how to replace lights in dash?
Novice Wrencher
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 18
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Bulb replacement
If you have a Chilton/Haynes manual for Ford Pick-ups & Bronco 1980-96 is shows how in Chapter 12 - Chassis electrical systems. My copy was printed in 2004 and the pictures used in Sec.16 Instrument cluster - removal, bulb replacement and installation are of a '87-'91.
If you don't have a manual I'll put pictures up for everyone. The process is also similar to my '94. Both have a removable instrument cluster. The book shows your lower control panel having to be removed first to gain access to screws holding the instrument bezel in place. I don't see any screw holes in the pictures or mention of the lower being screwed in place you might be able to use a screwdriver and pop off the lower panel after you take off the headlight and wiper *****.
1. Removed the 6 instrument bezel (upper panel) screws: 2 above the gages, 2 on the sides of the steering column, and 2 at the bottom corners of the bezel. Set bezel aside.
2. The cluster is held in place by 4 screws hidden behind the instrument bezel. Once you remove the screws you tilt the cluster, bottom toward you and disconnect the wiring harness.
2A. The specifics here you'll have to figure out on your own because I think the '87-'91's still used a speedo cable instead of the electronic PSOM of the next series (92-96 like mine).
3. Slide/rotate the cluster the rest of the way out. If yours comes out the same way mine does it will have to rotate to get around the steering column and ends up being up-side down with the back facing you by the time its completely out from behind the steering wheel.
4. Bulb replacement is simple. On the back of the cluster are a bunch of black twist tabs. Those twist tabs are the bulb carriers. A 1/4 turn and they come out. The bulb is press fit into the carrier so all you have to do is pull on the bulb and it will come out. Put good bulbs back in and you're ready to reassemble everything.
5. Reassembly is the same steps as disassembly in opposite order.
Hope that helps.
If you don't have a manual I'll put pictures up for everyone. The process is also similar to my '94. Both have a removable instrument cluster. The book shows your lower control panel having to be removed first to gain access to screws holding the instrument bezel in place. I don't see any screw holes in the pictures or mention of the lower being screwed in place you might be able to use a screwdriver and pop off the lower panel after you take off the headlight and wiper *****.
1. Removed the 6 instrument bezel (upper panel) screws: 2 above the gages, 2 on the sides of the steering column, and 2 at the bottom corners of the bezel. Set bezel aside.
2. The cluster is held in place by 4 screws hidden behind the instrument bezel. Once you remove the screws you tilt the cluster, bottom toward you and disconnect the wiring harness.
2A. The specifics here you'll have to figure out on your own because I think the '87-'91's still used a speedo cable instead of the electronic PSOM of the next series (92-96 like mine).
3. Slide/rotate the cluster the rest of the way out. If yours comes out the same way mine does it will have to rotate to get around the steering column and ends up being up-side down with the back facing you by the time its completely out from behind the steering wheel.
4. Bulb replacement is simple. On the back of the cluster are a bunch of black twist tabs. Those twist tabs are the bulb carriers. A 1/4 turn and they come out. The bulb is press fit into the carrier so all you have to do is pull on the bulb and it will come out. Put good bulbs back in and you're ready to reassemble everything.
5. Reassembly is the same steps as disassembly in opposite order.
Hope that helps.
Last edited by Tanker3278; Aug 4, 2010 at 07:58 AM.