LONO100
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- March 23, 2011
- Messages
- 2,911
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- City, State
- Bay Area CA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 03 sport trac XLT
hey all, i just replaced my instrument panel lights. for all those that havent done it yet but need to do it, i posted a link to a youtube video where the guy shows you where all the screws and clips are. it was very helpful, but you have to watch like 6 little videos and figure out the order in which he took the dash apart instead of just making one big video. some tips and thoughts;
the part number for the bulbs you will need is 194. check everythign outside of opening the dash before doing so. you dont want to spend the time to do this if all it is is a loose fuse or something like that.
i was tempted to buy the LED lights, but they cost 10 bucks for two and there are six bulbs you need to change in the instrument cluster and two in the HVAC controls. i stuck with the regular lights for 3 bucks a pair. if anyone has used the LED lights for their panels, please respond and let us know how they worked out for you. i first bought some blue colored bulbs, but when i installed them, they werent nearly bright enough to shine through the gages. they were so dimm, i had to take them back and i ended up just getting the standard clear bulbs. be careful connecting the bulbs back into the back of the cluster panel. the whole backside is a big conductor and you dont want to scratch or crack anything back there. you dont even have to unhook the connectors of the radio, HVAC controls and cluster panel, you can turn them and change the bulbs because there is enough slack on the wires.
again, if anyone has used LED's in their dash panels, please let us know hwo they worked and if they are worth the money. good luck if you have to do this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYQH8Ehvvhw&feature=fvsr
the part number for the bulbs you will need is 194. check everythign outside of opening the dash before doing so. you dont want to spend the time to do this if all it is is a loose fuse or something like that.
i was tempted to buy the LED lights, but they cost 10 bucks for two and there are six bulbs you need to change in the instrument cluster and two in the HVAC controls. i stuck with the regular lights for 3 bucks a pair. if anyone has used the LED lights for their panels, please respond and let us know how they worked out for you. i first bought some blue colored bulbs, but when i installed them, they werent nearly bright enough to shine through the gages. they were so dimm, i had to take them back and i ended up just getting the standard clear bulbs. be careful connecting the bulbs back into the back of the cluster panel. the whole backside is a big conductor and you dont want to scratch or crack anything back there. you dont even have to unhook the connectors of the radio, HVAC controls and cluster panel, you can turn them and change the bulbs because there is enough slack on the wires.
again, if anyone has used LED's in their dash panels, please let us know hwo they worked and if they are worth the money. good luck if you have to do this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYQH8Ehvvhw&feature=fvsr