How hard is it to change a bulb in the instrument cluster? On the tach side, i believe a bulb is out, it's dark at the lower left corner and all the needles are lit. is there a particular brand of bulb to purchase and can i buy it at any part supply store?

 

Ikon,

what kind of car? If the GS, it's not a bulb...it's like a fluorescent panel... very expensive I think.... I dont knwo about the bulb stuff for the other models... but if you have a GS, you're out of luck...

~manny

 

Ikon, you do have bulbs in your instrument panel. Lost a couple over the time that I owned an SC300; must be fairly easy to get to since the dealership only charged about $15 on $65/hr labor. The bulbs are also quite cheap so you might want to do them all at the same time.

Sorry I have no details on dash removal but my DIY interests have waned as my leisure time has diminished.

 

Thanks Mooretorque!!! I'll will more than likely tackle this myself since it is indeed a bulb. I'll let you know how it goes...

Hey, if anyone with a service manual is on the forum let me know if it is a simple procedure...

Thanks in advance...

The Ikon

 

From the manuel

1. Remove Combination Meter (Instrument Cluster)
a. Lower the steering wheel fully
b. Turn ignition switch to lock and disconnect battery.
c. Remove instrument cluster finish panel. (The black plastic panel just below the cluster)
d. Remove four four screws and disconnect three connectors.
e. Remove combination meter assembly


To access internals of the Instrument Cluster

1.Remove Cover
a. Remove the seven screws.
b. Remove the cover from the meter case

2.Remove Meter Glass
a. Remove the twelve screws.
b. Remove the character plate from the meter plate

3.Remove Meter Plate
a. Remove the four screws.
b. Remove the meter plate from the meter case

4.Remove Meter Circuit Plate
a. Remove the sixteen screws.
b. Disconnect the two connectors from the meter circuit plate.
c. Remove bulbs from the meter circuit plate
d. Remove the meter circuit plate

5.Remove Odometer/Trip Meter
a.Remove the two screws and the odometer/trip meter.

6.Remove Clock
Remove the two screws and the clock

7.Remove the four lugs, and separate the two guages from the meter lens


After this you can reassemble everything using the same instructions.

It is probably more info than you wanted, but since I had the manual open......
Hope this helps

gadgetSC

 

If you do it yourself, replace all the bulbs and the sockets for them. The sockets usually have burn spots on them.

 

I recently replaced a bulb on the instrument cluster (95 SC) and it was really easy. The hardest part was figuring out that the black trim piece directly below the instrument cluster (has the trip/time/thermometer and panel dim light) just pulls out. No screws or anything, it will just pop out. Then it is just a matter of unscrewing everything and unplugging the 3 or 4 large connecters to the cluster. I don't recall the exact description of the bulb model number, etc. but I got them at a parts store for 2 bucks. The little bulb actually sits in a connector, just pull the bulb out and don't lose the connector like I almost did!

Hope this helps!

 

I finally got around to changing the bulbs.... It was quite simple, but tedious...

To: any one attempting to do this, take your time as mentioned above!!! Also,I replaced all the bulbs to avoid having to do it any time soon...

Thanks for all the input for me and the other Lexus owners...

The Ikon

 

Where is The Ikon?

 

I have 92 ES300. Needle burn out in instrument cluster at techometer. does any one know where I buy them? or how to get it fix?