OK, so I've had this '96 LSS for a while and kinda sorta want to "see" whether my right turn signal is on while sitting in the driver's seat (yeah, so I'm not driving all around with that signal on).
Former owner informed me of right turn signal in dash (and other things, but not much) not working when I bought the car used. Exterior lights all work, just not the dash light.
Just now, when I double checked whether it is the right or left turn signal, I noted 2 screws at the upper side of the instrument panel. Could it be so easy as just remove these 2 screws to get the instrument panel out enough to change a little bulb?

Anyone really know, and can point out the ease or difficulty of this task, I hope, of just changing a little bulb? Should I just ignore the light not working since it is too involved to fix it? Are "those" bulbs still made near 30 years later? Is the light source soldered in?

 

Does your left turn signal illuminate the dash?
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Yes, left side not only lights up but also blinks at an appropriate pulse.

 

Is this the dash that illuminates, or markers on the top of the front fenders?

If it's a marker on the dash/instrument panel, I'd disconnect the blinker lights and clean the sockets thoroughly before replacing the flasher relay or disassembling the dash to replace a bulb.

If it's a marker lamp mounted on top of the front fenders it's fiber optic. A fiber line runs from the marker to the headlight/turn signal bucket and transmits as a colored marker. I had a 90 Buick Estate Wagon that had these markers. When they failed I replaced the fiber optic line with one I found in the salvage yard and it fixed the problem.

 

As mentioned in my post, it is the in dash right turn signal light which isn't lighting. The '96 LSS has no lights on top of fenders. Also asking for input how to get the instrument panel off to access whatever the light source is for the in dash right turn signal light.

 

I don't suggest disassembling the dash to check for burnt out bulbs.You should:

1. Clean the front/back turn signal sockets
2. Replace the flasher relay
3. Then you could disassemble the dash to check for burnt out bulbs OR a malfunction in the steering column

Your Oldsmobile has a VATS key correct?



The 96 98 I just scrapped had a VATS key. Unless you've "faked" the VATS module with resistors under the dash, every time you tilt your steering wheel you run the risk of damaging the wires between the ignition cylinder and the VATS module. If this happens you'll have a no start condition and a SECURITY light on your dash.

I mention the VATS key only because the first step in disassembling the dash is to tilt your steering wheel down so you can remove the trim above the glovebox.

 

Correct, my '96 LSS uses a VATS key, which I very successfully kinda recently replaced with new key with matching resistor, when the old key failed to start the car intermittently.
Failure of right turn dash light was there when I bought the car, as I mentioned above.
Thanks for your suggested list to deal with this problem.

Is there a separate flasher relay for each (right or left) turn signal? And if not, why would I have one of the 2 turn signals? Where would the relay(s) be located?

 

The single relay is under the dash by the accelerator & brake pedal I believe. Turn on your turn signals and search for it. You should hear it clicking.

 

Is there a separate flasher relay for each (right or left) turn signal? And if not, why would I have one of the 2 turn signals? Where would the relay(s) be located?[/QUOTE] There is only one flasher for the turn signals. If one signal is working, the flasher is good