instrument panel lights

[drakezilla]

changed mine out this weekend on my 95 xlt....just wanted to let those who are about to change them that they have 6 of them...not 4 like i bought (but i used the 2 for the licence plate lights that i changed last year...figured it would be easier than going back in the dash later on.......but i did do something pretty cool...while buying the sylvania 194LL bulbs i saw that they had colored ones for sale next to them, but they looked cheap, to me, for some reason and they all looked very dark...and they only had one pack of green (not cayman like my truck) so i got to thinking about coloring them on my own....i bought an aqua sharpie (closest to cayman than any other green they had) from hobby lobby and colored them....now the ins. panel looks like its one of them glow in the dark watches or compasses...looks pretty cool....so if anyone wants a lil change in their dash they could try this with their fav color or whatever....i would recomend a light color cause the darker colors will probably dim the lights down some.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

i changed the dash bulbs for a friend with a 97 and it only had 4 bulbs....perhaps no tach?

you know they made LEDs now that have the 194 base and come in yellow, blue, green, red, and a few other colors. ive got blue ones in my escort now....have yet to do the ranger.

 

[drakezilla]

there are 6 on the 95 with no tach...i didnt see any led lights kinda sucks wish i did now lol...oh well it was fun doin it that way

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LSX4SQ?smid=A1IBW2HULNJLEY&tag=dealtime-auto-mp-20&linkCode=asn

these are just like the ones that our accessories department stocks. i have them in the dash of my 'scort and they work very well (but dont match my heater controls now). i also put white ones in place of the 2 map lights in the ranger. they arent quite as bright as the incandescents, but the white light makes up for it i think.

 

[94 4.0 5-spd 4wd ranger]

hm i wish i knew how to get into that dash to do it.... how much of the dash has to come out to replace the old bulbs? my 94's are a lil dim. i think ones blown too

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

you have to pull the plastic trim piece that houses the stereo. then its 4 bolts, 2 plugs, and a speedo cable to get the cluster out. the speedo cable is by far the hardest part. i have detailed pics of how it clips to the back of the speedo if you decide to go for it...

 

[knux511]

hey, i've got a 98. could you send me those pics? it would really help me out, cuz all of my lights went out.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the pics i have show how to unclip the speedo cable from the back of the cluster (since it can be difficult to figure out while reaching blindly around the back of the cluster).

your '98 has an electric speedo, so you only have 2 large electrical connections to unplug.

 

[knux511]

guys, i still have no lights. i put in a different headlight and dimmer switch to no avail, and even went so far as to put in a dash out of a different truck with a tach, and the speedo didnt work.... what year did they stop w/ the mechanical speedo?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

'95

 

[knux511]

dang... so im pretty sure that the cab i took the cluster out of is a 95.....dang... well, atleast not i know it wasnt my truck screwing up