98LE Air Flow Selector Bulb Replacement

Dealers quote high prices on everything. Seems like it's very unlikely to get out of there for under $80 regardless of what's being done. In fairness to the dealer, they do have the overhead of advertising, space rent, training, tools and equipment, salaries, and of course, profit. So if you do pay the prices, you're supposed to (in theory anyway) get high quality work by people familiar with your vehicle. It's really not that difficult to replace the bulb. You need to remove the plastic radio surround piece by prying on a corner, then unfasten the bolts holding that section of cover plate for the dash, and pry off the knobs. Of course, the bulbs themselves are not expensive. In my case, even though I do things myself like changing the timing belt and axles, it didn't seem worth the effort for the benefit. Instead, I simply have learned the positions on the dial. The knobs are different sizes so you can tell by touch when driving and not have to divert your attention from the road, which in my view is better anyway. In other words, the fan switch is smaller than the temperature and position switches on either side. For the position switch, the arrangement is logical. Dash vents only, dash and floor, floor only, floor and defrost, and defrost only , IIRC. So once you learn them, you don't need the light. And of course, you don't need it during the day either.