The portion of my instrument panel for the gas gauge, temperature gauge, and part of the spedometer has gone out. Is this just a replacement of a small light bulb? How easy is this to replace? Any help would be appreciated.


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1997 F150 XLT RC, SWB, ORP,
3.55 LS, Soft Tonneau, 6 CD,
Bug Deflector, Smittybilt Nerf
Bars, Clear Headlight/Tailight
Lenses, K&N Air Filter

Future: Superchip, Moonvisor,
Flowmaster




[This message has been edited by candu (edited 03-09-2000).]

 

It's actually pretty easy-in fact, I just finished pulling out the instrument panel to replace bulbs myself! First, remove the negative battery cable from the battery. The plastic cowl around the steering column simply snaps out. There are several screws around the top of the instrument panel (7mm) and two that were covered by the cowl. The panel will start to snap out at this point. As you free the panel near the headlight switch, you will see a tab to release the headlight cluster just behind the panel. Depress that and the headlight cluster will come out forward. There is one more screw inside the well that the headlight cluster came out of. Unplug the several harnesses from the back of the headlight cluster to remove it and the panel that you have unscrewed. You will now see several screws around the instrument panel-remove these. As the panel comes forward, carefully reach behind it and unplug the 2-3 harnesses and the odometer cable (in older models). Depress the tab at the bottom of the panel where the gear indicator is and remove it from the instrument panel. The panel should then be free to remove. The illumination bulbs will be labeled as such on the back of the panel. Carefullt give a 1/4 turn of the black ***** with some needle nose plyers to remove the bulbs. Good Luck!

 

Thanks,

This went really smooth. A little tough getting it out. But it went back in a lot easier after I tilted the steering wheel all the way down. LOL. About 1/2 hour tops.