Fj60 how to remove the blue a/c bulb (3 Viewers)

[John McVicker]

Tried to revive an old thread on this subject but it started going sideways, so I opened this new thread.

I can't get the blue cover off in order to get to the burned out a/c bulb. I've searched a bunch of threads but no in depth answer as to how to get to the bulb. Working with my hands only, I've pulled on the blue cover, pushed, pulled and twisted the base but haven't seen ANY movement. Leary of using hand tools until I know for sure just what to do.

Any help ?

Thanks, John

 

[lcgeek]

A long shot but I seem to recall reading about a threaded little ring on the back. Look closely and see if it's there.

 

[John McVicker]

I've heard that also Lcgeek. Not sure but I 'think' that is only accessible from the back of the bulb ??

I'm trying and thinking there is a way to get to the bulb from the front w/o taking the dash apart. Maybe there isn't a way to do it this way...but I'm hoping/thinking so. That is, unless someone thats done this knows for sure one way or the other.

Thanks Lcgeek.

John

 

[nfranco]

I seem to remember some careful prying with small screwdrivers, not much help I know.

 

[John McVicker]

Well, figured it out guys. For future reference, yes, you do have to come from behind to get to the a/c bulb.

Not the whole dash, just the face plate on the hvac panel. Maybe 12 or so screws in all, including the ash tray. Then you can pull out the controls a bit and get to the grey screw in bulb holder. 5 mins to get to it and 30 mins to put it all back together.

Odd size bulb: Eiko # 8111 miniature. Amazon, $3 plus shipping for one or $7 plus shipping for a 10 pack. Likely $15 for one from Toyota after they tell you 'NLA'. It's the same bulb that lights the Orange light on the Rear Defroster Switch.

John

 

[Skniper]

Winner, winner...thanks John for the follow up on this obscure little issue. Gotta get mine done, I miss the little blue light.

 

[John McVicker]

Yep, I like the light to work also. It's an easy fix...once you know what to do.

I've ordered the 10 pack but you can most likely fix it right away and then order the bulbs as back up. Here's how:

Steal the same bulb from your dash Rear Window Defroster Switch. Doing some other work with that switch I noticed it had 2 bulbs. Why that 2nd bulb is there I don't really know, the one on top of the switch lights up the Orange light. The one you steal is on the back side of this switch, and as far as I can tell, doesn't light up anything.

However when the 10 pack arrives I will replace it...not sure why, I just will.

Love my blue light. John

Edit: As juggernaut points out, that 2nd bulb on the Rear Defroster Switch does indeed have a purpose, it luminates the emblem on the switch. So if you 'borrow' it to fix the blue a/c bulb, you will want to replace it, it's awful dark w/o it.

 

[FJ60Cam]

Nice detective work! Mine hasn't lit up in years. I swear it made the AC colder.

 

[DoubleNickels]

Hah! I didn't even know it COULD light up. Agreed nice detective work!

 

[60Works]

On the rear defr

Yep, I like the light to work also. It's an easy fix...once you know what to do.

I've ordered the 10 pack but you can most likely fix it right away and then order the bulbs as back up. Here's how:

Steal the same bulb from your dash Rear Window Defroster Switch. Doing some other work with that switch I noticed it had 2 bulbs. Why that 2nd bulb is there I don't really know, the one on top of the switch lights up the Orange light. The one you steal is on the back side of this switch, and as far as I can tell, doesn't light up anything.

However when the 10 pack arrives I will replace it...not sure why, I just will.

Love my blue light. John

On the rear defrost switch, the second bulb illuminates the emblem. It is tied to the dash dimmer pot and comes on whenever the instruments are lit.

 

[John McVicker]

You are correct juggernaut, just found that out last night when I turned my lights on. Couldn't tell when I was working on this stuff in the daylight. I will edit my above post.

Thankfully I've got that 10 pack of bulbs coming. But anyone can still 'borrow' that bulb to fix the blue light being out, button it back up and replace the defroster bulb once you get the new bulbs.

Reason for this is that getting to the blue bulb is more involved than the rear defroster bulb, that switch just 'pops' out. The rear defroster bulb can be accessed and replaced in just a few minutes w/o taking a bunch of stuff apart.

I never realized that that rear defroster bulb luminited that decal till last night. Figured Mr. T had a reason for it, looked really dark w/o it last night.

John

 

[MadMace]

@John McVicker, thank you for your “how to” on this thread. The blue light not lighting up has been a nagging bother to me for some time now. Without your post, I wouldn’t have been able to figure this out—probably would have broken it in the process.

A couple of quick pics for people who are visual learners, like me.

This picture is looking up from the driver side floor board.

This is the small grey bulb holder that fits in above where the red arrow is.

Bulb holder notes 14V 1.4W bulb so I got these.

 

[John McVicker]

Very good to hear @MadMace. It’s good to have all those bulbs working.

 

[FJACS]

Wait. It’s supposed to light up?

 

[g-man]

I thought it was cool when i learned you can replace the light behind the heater control panel, simply by pushing the side of one end of the plastic cover (shown here with red arrow) with your thumb and flipping the cover open. There is a plastic hook that is part of the cover the needs to be pushed in.

and used these 5w bulbs...it takes a 3w but the 5w worked fine.

 

[g-man]

Now if I can just find the secret compartment with all the gold!

 

[MadMace]

Now if I can just find the secret compartment with all the gold!

Ha!! So funny you said this--this past weekend I took the panel cards off the rear quarter panels to inspect the wiring and found, no joke, an inch deep layer of dirt at the bottom along with all sorts of change. I jokingly told my wife, as I was breaking up the compacted dirt and finding change, I would let her know when I found the stash of gold coins. Unfortunately, never happened. Oh well, at least the compartments are clean, wiring is all repaired, and I'm about 1 buck in change richer. It would be a good place to stash...oh wait, nevermind.

 

[4Cruisers]

Ha!! So funny you said this--this past weekend I took the panel cards off the rear quarter panels to inspect the wiring and found, no joke, an inch deep layer of dirt at the bottom along with all sorts of change. I jokingly told my wife, as I was breaking up the compacted dirt and finding change, I would let her know when I found the stash of gold coins. Unfortunately, never happened. Oh well, at least the compartments are clean, wiring is all repaired, and I'm about 1 buck in change richer. It would be a good place to stash...oh wait, nevermind.

In that space in my '86 FJ60 I found three flares that the PO (original owner) put there at some point. I didn't start that part of my build until ~2015, and the vehicle hadn't been on the road since ~1995, who knows when he stashed them there. In my '89 FJ62 donor vehicle I found Craftsman 12mm and 14mm combination wrenches in the same spot.

 

[g-man]

I just found mud and water in mine

 

[jmccandless]

Just a quick note of thanks for the info in this thread. I did this fix/update tonight with the LEDs from VintageTeq

It's been a few years since it's worked, so a worthwhile project!