1997 F-150 4x4 (4.6cid) 157,000mi.
All of the instrument lights are burned out on the left side of the instrument cluster.
How much dash do I have to remove to replace these bulbs? Any ideas?

 

If you do a search you might find a more complete answer - however I'll put in my few cents since I've done it a couple times. Its not all that bad to start with - a little time consuming and a little pulling and poking but fairly simple. Remove the three? screws above the instrument panel - you may need a phillips screw driver bit and socket or short screwdriver to get in there, then carefully pull out the bezel that goes around the center AC vents and sterio and remove any screws you find there - it snaps on and off, maybe be a little stiff so just pull carefully. If you have an automatic shift into first to get easy access to the dash panel on both sides of the steering column. This panel snaps on too so just pop that off with your fingers. There are screws behind it to remove as well - NOW for the tricky one (if you don't know how / havn't done it before) is to remove the headlight switch as there is a screw behind there - pull the headlight **** out (it should only pop out enough to show a small hole on one end of the base) and stick a paper clip in the hole to push a release tab so you can completely remove the **** - now reinstall the **** turned 180 degrees and turn the ****. it has a tab at the base of the plastic **** that when turned inside the channel beneath it retracts some spring retainers holding it in place - now pull out the headlight **** and get access to the dash screw behind the switch. Just poke and pull around and finding the screws shouldn't be too hard. once you pull the cluster completely out the bulbs fit behind some round plastic pieces with "fins" on them that simply turn and pop in and out. They may be really stiff so its usually a leap of faith between turning it hard enough and hoping not to break them! Light bulbs are cheap and they all go out sometime so take the time to replace them all! If I missed anything anyone else chime in! No doubt you'll be satisfied after changing them (its not that hard) and have that good feeling you just paid less than 10-15 bucks to change all the bulbs vs. the 100+ that the dealers charge for parts and labor!

-Aaron