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You need to pull the cover around the steering column
Pull the housing loose below the column cover just on the driverside right under the headlight switch(there is one bolt for the insturment cluster trim piece)
Pull the trim around the insturment panel
Unplug headlight switch
Remove the mounting screws on the gauge cluster
Gently move gauge cluster until you can unplug the wiring harnesses
Bulbs are located behind the little black socket caps(twist to remove)
The cover around the steering column is just clipped on. Just pull firmly and it will come off. The rest is 7mm or 9/32 screw heads. Bulbs should be #168s.
If you have an automatic the gear selector indicator has to come out also. Just kind of sits in place, but look at it closely before you pull it out. It will have a very small cable on it that goes down below to a little nylon type wheel adjuster.... That is easy to break if you are not careful. Also when it's back together if the selector is off a little, adust that little wheel to put the pointer spot on. There are a couple bulb numbers that will actually fit, but when I did mine it is not as bright as it should be. I think the different numbers could be wattage, not sure though. Soooo..double check before what bulb number is original specs. The headlight switch removel is kind of a Chinese puzzle, but will come out OK.
While you've gone to the trouble of taking the whole dash out, I would replace all the bulbs. It will save you time down the road and keep all the dash lights at the same intensity as some older bulbs start to dim. Other wise, you may have that dash off a few more times over the years and that old plastic likes to break once taken apart and reinstalled several times.
Yes they are dimable
They are slightly brighter than OE
They are direct replacements for the OE bulb #s (you can figure out what those are from a number of different sites)
I got mine from superbrightleds but if I ever do it again ill order from v-leds. They are more expensive but better quality imo. If you do go led make sure you order the bulb configuration that disperse the light the most, or you will have spots. They are a lot of threads the tell you the bulb number you will need and the quantity you need. I replaced all my interior lights with led while I was at it. I love it.
forget the bolt, and remove the light switch 1st! you'll never find it yourself!!!
Originally Posted by rgfoote
I don't know what yr this link is, but there is NO BOLT holding the switch in, or mention of.
NOW I GET IT!
tHE "BOLT" HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LIGHT SWITCH, OR IT'S REMOVAL!!! It holds on the panel the switch is mounted in. STOP LOOKING FOR IT AND REMOVE THE SWITCH, THEN YOU WILL SEE THE BOLT. To remove the SWITCH, study top row 4th pickture. Click on it to enlarge.
Originally Posted by Marty's 97 F-150 Copy this link and use it.
Just did mine. 1997 F150 4x4, 6cyl, 77k miles. Bolts are 9/32. Used 1/4" ratchet drive set, with extension and deep socket. A nut driver would be handy too. Wish I would have looked at "Gregg gauge lights pics" first...pretty sure I broke my headlights control...the little screwdriver insertion in step 3 I did not do...
Anyway, all 5 bulbs replaced with 194LL, same as OEM. I had to remove the steering column cover as well to get the cluster out of the dash. Not a bad job.