Hi--my parents bought a yellow '65 Buick Special convertible at Waters Buick in San Francisco, on January 19, 1965. And that is the LAST car they ever bought! My mom (still living in San Francisco) still drives that same car every single day. :TU: At least 30 years ago, the illumination for the PRNDL window conked out, and at the time my dad researched it and decided it was just too difficult to fix, so it's been dim/dark ever since. Recently, some of the main speedo etc. lights went out, so my mom had them all replaced. Now her speedo is fully illuminated, highlighting the fact that the PRNDL window is dark. She's 77 years old and getting nervous about driving it in the dark because of this problem. Her local mechanic (who has been looking after the car for 20+ years) suggested that he would have to pull the whole dash out to address it, which sounds ridiculous to me. Unfortunately, I don't live nearby so I can't investigate myself. So, can somebody please tell me if there's an easier way to resolve this issue? THANKS!
IIRC, this light is provided by a bulb at the bottom of the column through a fiber optic cable. I believe the bulb is at the bottom of the steering column, and does not require this kind of invasive surgery. Don't nobody spank me, it's been decades since I've worked on one of these. As an option, if someone fresher on the technology doesn't give a better answer, just have her pull it out of park to neutral, listen to the RPMs, and then drop it down into drive. Or, pull it all the way down, and click up one. Props to mom for driving at 77, especially in SF, with all those hills! My MIL just quit driving, at age 85, because her cataracts are so bad, and the first surgery didn't go well. Little known fact for her- she has NEVER, EVER put gas in a car, after 70 years of driving. Talk about a whipped dad, and later, husband.:laugh:
>>>That sounds pretty cosmic for 1960s technology? She and her mechanic looked in the shop manual and couldn't find any reference to that lighting system. It would certainly explain why we can't find an obvious bulb in the region though! Can anybody else confirm or deny this theory? Perhaps provide some photos, or a drawing, or something that I could send down there for them to reference? THANKS!
Ya, there is a 12v bulb, small one double pin, single filament just above the column, just below where the speedo cable hooks up. I just replaced mine. Fibre optics? I don't think so. Grey wire, push socket.
That's GREAT info, thanks! Can you tell me what is involved in getting to the bulb? Do you have to drop the steering column? Or is it readily accessible?
Now that you know where to look, its awkward, but can be reached. I recommend the upside down, legs over the back of the seat position and look from either side of the column to see where to stick your hand up. The socket just pushes in with a few claws to hold it in place.
Fiber optics were available in '68 for sure, but the earlier cars, I dunno. That's why I asked for education.
