I am pretty sure that I had saw on this forum before on how to replace the dashboard lamps on a 97 RangerXLT...
Would anybody have any information on this proceedure?
I also have the feared blend door issue!!!
Any help that anybody could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

You will have to pull the cluster out to change them.
Remove the lower dash trim (4 scews-2 are on the hood latch)
Remove the steel dash support under the trim(5 screws)
If its an automatic you will need to disconnect the cable for the shift indicator(1 screw)
Remove the instument cluster trim(5 screws-3 up top and 2 on the bottom)
Unplug the headight switch and dash dimmer switch(I use 2 screwdrivers)
Remove the 4 cluster screws and pull it out far enough to get your hand behind it and unplug 3 plugs(this can be a pita)
There are 6(I think) black bulb holders. The top center 2 are the turn indicators and the rest are dash lights. The are self locking and take a little force to turn and remove.
John

 

John pretty much hit the nail on the head.


You also need to either loosen the radio bezel or completely remove it in order to get that gauge bezel thing off.

 

Yeah I forgot the radio bezel. Good catch.
John

 

the bulb that you will need to replace them is a 194 you can get at a autoparts store. i replaced three of my bulbs in my 95 yesterday.

 

I would suggest.......if you are replacing a burned out bulb...replace them alll....taking the gauges out can be sorta a pita. My mom's escort had 1 burned out bulb in the gages, and 1 in the heater control. Nearly the entire dash needed to be pulled, along with lowering the steering column. You better believe I replace every single bulb with long life sylvania 194s.

 

Any idea how long this will take? Sounds like I may need a full day!!! See ya!

 

1st time.....give it a couple hours. Be rough, yet gentle. that piece that goes around the gauges that has the headlite switch....that can be a pita if you don't have tilt wheel...heck it's a pita w/ tilt wheel. lol. Take your time. Don't loose the screws/bolts like i did. I had mine apart for over 6 months. Hadto go to the junkyard and steal all the bolts/screws. lol. Not literally steal though.

 

not too bad, if you have step by step instructions, i had my cluster out in about a half hour, and now that i've had it out a couple times, i'm down to having it out in 20 mins

 

I had a light burn out in my '99 and it was a pain to get to it. I replaced all the bulbs while I had it out- I think it took around 6-7. Don't forget, if you have an automatic transmission, there is a small cable that attaches to the gear indicator that needs to be unhooked.

Here are a few pics of what it'll look like tore apart.






edit: The black things in the first pic are the self-locking connectors they were talking about earlier.

 

This looks like it is gonna be a tough one!!! Wish I had something in my Chiltons.........but it is only so good! Thanks again and I will let everybody know how it turns out! Peace!

 

too bad you didn't live in my area, i could talk you thru it, it looks worse than it actually is

 

what is the color of the stock bulbs.......would red bulbs make it look much different, if it does then I might have to try this.

 

The stock bulbs are clear, but it wouldn't make much difference of they were red, blue, etc. because there is a green film on the instrument cluster that actually makes the green color.

 

factory color bulbs are clear. What gives it the color, is the actual gauge cluster has a color painted to the back......I can't really describe it....here's a link:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/24

 

I know this is an old topic but you can scrape the green off the plastic with a razor blade and use clear glass paint to make it whatever color you want. I already did it and it's pretty good looking

 

Wetsanding is far far more successful than possibly scraping and scratching the face.

Search around the site for more mod specific detail threads. There's a ton of them including my old cluster's build thread. I know you've done it already, but for anyone finding this thread.