General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

Removing the dome light

  #1  
Old 03-04-2006
Gearhead61's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 5,782
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Removing the dome light

All I've got to do is pop off the plastic part on the outside using the small slot at the back with a flathead and then remove some screws right? I've been trying but it's not coming off as easily as I'd assumed it would. Am I missing something? I'm trying to be careful with it to avoid breaking it. Any help would be appreciated!
 
  #2  
Old 03-04-2006
V8 Level II's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Michigan
Posts: 7,910
Likes: 0
Received 23 Likes on 20 Posts
The XLT dome light lens can be very stubborn. You're doing the right thing, though. The lens comes off a bit more easily from the front or rear but I forget which - sorry.
 
  #3  
Old 03-04-2006
Gearhead61's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 5,782
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Thanks Bob! There is a small slot between the clear lens and the plastic holder/bracket deal on the back that fits a small screwdriver, so I think that's where I'm supposed to be prying. Here goes nothin'!
 
  #4  
Old 03-04-2006
BILLZFX4's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Worth, IL
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yea, just go slow and gentle. I busted one of the tabs on mine taking it off to put my ohc in. Actually it worked out to my advantage, I just went back to the j/y and got a mustang domelight to replace it.
EDIT: I just looked at my busted one and it may be easier to pry it from the front, those pins are straight. The rear tabs are bent outward in a 'J' shape, and are the ones I broke without too much effort.
Hope that made sense and helped.
 

Last edited by BILLZFX4; 03-04-2006 at 12:59 PM.
  #5  
Old 03-04-2006
Tight Ranger's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sioux Falls, SD
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is not the recommeded way to do it, but after
45 minutes of cussing and beating the dome light
with a screwdriver, I just wedged my fingers between
the light and the headliner and yanked. It broke some
of the plastic rivits and I was able to reach the bolts
on the inside.
 
  #6  
Old 03-04-2006
Gearhead61's Avatar
RF Veteran
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: College Station, TX
Posts: 5,782
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by BILLZFX4
Yea, just go slow and gentle. I busted one of the tabs on mine taking it off to put my ohc in. Actually it worked out to my advantage, I just went back to the j/y and got a mustang domelight to replace it.
EDIT: I just looked at my busted one and it may be easier to pry it from the front, those pins are straight. The rear tabs are bent outward in a 'J' shape, and are the ones I broke without too much effort.
Hope that made sense and helped.
That's exactly what I did, and exactly what I'm going to be doing! Haha
 
  #7  
Old 03-05-2006
SilverTank's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I busted mine getting it out, but was replacing it with an Exploder one anyway. One of the bulbs had melted itself to the case, and the lens was starting to yellow a bit. Not worth the effort of saving it, just yank and toss.
 
  #8  
Old 08-22-2010
bidwell's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: burbank ca
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
After carefully prying with a thin wide screwdriver mine came off. I sanded all four ears and now I can remove it with my fingernails.

 
  #9  
Old 08-22-2010
Red_Ak_Ranger's Avatar
RF Veteran
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,221
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by bidwell
After carefully prying with a thin wide screwdriver mine came off. I sanded all four ears and now I can remove it with my fingernails.

Why don't you step back in your time machine and post in 2006 when this was relevant.
 
  #10  
Old 10-22-2014
bbb0777's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Grants Pass, OR
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
Why don't you step back in your time machine and post in 2006 when this was relevant.
It's still relevant because people will continue to find this thread via Google, ******* from 2010.
 
  #11  
Old 10-22-2014
bravetitan24's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Haughton, LA
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
LMAO! Time machine pwned
 
  #12  
Old 11-09-2014
momule's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Washington, MO
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Of course this topic is still relevant since dome light bulbs will always have to be changed (unless an LED bulb is used maybe...). Don't pay attention to those who find it offensive to post to an old thread...they are merely showing their ignorance.

On the other hand a very quick search shows that there are 172 other posts in the forums concerning dome lights so it's always better to do your homework than to fill the boards with repetition.

Just my opinion of course...
 
  #13  
Old 11-09-2014
momule's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Washington, MO
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Red_Ak_Ranger
Why don't you step back in your time machine and post in 2006 when this was relevant.
17,220 posts since joining the site in 2004? LMAO...and how many of these were abusive, rude, and non-helpful like this one? Do you realize that 17K+ posts equals almost 5 posts every day for 10 years? Looks to me like Red Ranger might consider getting a life.....

Not impressed.
 
  #14  
Old 11-10-2014
Dewey's Avatar
@THE_ALMIGHTY_E4_RANGER
iTrader: (6)
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Arcadia, Fl
Posts: 2,331
Received 34 Likes on 32 Posts
Originally Posted by momule
17,220 posts since joining the site in 2004? LMAO...and how many of these were abusive, rude, and non-helpful like this one? Do you realize that 17K+ posts equals almost 5 posts every day for 10 years? Looks to me like Red Ranger might consider getting a life.....

Not impressed.
Now who's the one being abusive and rude while only being a member for less than a year with less than 50 posts? Its better to start a new thread to get more up to date information than going off of something posted years earlier.
 
  #15  
Old 11-25-2014
TXxlt's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Central, TX
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree that people will come accross the thread via searches, and it may help those people or save other members time, if relevant info is given. If the info is accurate, its never really out of date.

My truck had the XLT dome light with map lights that could only be used individually. That is the biggest POS I've ever seen used as a dome light. It disintegrated while being removed. That is why I got one from a Mustang. The same light is used in F150 F250 etc. This is a common mod that is very easy to do. Here is the one I got. They are available for only a few bucks on Ebay or at the salvage yard.

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/...FYo-MgodFUkAXg
 

Last edited by TXxlt; 11-25-2014 at 11:49 AM.
  #16  
Old 11-25-2014
bbb0777's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Grants Pass, OR
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by TXxlt
My truck had the XLT dome light with map lights that could only be used individually.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you - but you can turn both Ranger dome lights on at once: Just turn the instrument panel dimmer switch all the way up until it clicks. This also turns on the cargo lights on either side of the third brake light, but whatever.
 
  #17  
Old 11-25-2014
TXxlt's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Central, TX
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by bbb0777
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you - but you can turn both Ranger dome lights on at once: Just turn the instrument panel dimmer switch all the way up until it clicks. This also turns on the cargo lights on either side of the third brake light, but whatever.
The dome light is the primary interior light. The map lights are individual interior lights. The cargo lights are exterior lights.

This light only allows one map light to be in use at a time. It is also a piece of junk anyway.

 
  #18  
Old 11-25-2014
99offroadrngr's Avatar
TOYOTA
iTrader: (37)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 11,713
Received 9 Likes on 8 Posts
Originally Posted by momule
17,220 posts since joining the site in 2004? LMAO...and how many of these were abusive, rude, and non-helpful like this one? Do you realize that 17K+ posts equals almost 5 posts every day for 10 years? Looks to me like Red Ranger might consider getting a life.....

Not impressed.
Name:  dTIlC0P.jpg
Views: 648
Size:  79.1 KB
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MugenCRX04
OLD - Interior, Exterior, Electrical, & Misc.
10
08-03-2009 07:11 PM
slowrey
Interior Semi-Tech
15
05-23-2009 08:05 PM
99offroadrngr
General Technical & Electrical
5
02-02-2009 02:52 PM
bspivy
2.3L & 2.5L I4 Tech
10
10-28-2007 12:41 PM
Mykhael
General Technical & Electrical
1
06-26-2005 03:57 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Removing the dome light



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:31 PM.