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Replaced all my gauge cluster lights and now the interior panel won't go back on right


jungScipio

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I replaced all the lights in my gauge cluster and climate control, so I needed to take off a bunch of panels to get to that. The panel that goes over the gauge cluster and has the air vent won't go back on properly. Something about it is getting stuck in the lower left corner. I have all the pegs and holes lined up right, it's just like there's something that's preventing it from getting pushed in all the way.

Pictures attached show the problem.

Edit: I fixed it about a week ago! Thanks for all the help everyone!
 

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Uncle Gump

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Hard to tell without looking at it... but something doesn't look right with the knee bolster for one.

Also... did the lights you installed in the cluster have the same amount of stand off as the ones you replaced? Meaning the bulbs are causing inference and the cluster isn't going fully into place.
 

jungScipio

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Thanks for the response. I checked that the new bulbs I got were the same size and bulb type as the old ones (94s), and the dash cluster panel fit right in. The panel that goes over it that won't push in all the way is the problem.

I had to drive around with a few of the panels off yesterday to get to work. Could that have jostled things around leading to the panel not fitting in the same way?
Do you have any guesses what might be up with the knee bolster? I'm new to trucks so I'm still learning terms and stuff.
 

Josh B

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It seems to me you may be a click, kick, or hammer it home away, but I don't think those are the ways to go.
I really can't tell you why
 

jungScipio

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It seems to me you may be a click, kick, or hammer it home away, but I don't think those are the ways to go.
I really can't tell you why
I got frustrated and punched the panel yesterday, and it went in perfectly. Your advice worked, thanks.
 

Josh B

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Please don't try this at home kiddo's :D
 

ekrampitzjr

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All it takes is for some corner to catch and a plastic panel can become difficult to install. Been there, done that plenty of times.
 

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