ChiliBean24

I have a 2001 Ford Lariat Supercrew. I bought it about 4 years ago and have started doing odds and ends things to it to "freshen" it up. My latest project has been to convert the main instrument cluster (speedometer, tachometer and gauges) to LED bulbs. I have taken the instrument cluster out for the second time, only to find that I still do not have the correct bulbs. Everything I've watched on youtube says that this is a 194 bulb. This bulb is way too big. The bulbs that are in the cluster at present have white bases and the bulb can't be removed from the base. When looking at the circuit board behind the gauges, the bulbs that I am trying to replace are the P20, LP21, LP22, LP23, LP24, LP25. Does anyone know which bulb I actually need? I just received some LED's in the mail, but they are the 194 equivalent. The number off of my instrument cluster is XL3F-10848-BB. Any help would be appreciated.

mandingo32

They will be a 74 in the cluster. Just be sure you don't button it up until you test, they're polarity sensitive.

The 194s will work in the HVAC controls, door, dome, 3rd brake light and plate. They won't go wasted.

ChiliBean24

Thanks so much for your help. One last question. Will the 74's work for all lights in the instrument cluster. If they are cheap enough, I may replace all the other bulbs as well (brake, 4X4, low fuel, etc).

W3BY

This will help you replace bulbs and the first post has a link to cluster bulb replacement.

https://www.f150forum.com/f6/97-03-l...-guide-174498/

Good luck,

dscableguy

i bought the 74 bases w/led's and they don't fit. The gold tab doesn't fit with enough room to make contact with the circuit board on top. There should be (2) gold contacts like the stock bases but there is only one gold contact and it's not long enough.

white89gt

What year is your truck? The 97 and 98 uses a 194, as I recall. The 99+ is 37/74

dscableguy

Mine is a 2001 Lariat double cab, i have attached photos of the circuit board and the bulb base type. As you can see there are 2 brass contacts that "sandwich" the circuit board to make the connection whereas the led bases that i have purchased do not have that brass contact to make with the circuit board. I have read hundreds of threads and cannot find one that directs me to the correct led with base. Any help finding these would be appreciated or i may just find the incandescent bulbs to replace.

white89gt

Try a PC161

dscableguy

I have scoured the internet (Amazon, Ebay) i can't seem to find anything on the web that shows me which type to use. There has to be someone who has done this before but im not getting anywhere with this. So frustrating! the bulbs are soldered in the bases, so i need to find ones that will plug into the base and make contact. I read somewhere that the BMW cluster lights are the same so im gonna try those. see below, they seem to look identical and they are the correct wattage.. we shall see.

Mercedes Bulb dash instruments 1.5w Beige Socket ( x4)

by

03f15012

I may have some leftover bases from a spare cluster I had... I'll let you know.