Intermittent Lights behind A/C Controls

[4'running'26]

Hey all,

I have been searching and trouble-shooting my A/C lights for a bit now and have come to an impasse. I have a '99 4Runner SR5 with analog A/C controls that I bought a couple months ago and from day one the lights behind those controls have only worked about 15% of the time. They were working (though the right side was quite dim) the first time I drove it but as soon as I switched one of the knobs they went out completely. They come on ever once in a great while but go out again fairly quickly.

I went ahead and replaced both bulbs behind the panels but, as expected, that didn't help. Any ideas? Seems like an issue with the wires but when I was in there earlier today it sure didn't seem like something fun to get at and replace. Hopefully there's a simpler, common solution.

Thanks!

JT

 

[4'running'26]

Bumping this since I posted late last night. Hoping someone has some ideas.

Thanks.

JT

 

[MudMud]

I'd love to know, too. I've been dealing with my flickering lights for as long as I've had the 4runner...

 

[rkntoy]

Sometimes the contacts in the bulb holders need to be pulled slightly away from the holder walls to generate better contact with the bulb.

 

[4'running'26]

Sometimes the contacts in the bulb holders need to be pulled slightly away from the holder walls to generate better contact with the bulb.

Thank you. How might one go about doing that? The bulb holders seem pretty small and getting anything in there to pull them away seems nigh impossible. I'll post picture tomorrow if I can.