How difficult is it to replace the lights in my 97 Explorer instrument panel? I can't see my speedo from 0 to 60mph.

What type & # bulb will I need for replacement?

 

I would say leave yourself about 4 hours to do it (the first time anyway). You have to remove the radio bezel, the front bezel under the steering column, the steel plate behind that (just loosen really), the instrument bezel, and the instrument cluster itself. It takes a while the first time you do it.

I have done mine so many times, I can have it out in about 15 minutes now...

Let me know if you need specific instructions on getting it out.

 

I just replaced a couple of lights in the dash on my 96. It only took about 90 minutes and it was the first time I had done it. Just remember there are two screws that hold the radio bezel in place. Also once you get the panel out you do not need to disassemble anything. The lights come right out the back. I recommend pulling the negative terminal off of the battery just because you're working around the steering wheel and I know when I did it I kept bumping the horn which got on my nerves pretty quick.

 

Just did mine last week. Easy takes about an hour. A cordless drill with a 5/16" bit will speed up the process.

*Remove the screws 4 on the lower panel below the steering wheel. 2 screws hold the hood release lever. This panel now pulls off.
*Remove all the screws holding the metal panel under the lower panel. This is where the cordless drill is helpful.
*Remove the screws on the bottom of the dash bevel and the ones above the gauges in front of the plexiglas gauge cover.
*Remove the 2 screws below the radio (above the climate control) and pull the radio and radio bezel out together. You only need to move them about an inch or two.
*Lower your tilt wheel all the way down.
*Pull the dash bezel out and lay it down to the left of the steering wheel this way you don't have to remove the light switch.
*Take out the screw holding the dash pod, these are located in the corners of the pod.
*The pod will slide out enought to get to the light holders on the back. The light holders are black and you rotate them CCW while looking at them to remove them.
*Assemble in reverse order.
*Have a beer.
***Just some advise: change all the bulbs because they get dimmer over time and the new ones look much brighter. I will be taking mine apart again the replace them all now.
Good Luck,
Chuck

 

Scrapiron66
I dug out my receipt for the couple of bulbs I bought. The guy in the parts suggested I went for the cheap option bulb F7UF F 4041970
Do as Cdolor suggests buy enough to replace all of them (6 or 7 I reckon). The new ones are so much brighter - its an easy job.

 

I had a quick question about replacing the lights. When you do this and replace all the bulbs are you talking about just the bulbs that light up the gauges like the odometer, tack, fuel gague etc? Or do you also mean the lights for the AC panel on the middle of the dash not just in front of the driver?

 

Bigwick
It would be the bulbs that light up the gauges in the instrument cluster, behind the perspex. They become quite dull and the replacement bulb glows brightly compared to the others.