A/C and heating panel lights out on E430
 

The lights on the a/c and heating panel for my 98 E430 no longer light up. Believe this to be as a result of a short or bulb failure as they stopped working after hitting a small pothole...any suggestions of how to fix this? Is this a dealer only repair?

Radio Bulbs
 

Hello...This is 10min job for a baby.. Go to the dealership and get the bulbs.. You need the radio/ac unit removal tool.. Or make you own from some old hotel keys... That's what I did. You had to cut them to the width of the slots on the front of the radio, about 3/8 in wide then taper one side like a shirt collar tab. you can search the web for a picture.. Or like I said just buy them.. Pull the unit straight out then the bulb goes n the bottom

Peter

Thank you phouse! I'm a little red-faced to know it was such a simple job...I owe you one.

I just did this to my E430.
The tool is easy to make to pull out the control unit.
Also, I found that the bulb didn't need replaced - it was the bulb connector that was not making good contact to the circuit board.
So, I adjusted the connector (i.e. bent it back to original) and twisted it back in.
Nothing to it!

Good luck - if you need a drawing of the tool I can send it to you - I fab two myself in about 10 min.

E430 PANEL TOOL
 

Brad,

If it's not too much trouble, please send me the drawing. My email address is:

charles.l.meyers@navy.mil

Thank you!

Brad E430... you should post the picture.. I dont have mine to post. I am sure this question will come up again..

Peter