is correct, and never worry about replacing them again.
By polarity I mean diodes only allow electrical current to easily flow in one direction, so if any of the LEDs appear to be dead after they get installed just take them out and turn them 180 degrees and install them again.
Oh, and to avoid a repeat of the junkyard experience(s), order a extra one or two LEDs. Then if you are "short" by one or two there won't be any frustrations with paying shipping charges again plus waiting for delivery again.
I'm guessing this is what you'd need. "Cool white" should do the trick. Call them, describe the year/make/model/application, and see what they say...
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/...-panel-led/219/
By polarity I mean diodes only allow electrical current to easily flow in one direction, so if any of the LEDs appear to be dead after they get installed just take them out and turn them 180 degrees and install them again.
Oh, and to avoid a repeat of the junkyard experience(s), order a extra one or two LEDs. Then if you are "short" by one or two there won't be any frustrations with paying shipping charges again plus waiting for delivery again.
I'm guessing this is what you'd need. "Cool white" should do the trick. Call them, describe the year/make/model/application, and see what they say...
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/...-panel-led/219/
Discontiue things you need for inspection/safe operation,and you will have to dump the car and go to your "friendly" GM dealer for that new Cruze Eco or Malibu they are pushing.....its the tired old game over and over.Car makers do not want to see 10-30 year old vehicles on the road..they dont make them any money.The funny thing is when a vintage Camaro,Mustang,Charger comes along the carmakers are proud of their heritage...and use them for promotion.No thanks to the manufacturer those cars are still around and alive...its thanks to the aftermarket and the blood sweat and tears of the restorer,who with a lot of models has no source of new parts (Ford Torino,Chrysler Cordoba,Ford Maverick,AMC Gremlin....etc),and no thanks from the "father" that gave them birth.
Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
Are people here making it out like other manufacturers are much better?
At what ratio of cars sold and years old is it okay for manufacturer to stop making parts?
Yes, of course one can still get EVERY part one will EVER need for that 1968 Corona rustbucket!!
Are people here making it out like other manufacturers are much better?
At what ratio of cars sold and years old is it okay for manufacturer to stop making parts?
Yes, of course one can still get EVERY part one will EVER need for that 1968 Corona rustbucket!!
Originally Posted By: dailydriver
Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
Are people here making it out like other manufacturers are much better?
At what ratio of cars sold and years old is it okay for manufacturer to stop making parts?
Yes, of course one can still get EVERY part one will EVER need for that 1968 Corona rustbucket!!
We are not talking about a 68. We are talking about a common car that has been sold recently. And not to stock a common item as a light bulb? That is pretty pathetic.
Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
Are people here making it out like other manufacturers are much better?
At what ratio of cars sold and years old is it okay for manufacturer to stop making parts?
Yes, of course one can still get EVERY part one will EVER need for that 1968 Corona rustbucket!!
We are not talking about a 68. We are talking about a common car that has been sold recently. And not to stock a common item as a light bulb? That is pretty pathetic.
Manufactures change parts every year or two just to be different and dealers can't or refuse to stock parts that will sit on the shelve forever sometimes. Some call it forced obsolesces and I hate it. The real masters are Microsoft.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
Car companies, at least it is my understanding, only need to produce items for a car up to 10 years after the date of manufacture.
Originally Posted By: Newreet
Replace all the instrument panel bulbs with aftermarket LED equivalents. Get the kind with a resistor built into the base. Install them, verify the polarity is correct, and never worry about replacing them again.
By polarity I mean diodes only allow electrical current to easily flow in one direction, so if any of the LEDs appear to be dead after they get installed just take them out and turn them 180 degrees and install them again.
Oh, and to avoid a repeat of the junkyard experience(s), order a extra one or two LEDs. Then if you are "short" by one or two there won't be any frustrations with paying shipping charges again plus waiting for delivery again.
I'm guessing this is what you'd need. "Cool white" should do the trick. Call them, describe the year/make/model/application, and see what they say...
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/...-panel-led/219/
+1. LED bulbs will do everything a light bulb should, only better.
I use them wherever I can.
Replace all the instrument panel bulbs with aftermarket LED equivalents. Get the kind with a resistor built into the base. Install them, verify the polarity is correct, and never worry about replacing them again.
By polarity I mean diodes only allow electrical current to easily flow in one direction, so if any of the LEDs appear to be dead after they get installed just take them out and turn them 180 degrees and install them again.
Oh, and to avoid a repeat of the junkyard experience(s), order a extra one or two LEDs. Then if you are "short" by one or two there won't be any frustrations with paying shipping charges again plus waiting for delivery again.
I'm guessing this is what you'd need. "Cool white" should do the trick. Call them, describe the year/make/model/application, and see what they say...
http://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/...-panel-led/219/
+1. LED bulbs will do everything a light bulb should, only better.
I use them wherever I can.
if i was to replace the whole cluster would the mileage be the same? it is a digital. i think it doesn't matter about the cluster but i want to ask to make sure
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Car companies, at least it is my understanding, only need to produce items for a car up to 10 years after the date of manufacture.
I've run across this statement a number of times over the years, but I have been unable to find a specific law or regulation in any level of government that says so. Have I just been looking in the wrong places?
For example, new car window stickers are also called Monroney stickers after the U.S. Senator from Oklahoma that who sponsored the law back in 1958: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroney_sticker
Car companies, at least it is my understanding, only need to produce items for a car up to 10 years after the date of manufacture.
I've run across this statement a number of times over the years, but I have been unable to find a specific law or regulation in any level of government that says so. Have I just been looking in the wrong places?
For example, new car window stickers are also called Monroney stickers after the U.S. Senator from Oklahoma that who sponsored the law back in 1958: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroney_sticker
- Status
Similar threads
