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I need to replace the light bulbs for my gauge cluster, speedo, tach, can someone tell me where these bulbs are located and how to change them, thanks very much.
I did this last year.
Reach yer arm under the dash and push a button behind the headlights **** to pop it out. Someone else will have to help you with the wiper **** as I forget how to get that one out. Then take out about 6 screws for the bezel. I think you have to take the radio bezel out too. Take screws out of gauge cluster and pull it out.
Be extremely carefull pulling the cluster out because the background is make of some fragile material that can (and will) turn to powdery dust. The bulbs are on the back of the gauge cluster. I think there are 7 bulbs total.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Don't wanna give wrong info out. Also tell him how to get the wiper **** out
I just reach up and take out the bulb holder with out disassembling the whole dash. The bulbs are in little holders that plug into the back of the gauge housing and twist 90 degrees or so. Lay down on your back and look up in there with a light and you will see it.
Each bulb fits into a plastic socket that twists into the instrument panel's cluster back.
You do NOT have to remove the instrument cluster to replace bulbs!
Just reach back there and remove the sockets. You do not want to remove the instrument cluster, because...
The cluster backs used on trucks of this vintage (1975/79) were made from a composition material that could...and did...turn to DUST before your very eyes!
Ford replaced these fracatta cluster backs in 1981 with the hard plastic cluster backs used in 1981/86 (idiot lights) & 1981/91 (all gauges) Econolines.
Some of these cluster backs have since been replaced with the hard plastic types, most have not been replaced.
E1PZ10848A .. Cluster Back, use with all gauges: Fits: 1975/91 Econoline, 1975/79 F100/350, 1978/79 Bronco.
E1PZ10848B .. Cluster Back, use with warning (idiot) lights: Fits: 1975/86 Econoline, 1975/79 F100/350, 1978/79 Bronco.
These two cluster backs are now obsolete. Green Sales Co. (800-543-4959) in Cincinnati OH & Dennis Carpenter (704-786-8139) in Concord NC have Gen-U-Ine NOS Ford originals.
And...there are 1000's of 1981/91 Econolines in wrecking yards.
Each bulb fits into a plastic socket that twists into the instrument panel's cluster back.
You do NOT have to remove the instrument cluster to replace bulbs!
Just reach back there and remove the sockets. You do not want to remove the instrument cluster, because...
The cluster backs used on trucks of this vintage (1975/79) were made from a composition material that could...and did...turn to DUST before your very eyes!
Ford replaced these fracatta cluster backs in 1981 with the hard plastic cluster backs used in 1981/86 (idiot lights) & 1981/91 (all gauges) Econolines.
Some of these cluster backs have since been replaced with the hard plastic types, most have not been replaced.
E1PZ10848A .. Cluster Back, use with all gauges: Fits: 1975/91 Econoline, 1975/79 F100/350, 1978/79 Bronco.
E1PZ10848B .. Cluster Back, use with warning (idiot) lights: Fits: 1975/86 Econoline, 1975/79 F100/350, 1978/79 Bronco.
These two cluster backs are now obsolete. Green Sales Co. (800-543-4959) in Cincinnati OH & Dennis Carpenter (704-786-8139) in Concord NC have Gen-U-Ine NOS Ford originals.
And...there are 1000's of 1981/91 Econolines in wrecking yards.
what is the part number for the sockets themselves. 79 f100.
It's a standard 194 bulb socket - this is the kind with wire contacts at the base, like our side running lights. Not much you can do to tighten those contacts, but they rarely go bad. The contacts from the socket to the printer circuit sheet are simple brass alloy arms which can me bent up from the socket to make better contact. A little scrubbing of the area on the circuit sheet they contact would not hurt, either.
Small adder to the cluster removal - you will also have to remove the speedo cable (by squeezing the white retainer clip around it and pulling the cable from the cluster, and removing the gang electrical plug from the cluster which has two locking latches, one at either short end. They ae a pain. If you can reach the bulbs from below, that may be far easier unless you just really want to pull the cluster or can't reach the bulbs.
Wiper **** is held on by a small flat spring around the shaft - if you push the part of the spring closest to the dash face toward the ****, you can work the **** loose. Probably need a flashlight and a small screwdriver or hook - takes longer to describe than to do.
I just changed my bulbs out and only half of my bulbs are working do I need to replace that circuit board on the back now?
Originally Posted by BigRed1967
I need to replace the light bulbs for my gauge cluster, speedo, tach, can someone tell me where these bulbs are located and how to change them, thanks very much.
I’d start by checking the printed circuit board. If it’s got some material wore away where the bulb sockets make connection you can repair that with defrost grid repair paint or you can just replace the circuit board.
Did you use LED's? You know they are a directionally required bulb, meaning they only work installed in one way or direction.
Some times easier to have a person watch that unlit area, while you lay under there and remove and reinstall the bulbs. You just might not of made a good contact when you installed the bulb. Once you get the bulb out, insp it real for bent or misaligned contact's. Then reinstall very carefully, it is not a screw way in type bulb. You helper hollers when it is working.
Also if you do go to replace the printed circuit board, when you go to take the nuts off the mount studs on the gauges. DO NOT LET THE STUDS BREAK LOOSE. Meaning hold to the end of the stud with some needle nose pliers while you use a small wrench to break loose the nuts. Same for tightening them.
Might get away with some copper repair tape on the circuit board, before you 100% replace it.
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Dash Lights:
