99 Regal LS console compartment lamp switch

[43bike]

Does anyone know where I can get a switch for the forward console storage compartment lamp? The compartment is under the climate control and the light shines on the cigarette lighter and ashtray.

My car has the bulb and wiring, but no switch. Every Regal I've found in a salvage yard is also lacking this switch. The local Buick dealer parts man couldn't find a part number for it, even though the parts diagram and the factory wiring diagram indicate it should be there.

Could someone in this forum who has a Regal of this body series check their car and see if it has this switch? I'm beginning to think GM deleted it during the production run.

 

[92sub]

It's not uncommon for items to be removed for production yet stay in the service info. At first I thought you might have mistaken it for the armrest console lid switch but I see what you mean about the parts diagram showing one (although there isn't a part number.....big clue there).

I don't have access to my 98 right now but when it's around again I'll check it out. I suspect no switch and a burned out bulb because I can't recall any lighting in that cubby hole!

Any reason you want a switch?

 

[43bike]

If it's supposed to have a light there, and it's only lacking a switch, I want a switch so I have a functional light; at night it's like a cavern in there. 😀

If there never was a switch, for whatever reason, I can probably fab something that will work. I'm just looking for the easiest way out here.

BTW, do you have personal access to the parts diagrams? I have to go to the dealer whenever I have a question.

 

[92sub]

Got a chance to root-around in the 98' and yes there is a bulb in there. Also found a connector that would go into a switch. It appears to me that the lighted cubby-hole function was terminated at some point PRIOR to production. After jumpering the switch connector wires I can think of one reason this didn't make production:
The switch wiring is connected an ignition circuit so the bulb would be ON whenever the car is running and the console door is open......without dimmer control like the other dash lamps. I ran the bulb in it's little plastic holder and it got HOT....REAL HOT. Not sure if the plastic holder would melt but I'm not about to find out.
So I want a light in there but I don't want it or anything stored in there to get hot and I want some control over brightness in case the light gets distracting at night.
So an LED project is on order along with a small dimmer wheel. Vehicle is due for a radio upgrade in a couple months so I'll tackle it then while the dash is partially disassembled. I'll post results at that time.

 

[92sub]

OK, got this little project done. here are the specifics:

The wiring is really hard to get to. I partially removed the console to do this job while I was replacing the radio....still not much working room for this lamp. I don't think you could do this with the console completely installed.
Jumpered the connector that would have went to the switch. This powers the bulb whenever key is is Run or Acc.
A regular 194 bulb gets WAY too hot so I installed an LED 194 replacement. The 'stock' orientation of the bulb holder points the light right at the ashtray/lighter, leaving the rest of the cubbyhole as dark as ever. cutting out a little bit of the plastic in 'front' of the bulb holder allowed me to turn it around. If you attempt this job you'll see the plastic that needs to be cut...it's pretty obvious. Now the light points directly down to the bottom and since my new radios' USB and Aux wires route in there I couldn't be happier.