About a week ago the light behind my tachometer went out. Unfortunate for a 6 year old vehicle when my 63' Falcon has the original lights in the dash. I only took one picture. For my first time having the dash apart it wasn't too bad. About an hour from start to finish. Replaced all the main bulbs with 194LL. Hopefully I won't have to change them again while I own it.

 

I did the same thing. Is there anything else to hook up other than the plugs that get plugged into the back of the cluster? I ask because even though i was careful with mine the odometer broke ans hasn't worked sense.

 

Well I would imagine that something could've been damaged when you took it out. There were three different plugs on the cluster. Two on top, left and right and one on the bottom in the middle. Not sure what plug does what though. With my cluster it just had a flexible backing, basically a flexible circuit board. The plugs hit a thin piece of plastic with a copper overlay so it's possible it got bent when you plugged them back in.

 

How many bulbs are there?

 

i need to do this as well. the bulb behind my speedometer went out (right where 55-80mph is, so driving on the highway at night is fun). is there a specific guide to follow (for people that havent done this in a ranger before)?

 

95+......there are 6 total 194 bulbs that illuminate the gauge panel. Possibly more(turn signal indicators, idiot lights, etc...)

 

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/tech/?p=109

Click that link. It's a how-to for adding gauge overlays, but is EXACTLY what you need to do to remove the cluster and replace the bulbs. I Suggest using 194LL bulbs...long life.

 

Or you could go all LED like me

 

thanks!

 

i was actually thinking about that.

 

Hey, got mine fixed the other day. Took 45 minutes-ish.

 

^^Yea, trevor is gonna do mine for me.....i'm like his 5th customer. lol.

 

I'm not familiar with it. What exactly needs to be done? By your post, I am assuming that it isn't as simple as buying LED direct replacements...

 

I'll actually do a write up with Shanes when I do it... It's not "easy" at all... and it takes about a total of about 12hr.. Start to finish...

 

^^whenever I get off my lazy butt i'll get that cluster to ya. lol.

 

I'll get it this weekend when I come back... lol

 

I need to get in mine and take out the oil pressure light

 

Wow, sounds like some intense electrical work :-)

Also, found these. are these not direct replacements?

http://www.superbrightleds.com/other_bulbs.htm#555

 

They are.....194 led replacements.....

You'll see Trevor's thread on my cluster's build up......it's a little more than just replacing bulbs...

 

They are replacements yes, but you notice how with any regular bulb the green color the gauges are that shines through them at night?

That's what's limiting color from coming through the gauges. That tint on the back side of the overlays HAS to come off to get another color to come through it correctly...

I've done it twice now, and found a sharp (rounded shaped) blade works best, takes time, but works best... If you're REAL careful with acetone, that can work too... I've seen a BAD affect of too much acetone on a SD gauge outta my buddys truck... NO BUENO!

Once you scratch off that film, you're good to go.. Paint it, put lens repair tape on it or leave it clear and shine white through it... It's up to you...

I did mine blue.. (A LOT OF TIME)

I did my buddies RED with lens repair tape, RED leds and A LOT of time lol

 

ahh for different colors. i don't mind the stock color myself, just want to be able to see if i am going 70mph or 80mph :-)

 

On my '02 Explorer cluster in my ranger, I current run 194 super white xenon bulbs....similar to PIAA's but a hell of a lot cheaper. Mine were like $1.50 each. They light up better than the clear glass, and the odometer doesn't look yellow...it looks white!

Here's a link to the page....scroll all the way down, to the right, right above the empty 194 holder....

http://autolumination.com/194.htm