just purchased this ford ranger found that it seems to have some insterment panel lights out cant see the gas gauge or 1/2 of the speed also has no clock or display on radio radio cd and tape work just no display any ideal on the cost to repair

 

I think they are like $1-2 each. Try autozone, etc. I will pull a bunch every time I go to a junkyard. Usually can talk the guy at the front to throw them in with whatever else I am buying.

 

I believe the bulb you'll need for the dash gauges is the 194LL. The dash unit uses 6 of these bulbs and you might want to replace all 6 while you're at it so you don't have to do all the work at getting to them anymore than nessecary. It's not a hard job but you need to take apart the center stack (radio, heater controls, etc.) and some panels under the steering wheel before you can get the gage pack out. Do a search on the thread that tells step by step what you need to do if unsure of procedure.
I'm not sure about what bulb you need for the radio but you'll have the radio out to fix the dash anyway so it shouldn't be hard to figure out.

 

Ford fixed mine, replaced all the lights, now even the cruise lights on the steering wheel work.

Oh, it was 500.

and when I got the truck back the Check Engine Light (cel) was on. Jeeze.

 

did I read this right? You paid $500 for ford to replace lightbulbs?

 

I'll check my records, but it was a bunch.

You didn't assume it was $5.00, I see.

 

Replacing Ranger/Explorer Dash Lamps

I agree, you should replace all the lamps with long-lasting types (194LL) while you are in there.

 

I just did this a few weeks ago, it's not all that hard but give yourself an hour or two. There is a thread, I believe in the Technical Sticky, that details the process.

While I was there, I also cleaned the gauges and the inside of the clear plastic "window". Now I can see my gauges! It would almost be worth it to take all that apart just to clean those, as there was quite a bit of dust built up in there.

Now, what I'm about to tell you may sound confusing, but once you get everything apart you'll understand what I'm talking about. BE SURE to do this because I didn't and it looks pretty goofy:

Surrounding the gauges is a black molded outline, it is glued to the plastic window. You'll want to clean this assembly well, I did in soap and water before Armor All. However, when you do the (insert favorite detail product here), make sure and get ALL the way around the trip meter reset button! It's a little awkward to get to, but deal with it! I neglected to do this, and knew I shouldn't have, and now I have a lighter-black stripe where the Armor All didn't get to.

Also, find some kind of lint-free cloth you can give the inside of the window a final wipe down with, there are about 5 pieces of lint I left there that are about to drive me nuts.