oceanblues
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i need to replace two of my instrument panel bulbs and wanted to see what everyone thought the easy way to get at them was.
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panel bulbs
- Thread starter oceanblues
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- ford
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what year is the vehicle?i took the panel out of my 1983,wasn't too bad about an hour.after 25 years the bulbs just need to be cleaned of a little powder type corrosion and work fine.but to anwser your question we'll need to know more info.
oceanblues
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ahhh yes 2000 supercab, xlt. sorry im used to it coming up when i post and completly forgot to mention it
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sorry,i can't help you with the newer trucks.but be patient someone will be along shortly,these guys are petty good.they'll get you through it.
oceanblues
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oh im not worried at all. i always read this forum and always read the old one as well. i just seldom post.
Nehring13
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im not sure on if urs looks anything like mine, but i ahve a 98 ranger, and there are 3 screws in the top of the instrument panel cover, those unscrew, the clear cover comes off and the rest is just removal of the gauge plate itself. then yor bulbs should be right there.
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i had to take some trim off to remove the lower screws,and i had to disconnect the speedo cable,then the srcews holding the entire instrument cluster.pulled cluster out far enough to disconnect the wire harness,then pulled the whole cluster out,turned it over and there was black twist in bulb holders.1/4 turn counterclockwise to remove the holder and bulb.but again,my ranger is 1983 and may be different from yours.
oceanblues
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that does sound what mine looks like, i wasnt sure if it would come off that easily. it just looked too simple and that would be too convient. thanks
camping_mailman01
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We have two 98 Rangers, one 4X4 and a 4X2. I recently replaced all illumination bulbs in both dashes as 3 of the six or seven were burnt. Both vehicles are well broke in (4X4 with 206,000 Plus and 4X2 with 137,000 plus). My removal wasn't quite as easy as indicated by Nehring13 stated about his.
I had to remove all of the screws across the bottom of the dash and remove this bottom panel. This exposes the bottom screws for the dash cover panel. Remove these bottom screws,3 or 4, then the top three then remove the dash cover. This exposes the dash cluster. Remove the four screws holding it in, then very carefully remove the cluster. You will be able to pull it out 2 or 3 inches as you are bringing all of the wiring with it. You will need to roll it over so that you can see the back side. You should then see bulbs then. Twist out the bad ones and replace them. Then reverse the process. I unhooked the harness plugs on mine and took 2 hours to complete. I didn't unhook them on DW's and took 45 minutes. First I also did by hand and second I did with my Craftsman electric drill. Set the torque setting low for reassembly to prevent striping of the plastic.
Note
: Forgot to mention, the stereo/heater control cover must be removed also as the upper panel is locked in place by it. Two screws above heater controls, pull FWD knob then gently pry off the cover. Also, most likely your hood release control is below the steering wheel and it is held on by two 5/32 hex head screws. I actually took the replacement bulbs out of a wrecked 2000 Explorer. Same dash, same procedure to get to that portion.
Hope this helps.
Don
I had to remove all of the screws across the bottom of the dash and remove this bottom panel. This exposes the bottom screws for the dash cover panel. Remove these bottom screws,3 or 4, then the top three then remove the dash cover. This exposes the dash cluster. Remove the four screws holding it in, then very carefully remove the cluster. You will be able to pull it out 2 or 3 inches as you are bringing all of the wiring with it. You will need to roll it over so that you can see the back side. You should then see bulbs then. Twist out the bad ones and replace them. Then reverse the process. I unhooked the harness plugs on mine and took 2 hours to complete. I didn't unhook them on DW's and took 45 minutes. First I also did by hand and second I did with my Craftsman electric drill. Set the torque setting low for reassembly to prevent striping of the plastic.
Note
: Forgot to mention, the stereo/heater control cover must be removed also as the upper panel is locked in place by it. Two screws above heater controls, pull FWD knob then gently pry off the cover. Also, most likely your hood release control is below the steering wheel and it is held on by two 5/32 hex head screws. I actually took the replacement bulbs out of a wrecked 2000 Explorer. Same dash, same procedure to get to that portion. Hope this helps.
Don
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oceanblues
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We have two 98 Rangers, one 4X4 and a 4X2. I recently replaced all illumination bulbs in both dashes as 3 of the six or seven were burnt. Both vehicles are well broke in (4X4 with 206,000 Plus and 4X2 with 137,000 plus). My removal wasn't quite as easy as indicated by Nehring13 stated about his.
I had to remove all of the screws across the bottom of the dash and remove this bottom panel. This exposes the bottom screws for the dash cover panel. Remove these bottom screws,3 or 4, then the top three then remove the dash cover. This exposes the dash cluster. Remove the four screws holding it in, then very carefully remove the cluster. You will be able to pull it out 2 or 3 inches as you are bringing all of the wiring with it. You will need to roll it over so that you can see the back side. You should then see bulbs then. Twist out the bad ones and replace them. Then reverse the process. I unhooked the harness plugs on mine and took 2 hours to complete. I didn't unhook them on DW's and took 45 minutes. First I also did by hand and second I did with my Craftsman electric drill. Set the torque setting low for reassembly to prevent striping of the plastic.
Note
Hope this helps.
Don
ok THIS seems more like it. when i was looking at it this is more what i was expecting to do. thank you very much.
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