'98 Buick Regal LS Driver Info Center no longer lights up?

[Heather]

I'm buying my grandmother's '98 Buick Regal LS. 102K miles. Great running/looking car.

One thing bothers me though. It's not like it really matters, but I'm insanely curious.

The driver info center no longer lights up. It's supposed to light completely up upon starting the car, and then display miles to fill up/MPG/etc. It doesn't even light up on startup.

What is confusing is that the digital shift indicator and odometer/trip meter still work.

Is this a burned out light? Bad wiring harness? Fixable if I felt like it?

 

[The Eagle Keeper]

I just spoke to my bro who has a 98 Regal GS & he had the exact same problem. The circuit board for that display has a known problem with the resistors literally popping off the circuit board. They have to be replaced and new ones soldered back on. If you are not mechanically inclined for this task, then get a really good electronics person to do it. At a web site called regalgs.org they have the instructions to fix it. But, you'll have to sign up & blog until you get the solution. My bro says this is a very common failing for the Regal in those years. He was able to fix it for about $2 with new parts from Radio Shack. But understand he is a veteran Army electronics expert with 17 years in the service & knows exactly what to do, I don't. He told me & I remembered this issue he had with his car so I called him really fast to answer your question. He's quite the expert on Regals. He own two other Buicks as well. I hope I helped a bit. Cheers!

 

[nick]

Probably the back lighting light bulbs are burnt out. There are separate bulbs for the shift indicator and the odometer/trip meter.

 

[genem]

Here's the info on youTube I just fixed mine last week..

You need to understand how to "solder" and take the cluster apart.

I purchased a Haynes repair manual and also a subbscription to alldata.com - very helpful but does not address your particular problem directly.

There are many "clubs' related to GM.. it can be overwhelming, but this failure is common to all GM cars, especially the Pontiacs and Buicks.

Watch this on you tube it'll give you an idea of what's involved.

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84FAjLxoK00&feature=channel

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJthkgN_YQg&feature=channel_page