I have the same deal on my new 2002 as i did with my 98, which is most of the dash lights are burned out.
now i have to get in there and replace them and while i am at it, there is a ton of dirt inside the speedometer pod so i need to clean that out.
so here goes.
1) what is the best procedure of getting to this? Some anyone have a link to some pics/steps?
2) i may as well put in white gauge faces while i am in there. Anyone point me to a good product?
3) Someone suggested i upgrade to LED lights for the replacements. Anyone else do this? I do not see LED's at my local Advance Auto.
Any other suggestions and help would be appreciated and I wills end GOOD KARMA your way
RockHardCandy
Peace, Love and ArmorAll

 

Switching to LEDs is not just a plug and play thing. You have to pull the cluster and solder the LEDs to it. You can get white face gauges from a Explorer Sport/Sport-trac.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/01-02...mZ360089462375

 

Glad you told me. I was naive enough to think i could just plug in LED where the old lights were.

 

I've got dirt and ashes in mine :(

I've wanting to go white for a while.

 

i tore into my 98 about a year ago and replaced all the lights and cleaned out the pod. It was not a hard job but one that you have to take your time and be patient. The BIG problem i had with that project was getting the GEAR selector cable reconnected. i am not sure the procedure on my 2002 will be any different.

i really want to go white and get out of the darkness. I only have two working lights left. i have seen some dashes with LED lights and they are really cool but i am not talented enough to start soldering them so i guess will go with the normal replacements.

RockHardCandy
Peace, Love and LED

 

There is a how to thread on removing the dash and switch the LED's

 

don't see the thread.

 

LED CONVERSION:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=62796

Dash Removal:

https://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2...ad.php?t=65263

 

^^HAHA! first link is my cluster!!!




yea....same procedure as a '98. Virtually the same procedure for '95-current trucks. Swapping to plug-in LED's might sound like a good idea....but the way the plug-ins shine in the cluster are really...well....really crappy. You'd be spending nearly $50 per set of plug-ins til you found a set that would shine like they should.

 

Hahah..yeah ill just leave mine the FX4 gauges and call it a night.. but i hear once you take off the dash you never get it back on without some sort of rattle.

 

thanks jay...good stuff

 

Yeah no problem.. I actually stumbled across them yesterday. Good luck.

 

whoever you talked to/read from is wrong. All my dash has been apart probably nearly 15 times....no rattles.

my cluster build up thread was written by Trevor....and he's got the same exact gauges as your Silver '03 gauges, and his are modded blue LED's too.

 

Okay good.. how long does it take to unassemble the dash?

 

Could you just do the blue without the leds? or are the stock lights not bright enough?

 

when i replaced my 98, i did with regular lights and they were fine. I was just wondering about LED thinking they may last longer and be a bit better to look at.

 

5 mins tops. lol. at least that's how long it takes me. Check the how-to section for submission called 'bulb replacement how-to for 95+ rangers' or something like that. It's very very good how to on replaceing bulbs, and taking your cluster out.

Stock bulbs are fine. But you'd still ahve to take the cluster entirely apart to sand off the old green film and paint on transparent glass paint. Threads linked in this thread have links to John Griggs' cardomain. or search google for 'john griggs cardomain' or 'n3elz cardomain'. He's got some great how to's in there....that's what I used. He's got a how-tos for changing your dashin color on 03 and older trucks.

http://www.cardomain.com/id/n3elz