Guys,
My instrument cluster has gone dark.I think that some of the bulbs must have blown out.I got new 194 bulbs ,but cant figure out the way to replace them without opening the dash.
Any ideas are welcome.

hitech_76

 

Thats what you have to do, it varies a bit between years, it should be about a 1/2hr job, most manuals have the procedure.

 

That just happened to me today. One side of each gauge is darer and the other side is bright. Do you just take the whole gauge assembly out? I've never done it so I'm not even sure where to begin. Thanks. -Kevin

 

Depending on the year it veries a bit but you normally have to remove the ashtray, the trim around the cluster and then pull the cluster out.

 

Thanks for letting me know Ken. I'll start ripping thisgs apart tonight -Kevin

 

 

Would this be the same process for an '88 Ranger??

 

Should be similar.

 

On my '98 it went like this:

Your goal is to get the gauge cluster out. I'd suggest unplugging the battery to be sure you don't get an airbag in the face by touching something you are not supposed to.

1) Unscrew the two scews that hold the radio/heater control bezel (just above the heater controls). Pry/Slide the entire bezel/radio/vent assembly out an inch or two. So that you can pull the instrument bezel piece out when we get there. You may want to take a paper towel and wipe out the air vents while you have this out.

2) Take off the plastic peice below the steering wheel. this involves a few screws around its edges, as well as a few on the hood release latch. The metal panel behind it needs to be loosened as well, and these screws are a pain to back off due to the clips the screw into. I reccomend only backing them out enough to be able to access the screws holding the instrument bezel in place that are behind the top edge of this metal panel.

3) There are 3 screws that hold the steering column cover in place. They go up from the bottom so I think you'll need a slightly long phillips head. The bottom should fall right off. The top is a little trickier. It will need to be wiggled out before or after the instrument bezel, you'll need to experiment for a little.

4) Unscrew the screws for the instrument bezel. There should be the ones down low that you moved the metal panel for, and three up above the gauge cluster. Wiggle/carefully bend the instrument cluster out from under the dash and over the steering wheel/steering wheel cover. Be careful of the headlight switch and dimmer switch. They are attatch to the lower left I think. It is only a few screws (why stop now?) to get them off if you want to not have the panel dangling by them. It is a good time to check the small bulb in the headlight switch. It's only available from Ford/Mazda as far as I know. Got mine for $6 at the Mazda dealer, but it looks pretty at night. You will find the hazard light switch and ignition switch to be the biggest PIA's ever and you may even have thoughts of using a hacksaw to teach them a lesson in getting in your way. Don't. Go have a beer, take a breather, and allow them to sit and think about what they've done. You're almost halfway done.

5) Now that you are staring at a bare gauge cluster, take the four screws out from around it, being careful not to scratch the plastic up (you'll be annoyed later if you do). Carefully pull the cluster out. There are wires connected to it and the back is a paper thin (like aluminum foil) circuit board. Rest it on the steering wheel cover and replace ALL the 194 bulbs. That's right, believe me. 5 miles after you finish this job, two more will go out. Don't believe me? Have fun doing this again. It's worth the couple of bucks and you can always use spare 194's for the license plate bulbs that are easy to access even when you are in the "re-inspection" line (you may laugh, but I failed NJ inspection for them being out). I even went and bought 194LL bulbs (LL=Long Life) on my third time doing this within a month.

6) So now that you replaced them, test it out by reconnecting the battery for a little bit and turning the headlights on. If they all work, go have another beer, you deserve it. Once you finish it, re-disconnect the battery and start putting it all back together in reverse order.


Job rating: 2 beers out of a 6-pack (each time)
Supposedly, some years are supposed to be able to reach up from behind and replace them without all the headache, but I don't think that they deserve even a beer for it, let alone two.

-Jim

 

Here's a link that describes the process of taking apart the dash on newer model Rangers to get the cluster out. Even has pictures so you know what you're looking for with each step.

Ranger Instrument Cluster Removal

 

That site shows taking the gauge cluster all the way out and all the way apart. Those bulbs can be changed from the back by carfully twisting the sockets a 1/4 to 1/2 turn out and pulling. Then the bulb can be replaced and the socket pushed back in and twisted back.

Nice pics though! He doesn't say when to go grab a beer though.



-Jim