1998 Windstar Instrument Panel Light Bulb Replacement Procedure Question

Has anyone changed the instrument panel lights on a 1998 Ford Windstar?
Does it really require all the steps listed below just to be able
change the bulbs that light the gauges? If you've got a shortcut,
please post it.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this.



1. Remove instrument cluster (steps 1 - 17, below).
2. Remove instrument panel lamp socket and bulb assembly. Dispose of
carefully.
3. Install new instrument panel lamp socket and bulb assembly.

1. Disconnect battery ground cable.
2. Remove two screws and remove instrument panel steering column cover
from below steering column.
3. Remove four nuts and remove instrument panel steering column cover
reinforcement from below steering column.
4. Remove lower steering column shroud from steering column.
5. Remove ignition switch lock cylinder.
6. Remove upper steering column shroud from steering column.
7. Loosen four bolts retaining steering column. Lower steering column.
8. Remove light switch knob and gently pry instrument panel finish
panel away from instrument panel.
9. Disconnect headlamp switch miniature bulb socket from instrument
panel finish panel.
10. Remove two retaining screws at bottom of cluster opening panel and
gently pry cluster opening panel away from instrument panel.
11. Disconnect six electrical connectors from cluster opening panel and
remove cluster opening panel.
12. Remove two retaining screws and gently pry instrument panel finish
panel from instrument panel.
13. Remove two retaining screws and gently pry instrument panel finish
panel from instrument panel.
14. Disconnect transmission range indicator cable from column by
removing one screw and the cable loop.
15. Remove four screws retaining instrument cluster to instrument
panel. Let cluster hang loose. Let cluster hang loose.
16. Pull instrument cluster forward to gain access to the electrical
connectors. Disconnect the two electrical connectors.
17. Remove instrument cluster.