Dash Light Bulbs

knifoon · February 13, 2010

I want to replace my dash lights in my 2003 XLT. What size do I need?

HSS · February 15, 2010

2000 Ford Explorer Light Bulb Size Reference

Low Beam Headlight Bulb Size: 9007
High Beam Headlamp Light Bulb Size: 9007
Parking Light Bulb Size: 3157NALL
Front Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 3157NALL
Rear Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 3156LL
Tail Light Bulb Size: 3157LL
Stop Light Bulb Size: 3157LL
High Mount Stop Light Bulb Size: 912
Fog/Driving Light Bulb Size: H1-55W
License Plate Light Bulb Size: 168
Back Up Light Bulb Size: 3156LL
Front Side Marker Light Bulb Size: 916NA
Ash Tray Light Bulb Size: 161
Glove Box Light Bulb Size: 194
Map Light Bulb Size: 168 or 579 or PC579
Dome Light Bulb Size: 906
Step/Courtesy Light Bulb Size: 168 or 912
Trunk/Cargo Area Light Bulb Size: 211-2 or 562
Under Hood Light Bulb Size: 906
Instrument-General Light Bulb Size: 161 and/or 194
Check Engine Indicator Light Bulb Size: 194
Hi-Beam Indicator Light Bulb Size: 194
Seat Belt Indicator Light Bulb Size: 194
Brake Warning Light Bulb Size: 194
Directional Signal Indicator Light Bulb Size: 194

knifoon · February 16, 2010

Thanks for the reply but I think a 2000 and 2003 have different sizes, they're different generations. But the 161 may work, I don't know.

One reason I'd like to know is that I bought a few 194's pretty cheap off of ebay thinking that they'd fit but they're too big at the base. The worse part was that I took my whole dash apart to figure this out.

I think I'm just gonna get some new gauge faces from Nu-image, they show up blue :smokinfro

sammyt10 · November 13, 2010

Hi everyone, I need to change my cluster bulbs, and want to convert over to the LED's they look cool, I was wondering what I need for the base? T1.25, T1.5, BAX, B8, B10d? Do I want 3,4,5mm? It seems like a lot of choices. Cheers

BigRondo · November 13, 2010

sammyt10 said:
Hi everyone, I need to change my cluster bulbs, and want to convert over to the LED's they look cool, I was wondering what I need for the base? T1.25, T1.5, BAX, B8, B10d? Do I want 3,4,5mm? It seems like a lot of choices. Cheers

Here are a couple of threads to get you moving in the right direction:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240166&highlight=led+conversion

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270252&highlight=led+conversion

Hope this helps out. :biggthump

fedyfedz · November 15, 2010

i would love to learn how to do this to, to my 2002 x. Unfortunately those threads are strictly for 2nd gen which sucks cause its definitely alot different.

BigRondo · November 15, 2010

fedyfedz said:
i would love to learn how to do this to, to my 2002 x. Unfortunately those threads are strictly for 2nd gen which sucks cause its definitely alot different.

You can install LED's in the 3rd Gen instrument cluster! Use this thread for removal of the instrument cluster, thanks to XtremeRanger for the excellent write-up!: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218636

Once you have the cluster removed you can change the bulbs over to LED's. The sockets twist out. Replace the bulbs with the appropriate LED's and you are good to go!

Photo courtesy of Denny347:

Hope this helps out!!

emoxkidd · November 17, 2010

Ive got a 2004 Explorer. Are the lights in the A/C Control Unit the same size as the instrument cluster lights? And how do u remove the lights from the plastic holder? I tried pulling on the but they wouldnt come out. I didnt wanna pull hard and break them tho.

BigRondo · November 17, 2010

emoxkidd said:
Ive got a 2004 Explorer. Are the lights in the A/C Control Unit the same size as the instrument cluster lights? And how do u remove the lights from the plastic holder? I tried pulling on the but they wouldnt come out. I didnt wanna pull hard and break them tho.

Welcome aboard! :salute:

The socket should just twist out. Then the bulb should just pull out of the socket. Do you have the manual climate control or the automatic climate control?

If you have the manual climate control:

Start by removing the radio bezel. Check out this thread for removing the radio bezel: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271666

The controls are screwed to the bezel. If you look behind the controls, you will see where the bulbs are installed.

Hope this helps out!

emoxkidd · November 17, 2010

I have manual A/C.Yeah i got it out and the bulbs too. What size bulb are they?
And now when i press the rear defrost button i just hear a clicking sound and the light doesnt come on. Could that be a relay?

