teamfresh

Hello - I am new to the forum and I am a new owner of a 1996 Lexus es 300 - I have owned the car for approximately a month and recently the left side of the climate control LCD has darkened. I can still read the word "HOT" when i have the heat on but the green color is not illuminating - I have no interest in fixing this problem myself.

I have a couple of questions does this problem sound like its the actual LCD or a problem with the bulbs.

Also what is the easiest way I can get this fixed and what types of shops can fix this problem for me?

Thank you

EPayne42

Good Morning ...if I were in your shoes, I'd go to the nearest salvage yard and source another unit. Replacing these is easy as pie. My local yard charged me $12 for one. Works perfect. At those prices, heck, buy a few and try them.

Any capable person with a 10mm socket, extension, ratchet and small screw driver can do this job. I'm happy to send instructions. This job might take 15-20 mins.

teamfresh

Thank you for the reply - I saw a few replacement units on ebay - my only concern is paying for the labor putting in the replacement and the part not working.

EPayne42

That's a legit concern. You might have a couple on hand just in case.

Does your radio and climate control look like this?


If so, there's only 4 bolts holding it in place. I would be suspicious of anyone charging more than $100 for labor. There's a small piece of trim below the climate control box. This piece must be popped out to access the lower bolts. You might grab one of those just in case the one on your car breaks during removal. It's a pretty stout piece of plastic. I've removed it a few times with no issues, but you never know with plastic parts.

teamfresh

mine looks like this


The radio is different though - put in an aftermarket radio.

EPayne42

Take a look at this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...problem-3.html

I believe the 1996 is a 2nd generation ES and has a different set up. The pic I sent was from a 3rd gen car.

Apparently the 2nd gen cars have light/bulb issue. They can be swapped, but requires soldering. If this is the case you might either buy a new one (to insure it works) or take your existing one to a toyota specialist (not the dealer unless you have money to burn). My guess is any decent toyota/lexus specialist has done this job a thousand times.

EPayne42

I needed to read that post a bit further ...I see someone corrected the author and apparently the bulbs are merely screwed in. Whew! So it sounds like you're looking at a couple bulbs and labor. Shouldn't be a big deal.

teamfresh

Can you let me know what type of bulbs I will need for this? - Thank you for all the help by the way. It's just a few minor cosmetic things I'd like to fix in the interior of my car - this being one of the 3.

EPayne42

No prob. Check out this thread: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...backlight.html

The author states you need;
CEL1247 That's an 8v 100mA bulb

You can order from Pioneer, go here: http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com/index.asp (direct link: http://parts.pioneerelectronics.com/...uctNum=CEL1247 )
Obviously you can also take the p/n to the dealer ...they might have them in stock. Get 3 and replace all of them so you can avoid doing this again in the near future.

Cheers!

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I think theres a seller on ebay for like $75 if you send it in, they repair it and even change the color if you want.