Dash light replacement

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Nov 16, 2002 | 06:28 PM

gtex

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Joined: Apr 2001

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From: Texas

Dash light replacement

Nov 17, 2002 | 06:13 PM

Kannonball

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Dash light replacement

I have a 68 250 Ranger, and the instrument panel lights are gone. (the other dash lights work though, so its not the switch or wiring, its just that theyve burnt out, and the previous owner was too lazy to replace them.)

So I need help in the following.

How in the HELL do you get back there to reach the friggin things, and how many are there?

I keep trying to reach them, and all I get are sore shoulders and back from straining so hard.

Please Help ASAP!!!

Nov 17, 2002 | 06:32 PM

Mil1ion

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Dash light replacement

Just remove the cluster and do a complete cluster clean-up and bulb exchange.

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Nov 17, 2002 | 06:36 PM

Kannonball

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Dash light replacement

I tried that, but the speedo cable wont come loose

Nov 17, 2002 | 07:20 PM

rebocardo

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Joined: Jun 2002

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From: Atlanta GA

Dash light replacement

(if a 67 is the same as a 71) Disconnect the harness assembly by squeezing the top and bottom tabs together. Remove the connector straight out and avoid mashing the fingers on the printed circuit. Pull on the speedometer cable with your hand and move the assembly towards the steering wheel. Do not use the assembly to pull the speedo cable!

You now have enough room to reach the bulbs. There should be five, one behind each directional, three along the top. With a small flashlight you can see little black plastic ***** about 1/2 an inch tall. Each one holds a 194 bulb.

Now you have enough room for a small cresent wrench to fit in there. From the pass. side, turn it top to bottom (counterclock wise if you were facing the back of the panel. If you have to use more than two fingers on the wrench to move anything, something is wrong. Once off, lube the cable!

When putting back the assembly, make sure the printed circuit fingers are lying flat and are not twisted. Put a small amount of anti-sieze on the speedo cable nut. Then plug in the harness, then the cable (making sure you push the cable end into the speedo head before you tighten the nut).

Nov 17, 2002 | 08:03 PM

Kannonball

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Dash light replacement

Thanks fellas. I got the day off tomorrow, and ill give her a shot.

Nov 18, 2002 | 11:24 AM

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From: Brea CA

Dash light replacement

The '68 cluster does not have a printed circuit board nor the big harness connector, it's all hard wired. The bulb sockets pop out from the back side but it's a lot easier if you pull the cluster from the front. The speedo cable has a collar that unscrews. Lay a towel on the steering column so it doesn't get scratched up. Even with the speedo cable disconnected, you can't really pull the cluster out that far. Instead, stick one end of the cluster in the dash hole and the other end of the cluster will stick out. Do the same to get to the other side.

Barry