Instrument panel bulb replacement

Ok so i am finally going to get around to fixing my squeaky speedometer cable. To get the instrument panel out I have to loosen the speedometer cable from the transmission. There is not enough slack in the cable to be able to pull the instrument panel out far enough to disconnect the cable

While I am at it I plan on replacing all the bulbs in the instrument panel. From everything the stock bulbs are #194 miniature lamps and the bulb for the transmission shift indicator is miniature bulb #37.

What need to know is, do I need the little twist socket. Do they go bad sometimes when replacing the bulbs?





I can buy the whole bulb and socket from Ford (F4UZ-13B765-A) for $1.80 each plus shipping or just the bulbs from RA fro around $0.62 each plus shipping. It is actually cheaper to buy them from Ford then buying the bulb and socket from RA.

Does anybody have a better idea? Should I use LED's? I have read using LEDs sometimes creates a problem with not being able to dim them.




Thanks
Anna

 

Annaleigh, I replaced all of mine last fall on my 94. They were also #194 bulbs. No sockets damaged in the "twist & pull". I started with a box of 10 and ran out before all were done and another 4-5 finished it. I considered LED's for extra life but even at full brightness the 194's are operating at a reduced voltage. I too read about problems dimming the LED's. Not worth the hassle in my opinion when most of what I was changing were original bulbs (24yo) If I needed sockets and had access to a yard, most any pickup from that generation would be a cheap donor otherwise I'd order a pair to have on hand.
#194 Miniature Bulb Glass Wedge Base - 14 Volt 0.27 Amp 3.78 Watt T3-1/4 Miniature Wedge Base, 2.0 MSCP, C-2F Filament Design. 2,500 Average Rated Hours,

 

Thanks Jeffery! I will just order them from RA then..The parts stores around here want $5 for 2... As to the sockets, I keep forgetting that I pulled an instrument panel out of a van a couple of years ago when I was at the pull a parts... It has gauges and wont fit my 85 and I don't need it on the 88... Wishful thinking is that I could have pulled the 4 or 5speed manual trans and all the parts out of that van.. I say wishful thinking because if I had pulled the transmission, it would still be sitting with all the other parts I have..

The stock lights are fine for me also. The shift indicator is very dim. I suspect it may be black colored when I pull it out.

The manual says I need to pull the speedometer cable out of the transmission. I am thinking since i have to jack the van up to do that (cant get under it with the running boards on) I might as well go ahead and change the whole cable assembly since I have one on i bought last year. I have been running this one squeaking since I bought the van so I don't know the condition of the inner cable. After I tried to pull the instrument cluster out and then put it back, the cable is much quieter.

 

AFAIK, the socket does not come with the bulb. These sockets fit myriad 1968/90's FoMoCo vehicles besides the Econolines.

These bulbs are also available from every auto parts store.

Upper pic: See column right. Continued in column left in lower pic.

 

Thanks NumberDummy!


I’ll put a list together for 1988 E150 with gauges (mine anyway). did not include radio and added a of couple extra 194s .. The #74 comes in a pack of 10, non long life. Parts stores have a pack of 2 #74 long life bulbs for $5. You do not have to remove the instrument cluster to replace it. I also included 4 side marker #194s


#74 x 1 Transmission Selector Dial

#194 x 4 Side Marker Lights

#194 x 12 Seat Belt, Fuel, Temp, Oil, Alt, High Beam, Left Turn, Right Turn, Headlight, Wiper, Odometer, Brake Warning,


#912 x 1 Brake Parking?

#1893 x 2 Headlight Switch, Wiper Switch

#161 x 2 Hater Control, AC Control
__________________________________________________ ____________

#74 x 2 RA has this bulb listed under Radio Dial Bulb pack of 10, $2.10
#194 x 18 RA listed under Instrument Panel Blub, long life Phillips 18, $7.38
#912 x 2 RA listed under Step/Courtesy Bulb, long life Phillips 2, $1.20
#1893 x 2 RA listed under Instrument Panel Blub, long life Phillips 2, $1.20
#161 x 2 RA listed under Instrument Panel Blub, long life Phillips 2, $1.22
__________________________________________________ __________________
Need to add shipping. Sub Total $13.10

Thats allot of bulbs.. 26!

 

Is there any way to increase the output of the rear back up lights?

