Simple question: Are there lights for the seat heaters?

[Wrightsfd]

Um, I found an older post that answered my questions (I think) so you can all ignore this post. The switches for the seat heaters apparently do have lights in them. I'll have to pull it all apart soon to replace them. A question I have after reading how to access the dash bulbs is if there is an easier way to get just to those switches or do I need to pull the entire dash, steering column, fuse box, radio, etc out. Seems like a lot of work to fix lights I don't really need.

Original post:

We bought a 2000 9-5 Gary Fischer edition wagon this past summer. The car has heated front and rear leather seats which we never thought we would use here in Los Angeles. Well, it has been near freezing at night lately and we have turned them on and used them and like them very much. There are no lights on the switches themselves and no indication that they are on other than the small white line painted on the little wheel which is impossible to see at night. The rear seat's button lights up when the heater is on. My question is whether there are lights for these switches and they are just burned out, or are they light-less? Thanks for the help.

[robw]

It's actually quite simple - the switches just pop out. Pry them out carefully with a blunt tool. Sometimes it helps to remove the switch blanks next to them and then you can just pull them out.

[Wrightsfd]

It works! Thanks for the help. I replaced the lights in both heater switches, the cigarette lighter, and the door lock switch. It cost me $30 for all the lights at the Saab dealer (would have been $48 but the parts guy gave me a deal) but I have nice bright green lights in them now. I'm curious as to why all the lights in that area were out though, it seems odd that ALL those lights would be out especially since they are on different fuses. This car had the DRLs that were basically rigged by GM with a fuse to have all the lights on all the time so after 70,000 miles I guess they can burn out. Oh well, they are all working now and I removed the DRL fuse so they will only be on at night from now on. Thanks for the help.

[Kansas 95]

All of my lights are out in that section too, I have not bothered to replace them yet because like you I did not know if I could. So your not the only one with the problem.

[Kansas 95]

My transmission light is out too, the one that should light up the P,R,D,1,2,3. Do you know if there should be a light in there?

[robw]

Originally Posted by Kansas 95

My transmission light is out too, the one that should light up the P,R,D,1,2,3. Do you know if there should be a light in there?

Yes there is - I've had to replace that one as well. Bit of a PITA, but easily done with some patience. You have to remove the ring from around the shift plate, remove the shift plate, etc. - IIRC it's fairly self-explanatory once you get in there.

[Wrightsfd]

If you want to replace the lights in that section it isn't all that hard, the seat heater switches come out easily with a little prying (it helps to take the fake ones out next to it first) and simply pull them out of the wiring harness. There are two bulbs in each and you just unscrew them from the back about 1/8 turn. There is an access hole on one side and a white clip that comes off on the other side.

To get the cigarette lighter you need to remove the storage tray below it by pushing it from behind through the open holes you made by removing the seat heater switches. It is a little tough but mine came eventually. Then you will see 2 torx screws to remove. Once those are removed the whole wood trim peice pops out easily. You can easily get at the power lock light from the bottom of the button w/o removing it from the trim but you'll need to unplug it for access.You can see the green plastic peice holding the cig. lighter light which pops off w/ light pressure from a small screwdriver. The bulb and black plastic it mounts in comes out of the green holder, but I found it a little difficult. I did it standing at the Saab parts counter with 2 tiny screwdrivers and scraped the plastic up a little but nobody will ever see it so it doesn't matter. There is a tiny green condom on the bulb, keep it but remove the bulb from the black mount. It is a tiny incandescent and Saab charged me $3 for it. I replaced 5 total of the even tinier lights in the lock and heater switches and they were nearly $8 each but I got a good deal from Sherman Oaks Saab parts guy and paid $30 for everything.

Assembly is the reverse obviously. Took me about 15 minutes in all. Not hard, I just hate trying to force interior pieces, they always feel like they are going to break, but "usually" never do.

Originally Posted by robw

Yes there is - I've had to replace that one as well. Bit of a PITA, but easily done with some patience. You have to remove the ring from around the shift plate, remove the shift plate, etc. - IIRC it's fairly self-explanatory once you get in there.

How many bulbs are in there? It is lit up brightly at "P" but fades as you go down the RNDL line.

[Kansas 95]

Thanks guys that helped out and i got it done.

[Kermit]

Originally Posted by jlthunder

How many bulbs are in there? It is lit up brightly at "P" but fades as you go down the RNDL line.

There's only 1 bulb in there at the bottom end, there's a graduated strip that gets lighter as it goes up to P to give an even light spread.

Originally Posted by Kermit

There's only 1 bulb in there at the bottom end, there's a graduated strip that gets lighter as it goes up to P to give an even light spread.

Interesting. Mine is bright at the top end. My PRNDL is on the left hand side of the shifter since mine is a LHD. I know yours, RHD is on the right hand side of the shifter(Haynes manual photo) When the weather warms, I will tear into it and report back.
Jeff