BigRondo · November 17, 2010

emoxkidd said:
I have manual A/C.Yeah i got it out and the bulbs too. What size bulb are they?
And now when i press the rear defrost button i just hear a clicking sound and the light doesnt come on. Could that be a relay?

I don't know what size the bulbs are.

The second post in this thread by HSS indicates that the dash lighting is Instrument-General Light Bulb Size: 161 and/or 194. Can you read the size off the bulb?

Can't say for sure about the rear defrost but from the clicking, it sounds like the relay. According to my owner's manual, the relay for the rear defrost is located on the back side of the fuse panel located under the driver's side dash. If you don't have an owner's manual, Dead Link Removed.

Hope this helps out!

emoxkidd · November 17, 2010

No i cant read it but im just goona try the 194 bulbs and if they dont fit then i know its the 161 bulbs. I found all of that. i Just dont know how to get to the top of the pannel. I took 3 screws out and it looks like all of them but it wont come out.
Im just gonna have to ask my auto instructor tomorrow at school.

BigRondo · November 17, 2010

emoxkidd said:
No i cant read it but im just goona try the 194 bulbs and if they dont fit then i know its the 161 bulbs. I found all of that. i Just dont know how to get to the top of the pannel. I took 3 screws out and it looks like all of them but it wont come out.
Im just gonna have to ask my auto instructor tomorrow at school.

What won't come out? The instrument cluster or the heat/AC controls?

Here is a great thread for removing the instrument cluster: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218636

emoxkidd · November 18, 2010

I figured out it's my control unit. Does anyone know where i can find a cheap replacment that has the a/c and rear defrost button?

fedyfedz · March 18, 2011

BigRondo said:
Hope this helps out!!

can i simply twist those bulbs out and replace with blue leds? and what is the exact bulb size of those? i keep seeing people ask can you just change the bulbs to change color and everyone keeps saying no casue the face plate is green??? doesnt make sense to me u dont see the green board u only see the light reflecting through the gauges so i would assume changing the bulbs would change the color?

Also i have the digital message center for the heat and what have you, are those the same bulbs along with the 4wd buttons and info/setup/reset? I want to get the number of bulbs and what type for all of the things i mentioned so i can do a writeup for switching the colors? I believe alot of people are leaning towards this mod now and if you search you only find this thread and a million threads for 2nd gen which helps to get an idea but thats it all the parts and info is different.....

fedyfedz · March 21, 2011

anybody?

chitown1211 · March 21, 2011

fedyfedz said:
anybody?

Fedy, I think we are going to have to be the "pioneers" on this. As you said there is TONS of 2nd gen info on this, but no comprehensive 3rd gen intstructions. Which is odd because the 3rd gens are 10 years old now and the 3rd gen lighting is way uglier then 2nd gen lighting. You would think hundreds of people would have done this by now???......

Well here is what I have gathered so far on this topic.

Changing the bulbs alone will NOT change the color. Only way to do that is to scrape off the green film. ( havent found any precise info on that)

BUT, I have also read that using the super bright SMD tower type leds will shine "blue" through the gauge cluster.

I am also not sure on your climate control. I have a manual A/C so I wont be able to help you there.

I ordered a bunch of 194 "refractor" style white leds. I am assuming 194's will work for my cluster and A/C lights.

I wont have them for a few weeks so I will post back my results when I try them out.

fedyfedz · March 21, 2011

ok let me know if the bulbs work out as to i will order the same ones lol, also using white changes the color to blue from what ive read but that is for 2nd gen so who knows. i would like to do the 4x4 button lights and some of the a/c if those 194s are what fits id probably do that first.

chitown1211 · March 21, 2011

fedyfedz said:
ok let me know if the bulbs work out as to i will order the same ones lol, also using white changes the color to blue from what ive read but that is for 2nd gen so who knows. i would like to do the 4x4 button lights and some of the a/c if those 194s are what fits id probably do that first.

I am actually trying to make mine stay green. Just brighter. We'll see........

fedyfedz · April 12, 2011

ok so i took apart my hvac, message center and 4x4 controls to try to change bulbs to my amazment these bulbs are sodered into a circuit board and are green so if you now how to resoder new bulbs in i guess it would be of use. So that kinda sucks that i cant change those lights at all. Im hoping the ones behind the dash can just be replaced with new leds 194/161

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