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Registered: 09-2017
Location: Southeast Alabama.
Posts: 117
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A/C, Vent, Defrost climate control knobs Interior dash light bulbs replacement.


There are some subtle differences between doing this job on a Commander with the Limited Trim Package and a Commander with the Sport Trim Package, which is why I thought I'd create a thread specifically about doing this job on an XK, with the Sport Trim Package; First off XK's with the Sport Trim Package, only have 3 bulbs to deal with; The Limited Trim Package with Dual climate control zones has 5 bulbs but the procedure is still quite similar. Here is a thread from jeepcommander.com which is based on the Limited Trim Package;

https://www.jeepcommander.com/forums/41-interior-appearance-modifications/62145-heater-c-control-lights-repair.html

Now for my job, only the light for the knob/selector switch all the way on the right, for the front defroster & vent airflow selection was burnt out;

Fortunately, when I ordered these bulbs in Dec 2018 from Radio Shack, I ordered 3 of them - because I knew once I got around to doing this, I was going to replace all three bulbs; Since one bulb already burnt out, the other 2 bulbs probably wouldn't be far behind; They were 11 years old after all.

 This is a pic of the package for the bulbs I ordered and they were very cheap $2.00 a piece; Here is the link I used to order them;

https://www.radioshack.com/search?q=12V%2F50mA+Incandescent+Bulb

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I have a 2008 Sport & I did not have to take the front of the dash off like they have to on the Limiteds; My front face plate is all I had to remove along with the face plate around the gear shifter; Here are a couple of pics of what you can expect to see:

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Last edited by Big Blue XK, 6/17/2019, 1:58 pm


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http://bthefloridacommandersclub.runboard.com

2008 Commander Sport; 4.7L Flex-Fuel V-8; QT-II 4WD; 105,XXX Miles
6/16/2019, 8:39 pm Link to this post Send Email to Big Blue XK   Send PM to Big Blue XK Blog
 
Big Blue XK Profile
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Registered: 09-2017
Location: Southeast Alabama.
Posts: 117
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Re: A/C, Vent, Defrost climate control knobs Interior dash light bulbs replacement.


Once you pry/disconnect the 6 connectors off the back and remove the climate control select a switch panel, this is what you'll be looking at;

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There are 4 very small hex head screws on the back of the panel that you would need a special tool to remove unless you have a very small socket set - I didn't have a socket anywhere near small enough, but, I managed to get them out with a set of long nose vice grips; Here are some pics of the screws and the tool I used;

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Last edited by Big Blue XK, 6/16/2019, 11:38 pm


---


http://bthefloridacommandersclub.runboard.com

2008 Commander Sport; 4.7L Flex-Fuel V-8; QT-II 4WD; 105,XXX Miles
6/16/2019, 11:31 pm Link to this post Send Email to Big Blue XK   Send PM to Big Blue XK Blog
 
Big Blue XK Profile
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Head Administrator

Registered: 09-2017
Location: Southeast Alabama.
Posts: 117
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Re: A/C, Vent, Defrost climate control knobs Interior dash light bulbs replacement.


Once you get those hex head screws out, you have 8 tabs you have to pry loose; 3 on the top, 3 on the bottom and one on each side;

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The back cover comes off and this is what you are looking at;

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---


http://bthefloridacommandersclub.runboard.com

2008 Commander Sport; 4.7L Flex-Fuel V-8; QT-II 4WD; 105,XXX Miles
6/16/2019, 11:36 pm Link to this post Send Email to Big Blue XK   Send PM to Big Blue XK Blog
 
Big Blue XK Profile
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Registered: 09-2017
Location: Southeast Alabama.
Posts: 117
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Re: A/C, Vent, Defrost climate control knobs Interior dash light bulbs replacement.


Once you get to this point you have to carefully pull the three select-a-knobs off by turning them to the correct position, all the way to the right (clockwise) where they will then pull free;

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Last edited by Big Blue XK, 6/17/2019, 4:04 am


---


http://bthefloridacommandersclub.runboard.com

2008 Commander Sport; 4.7L Flex-Fuel V-8; QT-II 4WD; 105,XXX Miles
6/16/2019, 11:44 pm Link to this post Send Email to Big Blue XK   Send PM to Big Blue XK Blog
 
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Head Administrator

Registered: 09-2017
Location: Southeast Alabama.
Posts: 117
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Re: A/C, Vent, Defrost climate control knobs Interior dash light bulbs replacement.


At this point you can remove the circuit board completely and this is what you should be looking at;

Image

I've been told the Limiteds have small blue covers over the light bulbs; my light bulbs had no covers on them; the bulbs easily pried free from the circuit board with a light nudge from a small screw driver or knife; my replacement bulbs were somewhat smaller and I did not try to reuse the small, beige, plastic mounting platforms the factory used to mount the lights to the circuit board, (I don't believe they are reusable anyway, once you pry them loose, they're done) So, I just soldered the light bulbs directly to the circuit board itself;

 You have to make sure you have the lights soldered in the designated, marked spots for them on the circuit board, so, take your time and make sure your placement of the lights is as close as you can get them to where they're supposed to be; If you are off by too much, you will not be able to put the circuit board back in place properly and will probably damage the bulbs trying to do so; The pic below with the red circles are the small spaces that these bulbs have to fit back into - if you do a sloppy soldering job and the bulbs are outside of their marked places on the circuit board, you can see very easily why you will have problems putting the circuit board back in place; Because of the precise fitment & narrow margin for error, having these replacement bulbs be slightly smaller in size than the originals, is actually an unforeseen benefit;

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Here are some other pics;

Circuit board with the 3 old bulbs still in place;

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Old bulbs with mounting pedestals side by side next to the replacement bulbs;

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First bulb replaced with the old bulb sitting next to it, for a height/size comparison;

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All three replacement bulbs soldered in place;

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Last edited by Big Blue XK, 4/20/2022, 4:39 pm


---


http://bthefloridacommandersclub.runboard.com

2008 Commander Sport; 4.7L Flex-Fuel V-8; QT-II 4WD; 105,XXX Miles
6/17/2019, 3:57 am Link to this post Send Email to Big Blue XK   Send PM to Big Blue XK Blog
 
Big Blue XK Profile
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Head Administrator

Registered: 09-2017
Location: Southeast Alabama.
Posts: 117
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Re: A/C, Vent, Defrost climate control knobs Interior dash light bulbs replacement.


And with a little bit of luck, here is the end result;

Image

---


http://bthefloridacommandersclub.runboard.com

2008 Commander Sport; 4.7L Flex-Fuel V-8; QT-II 4WD; 105,XXX Miles
6/17/2019, 4:01 am Link to this post Send Email to Big Blue XK   Send PM to Big Blue XK Blog
 


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