Instument lights.... should I bother?

My '97 XLT has one or two blown instrument lights, on the right so I can't
see oil or battery gauges at night. The others are ok.
Anyone know how difficult it is to replace them?
Cheers.

Put it this way, if you had a problem with your oil pressure or
charging system, the "check gauges" light will come on and you'll know
there's a problem.

Search Google for "just_steve instrument panel". Take a look at
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...threadid=37017 to get
an idea of the dash removal process. I'm pretty sure you have to pull the
instrument cluster out to get to the bulbs, although I have to admit I've
never tried just reaching up behind the cluster - but if memory serves I
don't think there's any way to get to the bulbs without disassembly. If I
was going to do it, and if it does require taking the whole cluster out, I'd
go ahead and replace all of them while I had it apart. I wish I'd done so
the last time I had the cluster out for a different problem. Watch out for
the small rubber bumpers on the back of the dash panels - they tend to get
caught on the edges of the dash and pop off, falling into the darkness
inside. If you've led a good life they might fall all the way down through
the dash and you'll find it on the floor... ;-)

Steve

"Alan" > wrote in message
...
> My '97 XLT has one or two blown instrument lights, on the right so I can't
> see oil or battery gauges at night. The others are ok.
> Anyone know how difficult it is to replace them?
> Cheers.
>

It's not that bad. It took me a couple of hours to get it out using a Haynes
manual, at a leisurely pace.

Paul

"Just_Steve" > wrote in message
news:uBxZd.7276$Wy.5396@okepread02...
> Search Google for "just_steve instrument panel". Take a look at
> http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...threadid=37017 to
> get
> an idea of the dash removal process. I'm pretty sure you have to pull the
> instrument cluster out to get to the bulbs, although I have to admit I've
> never tried just reaching up behind the cluster - but if memory serves I
> don't think there's any way to get to the bulbs without disassembly. If I
> was going to do it, and if it does require taking the whole cluster out,
> I'd
> go ahead and replace all of them while I had it apart. I wish I'd done so
> the last time I had the cluster out for a different problem. Watch out
> for
> the small rubber bumpers on the back of the dash panels - they tend to get
> caught on the edges of the dash and pop off, falling into the darkness
> inside. If you've led a good life they might fall all the way down
> through
> the dash and you'll find it on the floor... ;-)
>
> Steve
>
> "Alan" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My '97 XLT has one or two blown instrument lights, on the right so I
>> can't
>> see oil or battery gauges at night. The others are ok.
>> Anyone know how difficult it is to replace them?
>> Cheers.
>>
>
>

How much trouble to replace the headlight switch in a 94 Limited? I can get
the instrument lights on if I jiggle the switch exactly right. The
headlights work regardless if the panel lights are lit.

> It's not that bad. It took me a couple of hours to get it out using a
> Haynes manual, at a leisurely pace.