'86 Ranger 'HOW TO' replace #194 Instrument Cluster Bulb

[bozo4ford]

'86 Ranger 'HOW TO' replace #194 Instrument Cluster Bulb

My left side 194 bulb that lights up my TEMP,OIL,WATER, & FUEL went kaput, but my SPEEDOMETER side is fine. I removed my dash plate, and now see the two round lens covering these two units. I removed the larger screws on top and bottom, but this larger piece will not come out. I doubt I have to remove the 1/4" screws on the plastic lens over the SPEEDOMETER, and the other left side to get to the bulb.

So anyway, How many #194 bulbs are on the backside, and what do I need to remove to get to them? The smaller two lens pieces, or the larger back plate?

Autozone has Sylvania two pack for $5.00. Since this is a 1986, I should replace ALL of them, so I won't be having to remove the dash again...the older this truck gets, the easier it is to break the interior trim pieces.

FORD does not stock these bulbs, they are all too common, and can be found anywhere.

I went to www.superbrightleds.com and found colored #194 LED bulbs for this application, but they have an option...90 degrees and 120 degree beam angles....?

I don't know if any of the colored bulbs like red or dark blue will illuminate to be worse to see, and getting the 90 degree is all I'd want probably.

 

[Captain Ledd]

Get the 120°. LED's emit light directionally, think like a laser. The 120° pattern will spread the light out much better, rather than it beaming through faceplate in one spot.

The stock bulbs (unless someone has fiddled with them already) should be plain bulbs, glowing a slight yellow (typical incandescent).

Don't take this the wrong way, because I see a LOT of posts on this. But I don't see how people are having problems taking out gen I dashboards? Nearly all the screws are in plain view. But anyways:

The main cover (brushed metal, or wood grain) comes out by popping off the cover trim pieces along the bottom, where the cigarette lighter is at. There are also some screws on the top edge. Can't remember if you have to unscrew some knobs.

Unbolt the gauge housing (mine was white) and remove it, the whole thing. you'll need to remove the speedometer cable off the back, I think it has a knurled nut-thingy. Should have enough wire length to pull it out.

I do believe the bulbs twist out of the back.

It's been a few years, but that's what I recall from my '84.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yes, get the 120* LEDs if you go that route.

Getting the cluster out the first time usually is a bit time consuming, but once you get it the first time, it's a little easier in the future because you know what you need to do.

Been awhile since I took out a first gen gauge cluster, most of the time I've had to take out second and third gen ones, but it's pretty easy, just pull all of the screws from around the cluster housing then the cluster should slide out (sometimes it takes a little wiggling) enough to get a hand behind the cluster to release the speedometer cable. I know on 2nd gens and above it's a funky clip that you have to squeeze in from both sides to release - really fun to do (NOT!).

FYI, autozone will not tell you this, but any of their stores that have a commercial department (just look to see if they have delivery trucks) will have bulk packs of bulbs in the back. The non-commercial stores can get the bulk packs in from the warehouse/hub. You get 10 bulbs in a box, IIRC 194 bulbs are around $2.50 for a box (which is why they don't tell you, they make more money off the 2-packs on the floor).

 

[bozo4ford]

Thanks...

There is not enough room to wiggle my big fat hand behind the top plate, or the right side to loosen the SPEEDOMETER CABLE. So IF I definitely need to unhook the Speedometer cable, then I shall, IF this is the ONLY way to get to the 194 cluster lights on my truck.

As you can see, I removed the four screws holding the back plate on. They are the WHITE LARGER ARROWS with red outline.

This panel will not easily come out. I've done this before, but don't ever remember disconnecting the SPEEDOMETER cable to replace those 194 light bulbs before.

Am I supposed to remove the smaller BLUE ARROWS with WHITE TRIM smaller screws to get behind that left side plate?

 

[RaginRanger]

To make getting the cluster out/disconnecting the speedo cable (you may not even need to) look along the firewall near where your right foot would be, you'll see the speedo cable is attached to the firewall by a bracket held with a single screw, at least it was on my '86.

edit- you shouldn't need to bother with the screws you've indicated with the blue arrows, there should be no need to disassemble the cluster itself, you just need the whole unit (white part) to come out a little, so you can get at the back of it.

 

[patrickmccarthy]

Me too

So to get the original cover off, the screws then just pop it off? Then yes I need to get to those lights like this guy, but is there a place to get new glass (or plastic I guess) for the cover for the spedo and the gages?

 

[cody93]

yea, bulbs are screwed in the back, you have to take your cluster off to get them.

 

[adsm08]

What do you mean Ford doesn't stock 194 bulbs? They are in everything. I can think of no new model that doesn't have at least two, most have closer to six.

My dealership keeps a bunch of them in a drawer.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The black things are the bulbs, the green is a tachless cluster and the tan is a tach cluster. It kinda depends on what you have for a truck how many bulbs are in the center part.

I have pulled a couple, it isn't too bad. Never put one back in though, since it comes apart pretty hard I always wonder how it was to hook the speedo cable back up...

You have to pop off the headlight knob and clip, remove the cigarette lighter and take out the ash tray (open, push down on the thing in the center of it and pull it out) and pop off all the dash trim. There are screws along the bottom of the dash panel and then some along the top. There is a screw all four corners that hold the cluster to the truck. With all the ones I have pulled it almost seems like the speedometer cable is under tension holding the cluster to do the truck.

 

[87mudslut]

to remove the speedo cable it isnt very hard but you have to get your hand behind the tach and twist and pull it off, once you do it once its pretty easy, putting it back in is obviously the same as taking it off just push it on the piece firmly and make sure it is on tight and the reinstall the bolts