Drive Light, Intrument Cluster Removal

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N

newbee mechanic

Joined
Mar 31, 2008
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Location
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Drive Light, Instrument Cluster Removal

I finally got the "D"rive light bulb in the instrument cluster fixed.
This was like an annoying itch I could not get rid of.

For anybody else that might be interested, here are some pics along the way.
newbee_mechanic/Drive Light Bulb - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting



As a noob, I was worried about getting the cluster back on later.
How do I reach behind the cluster to unplug the harness?
How the heck would I get my hand in there later, to plug the harness back in?

As it turns out, you do not have to unplug or plug the harness by hand. It comes off by itself, simply by removing the lower, left and right bolts. 1 Bolt for each harness plug.

Later when you install, the harness plugs are already held in place, so you simply place the instrument cluster down and start tightening the 2 bolts mentioned above and the harness gets plugged in. Very clever. No need to reach in with your hand to plug in the harness.

BTW, with the cluster off, you still do have to remove about 20 tiny screws and unplug about 5 electrical ribbons, to get the
circuit board off, to access the bulbs. You will need some micro screw drivers(for eye glasses) and a light
touch. But it is very do able.

Also do remove the steering plastic cover off. I don't think I could have gotten it out otherwise. Unscrew 2 screws hidden by the steering wheel by turning left to get one screw and right to get the other. The cover snaps apart. It is snapped together pretty tight. Start pulling apart on the pedal side.

My "D" is brightly lit once again.:bounce:
 
Last edited:
newbee mechanic said:
I finally got the "D"rive light bulb in the instrument cluster fixed.
This was like an annoying itch I could not get rid of.

For anybody else that might be interested, here are some pics along the way.
newbee_mechanic/Drive Light Bulb - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

As a noob, I was worried about getting the cluster back on later.
How do I reach behind the cluster to unplug the harness?
How the heck would I get my hand in there later, to plug the harness back in?

As it turns out, you do not have to unplug or plug the harness by hand. It comes off by itself, simply my removing the lower, left and right bolts. 1 Bolt for aech harness plug.

Later when you install, the harness plugs are already held in place, so you simply place the instrument cluster down and start tightening the 2 bolts mentioned above and the harness gets plugged in. Very clever. No need to reach in with your hand to plug in the harness.

BTW, with the cluster off, you still do have to remove about 20 tiny screws and unplug about 5 electrical ribbons, to get the
circuit board off, to access the bulbs. You will need some micro screw drivers(for eye glasses) and a light
touch. But it is very do able.

My "D" is brightly lit once again.:bounce:
Click to expand...

That’s why I'm not concerned about the light being out.......
 
Me either, but great job!
 
DMX84 said:
That’s why I'm not concerned about the light being out.......
Click to expand...

After coming back and reading my reply it sounded so negative..... sorry for coming across like. :whoops: You definitely did a good job with the how to and the pictures are very nice. Probably should be added to the FAQ.
It's my understanding that the D light isn't as bright as all the others. Is this the case after your bulb replacement?
Dean
 
How long did it take you?
 
DMX, no problem with the reply man, no offense taken,
In fact, I was about to reply with a challenge....

Your D light is out isn't it?
My left brain kept telling me, I don't need to do this.
But my right brain was driving me nuts(wait is it the other way around?). Anyway, I endured this condition for 4 years.
Admit it, some where in the back of your mind,
you got this nagging feeling that you gotta do something.
Let's see how long you can go like that.
See if you can go 5 years?

To answer questions,
The D light seems as bright as all others, they are all the same clear bulbs, with colored shades on the cluster panel.

I did take the steering plastic cover off. I don't think I could have gotten it out otherwise. Unscrew 2 screws hidden by the steering wheel by turning left to get one screw and right to get the other. The cover snaps apart. It is snapped together pretty tight. Start pulling apart on the pedal side.
Of course, tilt wheel out and down. Seems there is more room to pull it out from the right side of the wheel. I did pull off the knee area panel cover to make some room around the key but I don't think that was necessary.

If I didn't spend time trying to reach in behind the cluster trying to figure out how to unplug/plug the harness(1 hr).
Probably 30 min to get the, cluster out.
1 hour to get to the bulb.
30 min to get the cluster back in.

No doubt, this is an ABSOLUTELY non-essential repair, but I just had to do it. Now, where was that thread about the timing belt?
 
newbee mechanic said:
DMX, no problem with the reply man, no offense taken,
In fact, I was about to reply with a challenge....

Your D light is out isn't it?
My left brain kept telling me, I don't need to do this.
But my right brain was driving me nuts(wait is it the other way around?). Anyway, I endured this condition for 4 years.
Admit it, some where in the back of your mind,
you got this nagging feeling that you gotta do something.
Let's see how long you can go like that.
See if you can go 5 years?

To answer questions,
The D light seems as bright as all others, they are all the same clear bulbs, with colored shades on the cluster panel.

I did take the steering plastic cover off. I don't think I could have gotten it out otherwise. Unscrew 2 screws hidden by the steering wheel by turning left to get one screw and right to get the other. The cover snaps apart. It is snapped together pretty tight. Start pulling apart on the pedal side.
Of course, tilt wheel out and down. Seems there is more room to pull it out from the right side of the wheel. I did pull off the knee area panel cover to make some room around the key but I don't think that was necessary.

If I didn't spend time trying to reach in behind the cluster trying to figure out how to unplug/plug the harness(1 hr).
Probably 30 min to get the, cluster out.
1 hour to get to the bulb.
30 min to get the cluster back in.

No doubt, this is an ABSOLUTELY non-essential repair, but I just had to do it. Now, where was that thread about the timing belt?
Click to expand...


I'm going on 6 years now, and the voices in my head say it's not a big deal....:lol: I have a 71 GMC I've been working on and it takes all my time/energy, plus my 2 kids take a good amount of time too.

Not the timing belt is another story....it would be bugging me! :D
~DMX
 
Of course, mine is out too. Thanks for tackling this project before me!

What is the part number for the bulb?
 
I had the D light go out on my 97 80, it bothered me as well. About 6 months later, it came back on (by itself). Has been on for about 2 years now! CRAZY....
 
Now that you mention it, it is bright at night isn't it?
But I can dim it with the control right?
Nope, it doesn't work.
Humm,,, my left brain says, I fixed it I am satisfied and happy.
But my right brain says, its too bright at night.
OMG, leave me alone.

BTW, Here is the post with parts list for the bulbs that got me started.
IH8MUD.com Forum - View Single Post - LX instrument lights
 
I know this is an old thread but that was the biggest PITA I have ever dealt with in my life. I didn't even get the cluster out, I couldn't figure out how to. But when I attempted to put it all back together I could barely get everything to light back up...and I now have another bulb out.
 
is there a trick to getting the cluster out? I had all the trim off including the lower knee panel and the steering column cover, and the wheel tilted as far down and out as it would go but it just doesn't seem possible to get out. What am I missing?
 
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