I have a 96 explorer xlt and i have a dash light i guess that is out between 50- 80 and i want to change it but dont know how to. any help guys

 

The total process should take you around an hour to an hour and a half the first time. After a few times, you can do it a lot faster. A lot of stuff to take off to get to the bulbs, but its not a hard process. Lets see if I can do this from memory again....

*Remove (4) bolts from dash kick panel under steering wheel. They are on the bottom - 2 of them hold the hood release on.

*Remove (4) bolts that hold the steel support bracket behind the kick panel.

*Remove (3) bolts in the dash bezel. They are in the top of the bezel above the area where you can see the instruments.

*Remove (2) bolts on the bottom of the bezel - one on each side of the steering column.

*Remove the (2) bolts that are just above the climate controls. This holds the radio bezel in place. You do not have to remove the radio, but it might be wise to do it.

*Pull the radio bezel out. It is held in place by hte two screws you removed and by push lock pins.

*Once you have pulled the radio bezel out far enough for the dash bezel to clear it, lower your tilt steering wheel and pull the dash bezel out.

*Unplug the headlight switch harness and the interior switch wire harness.

*Remove (6) (I think) bolts on the outer edge of the instrument cluster.

*Pull the cluster out and unplug the wiring harnesses from the back.

*Find the bulb socket that needs to be replaced, and remove it. Unplug the bulb and replace with new bulb.

*Reverse entire process to reinstall.


I would suggest replacing all the bulbs when you do this. It would be a shame to go through all of this only to have another one blow within a few days and have to do it again. I've done this process numerous times - its nothing to worry about.

 

geez thanks for the help that is extremely useful now i am goin to go try it thanks alot cobra

 

this might be askin alot but u wouldnt happen to know what kind of bulbs are back there like what model or anything would u?..and do u know how many there are back there i would like to chagne the color of them to all red and was just wonderin about how much it would cost..

 

I want to say 8 - 11 bulbs, but I really don't remember. I think the bulb numbers are 194's. I'll have to wait until I get home to give you a definite count on the bulbs and what the model numbers are. I have an extra instrument cluster at home I can look at for you...

 

ok thanks that would be helpful if its not to much trouble..thanks again...this was good help

 

cobra,
did you ever get a count on the number of bulbs and the bulb p/n's? I am having the same problem, lost the gas/temp light this morning. thanks

 

There's 6 bulbs for gauge and needle illumination and 19 smaller ones for the dummy lights. Sorry it took so long - the cluster I have does not have the tach - so it would not have as many bulbs. I had to find the right number in some old paperwork...

 

oh hey thanks sorry for the trouble...