 

i would like to try a set of these https://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-1400-Lum...sAAOSwymxVOBB- i made up a set of halogen bulbs using fog light bulbs but the current draw was to high and smoked the reverse light switch on the transmission i have a new one i have to install but they were bright when they worked.

 

This was my solution to this problem. Produced plenty of light for both my ageing eyes and the backup camera.
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...ov#Post4416468

 

Thanks for the back up light ideas

These are 2“x 6" Single Row 18W LED Work Light Bar FLOOD Beam Driving Lamp ATV UTV 12V 24V from Ebay. They can be mounted on or under the rear bumper. One could get creative and actually mount them in the bumper with a little more work.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-6-Single...RaAucT&vxp=mtr

The standard 1156 incandescent bulb uses 29.6 watts of power and produces around 402 lumens.
Since we have 2 stock back up lights, we should get around 804 lumens of light.
The power draw is 53.8 watts or 4.48 amps

Led lights vary by brand and type as to how many lumens they put out.
According to this chart, 18 watts of led should be 1700 lumens.
LED light bulbs: Comparison charts - Eartheasy.com Solutions for Sustainable Living
According to a youtube un-boxing video, they put out just a little over 1325 lumens.

So if we use the lower figure then 2 of the 18watt led lights should produce 2650 lumens.

So that is 804 lumens at 53.8 watts (4.48 amps) verses a minimum of 2650 at 36 watts (3 amps). -
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you could try one of these direct replacement led bulbs for the 1167 that is rated at 1100 lumens per bulb (total 2200 lumens) but from what I have read the reflectors inside the light housing may not reflect that much light.
2X-1400-Lumens-1156-High-Power-2538-Chip-LED-White-Reverse-Back-Up-Lights-Bulbs
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2X-1400-Lum...sAAOSwymxVOBB-

According to this chart 1100 lumens led should draw around 9 watts. so that would be 18 watts for both bulbs or 1.5 amps at 12 volts.
LED light bulbs: Comparison charts - Eartheasy.com Solutions for Sustainable Living

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An advantage to the small bar led light is that the angles are adjustable and you can set them to suite your needs.
Just the 1156 incandescent bulbs pull 4.48 amps while if you used both led replacement bulbs and the bar lights you should be right around 4.5 amps.
I have read that one needs to be careful because some of the led back up light bulbs may not fit in the lenses.. I have also read that too much heat in the lens can melt it but I have no idea how hot an led would be. I know they have some halogens out there and they would be way too hot.


Here is a youtube video for the 13watt light

 

I noticed I seem to have less clear vision at night too along with wearing bifocals. since my van is a 3rd gen, I was thinking about replacing the radio, which I need to anyway, with one that has a 3" screen for dvd and backup camera. Do you think that would be way too small of a screen being that far away?
The other options i thought about was a mirror with backup or perhaps using a spare smart phone I have. There is a easy bluetooth connect camera on the market. I already use the phone for offline navigation and it has a FM tuner builtin in it. You can actually do allot with a old smart phone in a car.. Not the best quality but I have a 64 gig memory card and can use it as a dash cam.

 

What bulbs are you running and what shape are your lenses in.

There are some LED bulbs out there that are a ton brighter than stock. That is the route I am going to try first since they are violable on Amazon for under $20. If that isn't enough then I may look at the idea of mounting some LED fog lights to the back bumper. I would want them wired to a relay I could control in the cab so they only come on when I need them.

This spring I plan on replacing my instrument cluster bulbs as well, but I am going to use dim-able LEDs. I want the increased brightness over the stock ones.......but that is just my personal preference.

 

Right now just has the stock 1156 bulbs. The lenses appear to be in great shape without taking them out to examine them.

I may do the same and try the LED bulbs first since that is the easiest option. I do like the option of having a set of independently switched LED flood lights at the back of the van though.

 

1975/91 Econoline tail lamp lens/body is a one piece molded plastic assembly, the sockets are separate and twist in.

These lamps are also the same as 1975/79 F100/350 Stylesides & 1978/79 Bronco.

 

I think your 3" screen will be suitable. The wide-angle camera I have looking out the back door glass connects to a 3-3.5" monitor that I have in a suction cup mount under the rearview mirror and it's large enough. The flood light pattern is broad enough to make the side view mirrors usable on a moonless night.