98 gauge lights

[wally]

my gas gauge light went out in my 98 ranger. Is the lamp replaceable? how hard is it to pull cluster to do it? and is it worth the hassle to do it?

 

[Fast Fords]

its more involved then removing just 5 bolts/screws and pulling the instrument cluster. you gotta remove the radio, kick panel, cluster surround then the cluster itself. first time i ever did it, it took me 45 min. i can now do it in 15. If you decide to change that bulb, get 5 more and replace all six main illumination lights all at once, that way you don't have to remove the cluster next month or whenever the other bulbs go but anyways, there is six little bulbs that twist in to the back of the cluster that provide the illumination needed. if i remember they are either called 194 bulbs or 197..can't remember..but the local parts store of yours should be stocked full of these little guys.

there is a good write-up in the tech section about the removal an installation of the cluster; check it out, i know it helped me out quite a bit...good luck!

 

[wally]

Thanks

 

[Fast Fords]

lol no prob..there is quite a few bolts/screws you gotta undo, but i only needed two socket sizes and a small ratchet and some patience hehe!

-3 bolts underneath the HVAC controls (heater knobs), remove them
-remove the knobs (not a neccessity)
-pull out on entire radio/vent surround. the radio and vents should come out all at once. disconnent radio and cigar lighter/power point, as well as fog lights/additional power points (depending on model of vehicle).
-underneath the steering wheel there is 2-3 bolts holding in the large trim piece which houses your hood and e-brake release lever. Remove the 2 bolts holding the hood release lever as well as the other 2-3 black ones along the bottom of the trim panel as well. pull of trim panel.
-behind that is a metal "kick plate". LOOSEN the bolts (you don't have to remove this panel at all). there are 7 bolts that are there. go to the top of that metal plate and you will find 2-3 black bolts holding in the trim piece that has your lighting controls and the surround for the cluster. Also, if you look at the top of the instrument cluster there are 3 black bolts there. remove those as well.
-pull that trim piece out of the way.
-there you will see your instrument cluster just hangin' out in there, havin' a great old time. Remove the 4 bolts holding it in place, remove the three wiring harnesses behind it, then it comes right out...once you replace the bulbs, throw the cluster back in and put the wiring harnesses back on then turn your lights on to test the bulbs.
-reverse procedure for installation!

hope this helps!

 

[wally]

Just have to say that if the trans indicator happens to pull out of the cluster when doing this procedure it is much easier to unhook it at the shifter end and then reinsert it in the cluster. Then after the cluster is reinstalled hook it to the shifter again. I figured this out after some swearing. Other than that I had no problems at all.

 

[Fast Fords]

I figured this out after some swearing. Other than that I had no problems at all.

swearing and beer always helps any automotive problem..actually, most problems

 

[ShadowSport08]

Just have to say that if the trans indicator happens to pull out of the cluster when doing this procedure it is much easier to unhook it at the shifter end and then reinsert it in the cluster.

How do you remove the cable from the shifter? It's the only thing i can't figure out and i want to finish switching my cluster over to my blue LEDs

 

[wally]

Your cable should go into a little white plastic bracket with a black adjuster nut. The inner cable (which has a little loop on the end of it) then goes up to a hook on the shifter assembly. Put the shifter in 1st gear and then just unhook it off of the hook. Then unscrew the black nut till it comes off the threads on the cable. The cable will then pull out through the nut and out of the bracket. The nut will fall out of the bracket so put it somewhere you can find it. You may need some needle nose pliers to unhook the cable off the hook, but I think I may have just did it with my fingers. It goes back the same way, just in reverse. Remember to readjust the nut so the indicator matches the appropriate gear.