Changing dash bulbs
From: Dale Olson (Dale_Olson at dell.com)
Tools - COMMON SENSE - LOTS,small blade screw drive, phillips screw
driver, 1/4" sockets with 1 long & 1 short extension and a trouble
light. Last but not least a small plastic container to hold parts
1) Remove the instrument cluster front cover. 3 screws along the top,
2 on the front, 4 along the bottom. If you have remote mirrors
rotate the assembly to the right and let it set on the console.
WARNING - be very careful when removing & tightening the screws as
the whole dash is plastic and PRONE to breakage and there no
replacement parts to had.
ALSO remember where the LONG screws go when you remove the. I think
there are 3 or 4.
2) Remove the steering column inspection cover. 4 screws. It gives
better access.
3) Remove the speedo/clock adjusting knobs. Need very small blade
screw driver.
4) Remove the clear cluster cover. 4 hex screws
5) Remove the gear shift indicator. 2 screws.
NOTE - you must remove this to get at the bottom screw of the
cluster bezel.
6) Remove the left A/C duct connector. 1 screw
NOTE - you must remove this to get at the top screw of the
cluster bezel.
7) Remove cluster bezel. 4 hex screws
9) Remove turn signal cover. The green thing.
10) Swap the bulbs.
******* WARNING ***** WARNING ***** WARNING ****** WARNING *******
DO NOT twist or push to hard on the bulb as the holder is very fragile
or you will have to remove the speedo and the dash cluster to get at
the bulb holder (assuming that you find it).
******* WARNING ***** WARNING ***** WARNING ****** WARNING *******
Now for a couple of gotchas.
1) the foam that separates the warning bulbs on the right side of the
dash will probably fall apart. Try to find some 1/8" black foam that
you can us for a replacement.
2) The foam that seals the A/C duct that you removed will also fall
apart.
I have use stick backed weather stripping as a replacement. I color it
with a felt marker.
Back to the main Monte page.