"Drive" light out

[Tinkerer]

Pulled my combi meter out last night and dug out the "D" bulb. Combi meter assy would not come out past the steering wheel/column without a little extra "Houdini" work. Saw 2 options:

1. Remove steering wheel.
2. Remove Combi meter bezel first, then remainder of Combi meter.

I chose Option 2. (Option 1 probably would have taken longer overall.)

I figured this was a 15-20 minute job, before I got into it. Took me more than the Dealer-quote 1 hour (noted elsewhere here) but I was in 4L learning curve mode with the unforeseen Houdini work.

A Combi meter is a PITA in general anyway, because it is kinda fragile and easily suffers cosmetic damage in handling. This one was more of a PITA than some, if memory serves correctly. (I don't pull Combi meters out every week....) Not only requires some extra work to get it out, but pulling the circuit board off the back (forward-side) to get to "D" bulb also takes some finesse - there are a number of screws, goofy ribbon cable SMT-type and other connectors, EMI shields, etc. that must be carefully disassembled. Plus the ESD concerns as always, around IC electronics.

I'll really enjoy having that "D" light again, when it's back together.

 

[gmusic]

Thanks guys!

Mine just went out also....................... I'll have to get on it before my wife starts talking dealer!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Just dug into mine, no way the cluster would come out without pulling the steering wheel. I don't mess with airbags, so it's off to the dealer. Hopefully I'll get a discount since the dash is already apart.

 

[Tinkerer]

Next time, I'll pull the steering wheel and steering column cover.

It is possible to get the combi meter assy out in two pieces without pulling the wheel & column cover. But it is tricky to reassemble it in the cavity, reinstalling everything; and it tends to scuff up the steering column cover.

I'm surprised that these bulbs don't last longer, given the fact that they are not so easy to change. I bet Toyota improved that metric on later designs.

 

[NMuzj100]

Just dug into mine, no way the cluster would come out without pulling the steering wheel. I don't mess with airbags, so it's off to the dealer. Hopefully I'll get a discount since the dash is already apart.

Discount on a outgoing 07 maybe! Obviously the "D" light is only designed to outlast the bumper-to-bumper warranty and replacing them was not really anticipated or planned for.

 

[Tinkerer]

Just dug into mine, no way the cluster would come out without pulling the steering wheel. I don't mess with airbags, so it's off to the dealer. Hopefully I'll get a discount since the dash is already apart.

Actually, getting the steering wheel off with the airbag module is quite simple: Unplug the connector. When you put the wheel back on, plug the connector back in. That's it.

Now, if you pry the airbag inflator open - that's a different story. Airbag inflators contain highly toxic sodium azide; an amount roughly equal to a couple of grains of rice would kill you, if you ingested it. But, you would have to work pretty hard to pry the inflator open, so that's not much of a risk.

(The sodium azide is converted to relatively harmless byproducts upon combustion, so it won't hurt you after the airbag is deployed.)

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Actually, getting the steering wheel off with the airbag module is quite simple: Unplug the connector. When you put the wheel back on, plug the connector back in. That's it.

I'd caution making it sound so simple. Someone on here is going to try it and short their SRS and deploy the bag. A friend who is a Toy Master Tech mentioned that a couple had gone off in the shop. That, and the cost of replacement, is enough for me to pay for an hour of labor.

Besides, I think something shorted in mine reassembling. Now the P and R lights are on and N through 1 don't work.

 

[Tinkerer]

I'd caution making it sound so simple. Someone on here is going to try it and short their SRS and deploy the bag. A friend who is a Toy Master Tech mentioned that a couple had gone off in the shop. That, and the cost of replacement, is enough for me to pay for an hour of labor.

Besides, I think something shorted in mine reassembling. Now the P and R lights are on and N through 1 don't work.

Good point about the airbag. Not a good idea to deploy it if any part of you is within about 2 feet. If it deploys in your face while it is mounted to something solid (like the steering wheel in place), it might decapitate you.



Re - your goofy P & R lights etc: Like I said, this combi meter R&R and bulb replacement is more of a PITA than most, in my experience.

 

[JCSawyer]

Beef,
I did the exact same thing that xlr8te describes just last weekend. Took about 30 minutes...the main thing is to back out the bottom two 10mm bolts that hold the connectors to the gauges. GET THE BULBS FIRST! Good luck and just take your time.

Flash

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I ended up with mine at the dealership. As I posted, my cluster wouldn't come out without removing either the steering wheel or removing the cluster bezel and maybe the upper column cover. I didn't get the cluster seated back correctly and didn't have several lights and the oil pressure gauge. Anyway, an hour of labor later, all's well.

 

[Mark SR.]

I could not wait to have a dreaded "D-light" burnout of my own. It finally happened last week @ 118k miles. I typically know what gear I am in, if not I can quickly glance down at the gear selector.

I found the bright green light annoying when on long, dark night drives. Now if the R, N, or P light burns out I'll know how to fix it thanks to MUD.

This is one defect that I welcomed.

-Mark

 

[kyoso23]

Nice write up on the "D" light mod, Mark! I did mine recently too, and by "I", I mean I don't intend to replace it either.