DIY, Removal of cluster, and Redo of lighting!
04-13-09, 05:17 PM
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DIY, Removal of cluster, and Redo of lighting!
I decided after I won the needles from O.L.T, Keeper of the Light, I would go ahead and change out the back lit bulbs.. After I got into it, I said to myself, what the heck, lets do it ALL!
1. Make sure the steering wheel is out and down position. This will give you the most room.
2. Pull up and out on the above black trim piece, this is where the lighting is adjusted, and also has the time change. Unplug the 2 plugs, both plugs undo from the bottom. Lay this aside.
3. There is 2 small screw covers on the underside of the cluster, remove them with a sharp object or a very small flat head screwdriver. Remove the 2 screws on top, then remove the 2 bottom screws on the cluster. These are a little aggravating, but use a magnetize screwdriver and it will be ok.. I have 2 screws already! Learn from my mistakes!
4. This is where it gets a little aggravating, unplug the 3 plugs in the back.. Before you do this, place a towel or rag on top the steering wheel, so you dont scratch the plastic, trying to remove the cluster.
5. Once the cluster is out, place a good size table, theres alot of screws.
6. Remove the top 4 screws on the plastic housing piece, then the bottom 3 screws, this will allow the tinted part of the cluster to be removed. Place aside.
7. Remove the 5 screws on the white housing piece.
8. Once this is removed, place aside, and carefully, pull up on the black tabs.. They only pull up and they DONT come off, they stay attached. Then, unplug the white electrical parts. Theres 3 of them on top. Let them fold under and out of the way.. Then undo the botton 2 plugs, these are marked 1-9, and 1-13.
9. Remove the 10 silver headed screws and place aside, 5 on left, 5 on right side.
10. Remove the 6 blue screws acroos the middle of the circuit board. Place aside.
11. Pull on the board, and place aside, be sure the top 3 parts dont get hung up, before pulling up on the board.
12. You can now see the bulbs for the back cluster. There are 8 of them for the entire back lighting, this is for the temp, rpm, mph, and fuel. I replaced those 8 bulbs, with Sylvania size 24 bulbs, and then didnt bother trying to replace the little blue jacket or cover on the new ones. These were actually brighter than the originals by .4 watts. When you pry these suckers out, amke sure you keep the bulb housing the same way in your hand, and see how the polarity goes back in on your new bulbs. Learn from my mistakes.
13. Once the burnt out bulbs have been replaced, then you can place that white piece aside and grab the black front part of the cluster, and lay it face down, or backside up. I then cutout small pieces of blue plastic, and taped these in to the back of the black piece.I used little tape, cause once its back together the sticky black foam, will hold everything in place. I chose to turn everything blue, to match my climate control, and the newly won needles. You can use whatever color you want, you will have to buy more folders from walmart, or just be creative. Once everything is placed in, put everything back together. Make sure you put the clear piece of plastic that has P,R,N,D,1,2. I forgot the first time. I also removed the clear brown tint over the mileage and time. Wow, how bright they really are. I could imagine how bright these blue colors would be without the tint over them. I am out only maybe 10 bucks or so, and maybe 2 hours of time. Last note, DONT cover up any of the back lighting for the mph, rpm, fuel, and temp.. Dont use super glue to hold these in place it will turn the plastic white and also the inside bulbs! And it looks like pure @#$% ! When you decide on the colors, get darker ones, the better they work. Trust ME!
14. Be very gentle handling everything, due to electronics. Good luck and be creative.
15. Reverse the part and back in they go! I hope you like the DIY, and lets seewhat everyone chose to do with their colors! I was very happy with the turn out and a simple DIY mod! Lastly, clean your inside screen cover due to finger prints and smudges!
1. Make sure the steering wheel is out and down position. This will give you the most room.
2. Pull up and out on the above black trim piece, this is where the lighting is adjusted, and also has the time change. Unplug the 2 plugs, both plugs undo from the bottom. Lay this aside.
3. There is 2 small screw covers on the underside of the cluster, remove them with a sharp object or a very small flat head screwdriver. Remove the 2 screws on top, then remove the 2 bottom screws on the cluster. These are a little aggravating, but use a magnetize screwdriver and it will be ok.. I have 2 screws already! Learn from my mistakes!
4. This is where it gets a little aggravating, unplug the 3 plugs in the back.. Before you do this, place a towel or rag on top the steering wheel, so you dont scratch the plastic, trying to remove the cluster.
5. Once the cluster is out, place a good size table, theres alot of screws.
6. Remove the top 4 screws on the plastic housing piece, then the bottom 3 screws, this will allow the tinted part of the cluster to be removed. Place aside.
7. Remove the 5 screws on the white housing piece.
8. Once this is removed, place aside, and carefully, pull up on the black tabs.. They only pull up and they DONT come off, they stay attached. Then, unplug the white electrical parts. Theres 3 of them on top. Let them fold under and out of the way.. Then undo the botton 2 plugs, these are marked 1-9, and 1-13.
9. Remove the 10 silver headed screws and place aside, 5 on left, 5 on right side.
10. Remove the 6 blue screws acroos the middle of the circuit board. Place aside.
11. Pull on the board, and place aside, be sure the top 3 parts dont get hung up, before pulling up on the board.
12. You can now see the bulbs for the back cluster. There are 8 of them for the entire back lighting, this is for the temp, rpm, mph, and fuel. I replaced those 8 bulbs, with Sylvania size 24 bulbs, and then didnt bother trying to replace the little blue jacket or cover on the new ones. These were actually brighter than the originals by .4 watts. When you pry these suckers out, amke sure you keep the bulb housing the same way in your hand, and see how the polarity goes back in on your new bulbs. Learn from my mistakes.
13. Once the burnt out bulbs have been replaced, then you can place that white piece aside and grab the black front part of the cluster, and lay it face down, or backside up. I then cutout small pieces of blue plastic, and taped these in to the back of the black piece.I used little tape, cause once its back together the sticky black foam, will hold everything in place. I chose to turn everything blue, to match my climate control, and the newly won needles. You can use whatever color you want, you will have to buy more folders from walmart, or just be creative. Once everything is placed in, put everything back together. Make sure you put the clear piece of plastic that has P,R,N,D,1,2. I forgot the first time. I also removed the clear brown tint over the mileage and time. Wow, how bright they really are. I could imagine how bright these blue colors would be without the tint over them. I am out only maybe 10 bucks or so, and maybe 2 hours of time. Last note, DONT cover up any of the back lighting for the mph, rpm, fuel, and temp.. Dont use super glue to hold these in place it will turn the plastic white and also the inside bulbs! And it looks like pure @#$% ! When you decide on the colors, get darker ones, the better they work. Trust ME!
14. Be very gentle handling everything, due to electronics. Good luck and be creative.
15. Reverse the part and back in they go! I hope you like the DIY, and lets seewhat everyone chose to do with their colors! I was very happy with the turn out and a simple DIY mod! Lastly, clean your inside screen cover due to finger prints and smudges!
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skoles (10-05-17)
