Can anyone tell me how to change the light bulb in the glove compartment of a 1998 Ram 1500? I realize this sounds like a ridiculously simple thing to do, but I can't get the bulb out with the with the switch mechanism in place and I don't want to force anything and break it.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

Have you consulted the sacred service scriptures yet? This seems like a thing that will be in just about any Chiltons, Haynes or factory service manual.

 

There's a light in the glove box?

If it's like the one in the cubby over my shifter, it fits into a metal sleeve that sits in a plastic slot. Pinch the metal sleeve to remove assembly. Then bulb can be removed.

 

I changed the one in my cupholder. They designed that one so that you can easily remove the bulb part that the bulb socket is part of. Given the difficulty of accessing the bulb in the glove box switch assembly, I assume the design idea is the same. Remove the switch assembly, replace the bulb and then put it back. I just don't see a clip or any obvious way to pull the switch assembly out in order to get to the bulb. As I said, I'd rather be patient and learn from someone who has done it instead of forcing it and regretting it.

 

I have not. I don't have one. It's one of those things that I know I'm going to feel like an idiot when I find out how it's done. It has to be simple and obvious.

 

I found this on a thread where someone else was having the same issue, but it was about a later model. I'm going to find out if the design is the same on mine.

"LOL I lost two myself before I noticed the simplest of things... The little square, where the button is that activates the light comes out... Get a flat head and gently pry that little piece out, and it will be easy to install the new light."

 

Well...that was easy. As soon as I starting to pry that loose the light came on. The bulb wasn't burned out, the switch was just sticking. A good bath in contact cleaner and a little lubrication of the plunger and it's working perfectly again.

For future reference, even though I didn't remove the switch completely by pulling/prying it from the front, that does appear to be the likely solution for changing the bulb.

 

Wait we have lights there!???

 

I'm flabbergasted, never knew there was a light in there.......okay, I did, just didn't care, far more serious issues to deal with, like installing my front recovery hooks. Kinda hard because my truck has been at work for the last week. Been running late night deliveries and pickups because we are shorthanded, so I just take the work truck home. I've put 300 bucks worth of diesel in that superduty in the past 5 days..... My truck will be at the house thursday, will start removing the grille guard and bumper.