I believe I have asked this before, but cannot find my old post... sorry!

My dash lights are starting to get old and blow... only have one bulb still shining. I have had auto mechanics tell me not to pull out the dash on my body year ranger unless I really know what I'm doing... they say its really tricky, and I could break things...

So before I jump into this, can you guys give me an overview?

'93 4.0L XLT

 

My 94 has the same dash as 93, its pretty simple. Remove these b4 pulling the dash panel off: cig lighter, 2 screws on its left and right side, slide the cig lighter frame out, a/c vent above radio, screw or two above it, radio, vent above headlight ****, and screw behind it. That's if from what I remember. Be careful removing the vents I broke the tabs off w/o realizing it till they started and keep falling out while driving!

After all that you just need to pop the dash panel out. Start on top left or right corner and work your way out and down from there. You'll want to tilt your wheel down to clear the center of the panel. And as far as the center goes it'll take a good little pop to get it out away from the steering column.

From there it's just got a couple screws holding the gauge cluster in the dash. (the screws that are against black, the ones against while will loosen the clear plastic cover) Pull the cluster straight out enough to get your hand behind it. If needed give yourself some slack in the speedo cable by pushing some thru the firewall and that'll let it move. The lightbulbs are in a little plastic thing that only takes like a 1/4 turn to pop off the back and the bulb will be sitting inside of that. I'm sure they're #94's. I replaced all mine with the long lifes.

BTW!! I hope you have some Torx screw drivers! All screws are either T-15 or 20.

Hope I've been clear and detailed enough for you!

 

yeah, great post! Sounds quite involved though. Im just so afraid I'm going to break something! lol

So, what if I don't have any Torx screwdrivers?

 

The Torx bolts are all six sided...I think 1/4"...somewhere around there. They're both Torx and regular bolts, so you can remove them with a socket.

Benaghetto had the best advice though, loosen the speedo cable at the tranny, otherwise the cluster will only go half an inch or so out. Been there, done that.

Take it very slow, don't rush it. Remove the radio and ash tray first. I left my vents in without any problems. Pop the dash off, and it's pretty obvious from there where to go.

Just be careful you don't mix up the screws!

 

You're not alone!
I have the same problem with a 2000 Ranger and I worry the same thing, and there's a 50-50 chance that something might brake, it's only plastic after ol!

 

No joke! The first time I took my dash off I actually ended up breaking the tabs off from behind the vents w/o realizing it either. But that just makes it easier to remove now!

 

I haven't broken anything in my dash doing it this way:

remove radio
remove ash tray
remove lower left side (below light switch)
remove lower right side (below A/C)
remove upper left side
remove upper right side
remove upper center
remove lower left side of console
remove loser right side of console
pull up and out

 

Yeah, but I was a reckless youngster back then (3 1/2 years ago lol) and just decided to pull the thing off. Oh well.

 

Oh I've had my reckless moments as well. Like when I was putting my fog lights in, managed to run my arm along the bottom of the valance and cut it, said a few select words, and gave the frame a good little punch... the frame picked that moment to explain to me who wore the pants in our relationship, and I've definetly not hit it again since.

Cut on the arm, AND four busted and bloody knuckles.

 

Happens to be best of us!

 

Then I guess the Sawzall it's out of the question for this job!

 

Yeah, and all my plastic is 14 yrs. old, and has never seen a garage!

 

trick is with plastic is to get it out on a hot day so its more flexible. If you do it in the winter it most surely will break. just my 2cents