Instrument Panel Back Lighting

[enjr44]

08 FX4 - Can you get a hand up behind the instrument panel to change a bulb if you remove the big panel (plastic and then steel) under the steering wheel? One burned out bulb and it is driving me nuts. Not nuts enough to pull the cluster.

 

[ghunt81]

I don't think so, it's not all "open" on the back side where it mounts. I had my cluster out a few months ago to replace the gear shift indicator and did some of the bulbs while I was in there.

Honestly- it's not that hard to pull, just a pain in the ass (like in every vehicle). If yours is like mine you'll have to pull the stereo head unit, remove the radio/climate bezel, remove steering column cover (I think it's only 3 screws), then take out a bunch of screws and the whole surround pops out. Take out the 4 screws holding the panel in and, if you know what bulbs need replaced, you MIGHT be able to tip it out towards you (top first) and angle it to where you can get at the bulbs, but the cluster uses a lot of those tiny little T10 bulbs and their respective sockets are tough to get out without having the cluster actually out of the vehicle.

I went through and tested every single bulb in the cluster with a 12V battery before I put it back together just so I wouldn't have to do that again.

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

^ Like he said. I had couple of mine burn out in the dash a couple months ago and had to remove all of that just to get the cluster out to change a couple of bulbs.