Hey gang,

The backlight for the odometer/thermometer on my 04 FX4 Scab is no longer illuminating. I did a search and found one or two people with the same issue, and the problem/solution seems to be tear the dash down and replace the burned out LEDs. My question is this... are there more than 1 LEDs that light up the LCD screen? The backlighting went from a perfectly even, bright glow to zip.

The reason I ask.. if it were multiple LEDs or bulbs, why would they all go out at once?

has anyone any experience in replacing these bulbs? Im considering replacing them all with blue, its just I dont want to get the whole dash in pieces to find out I need to special order bulbs from my local parts store to come from brazil

 

there is only one #74 bulb in the readout. in my FX4 cluster there are 7 bulbs, one on each side of the mph and tach then two in the center of the 4 gauges, and one for the trip/mileage

 

awesome! just what I needed to know, thanks dude. Is there a way to replace the bulb without taking the whole dash apart?

 

no... the cluster has a plastic layer on the back over the top of the soldier spots and the bulbs holders... you have to take it off with a torx ( *) screw driver to get to them, unless you have a socket small enough. But you can do this to save a lil time.... at knee level where the dash around the cluster meets the lower part, you can pull back on that and that will giveyou access to the two screws to the top part, then you disconnect the pedal adjust switch, under the steering column remove the TINY silver screw and pop off the top rear column cover (it pops apart) after that is off you can remove the cluster surround... pull out towards the driver seat and it'll start coming off, (snaps in)
after the cover is off, remove the 4 screw holing in the cluster (you don't need to disconnect it) filp it up at the wires, and undo the screws around the bulb (it will be the upper right with the cluster flipped up) turn the holder counter clockwise (pliers help cause of the way the holders are designed) pull it out CAREFULLY( the socket has three parts plastic holder, and two metal sides that the bulb pushes into, they can stay in the housing with the bulb inside if you don't trun it out correctly and then fall inside the cluster!!) pull out the bulb, (#74) and then install the new one.. reverse installation.....(check to make sure the bulb works before putting it back together......

 

cant thank you enough for your help!!

 

I thank you too! Just last night my odometer light went out. Dang it!

 

My actual whole instrument panel went out!!! Whats that all about, the odometer still reads but the rest is off and it keeps burning the 15A fuse.

 

Sounds like something is grounding out.....

 

Yeah Sin I dont know where to start, the last fuse I put in didnt blow and then something in the cab smoked and it still won't work. Pretty sure I burned a wire somwhere in the dash but don't even know how I would have done that!?!?!