How to: LED guage cluster bulb swap/bulb replacement - Discussion Thread

Discussion in 'How-To Submissions' started by SalRanger2, Jan 23, 2012.

  1. SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    Tools you will need:
    -1/4" ratchet
    -7mm and 8mm sockets
    -ratchet extensions are as needed

    first you need to unscrew with the 7mm, the radio bezel so you can slide it out a few inches.
    [​IMG]

    then with the 7mm again unscrew these 4 fasteners to take out this trim piece, two are for the hoodlatch.
    [​IMG]

    next use the 8mm socket to take out the five fasteners on this metal plate and get that out of the way.
    [​IMG]

    now you have to take out the trim directly around the instrument panel. use the 7mm to take out these two screws....
    [​IMG]

    ....and also these 3
    [​IMG]

    to take out the trim piece you just jimmy it out of there, for an automatic, the gear shift lever can get in the way so you need to put it in 1 or a low setting to get it out of the way. make sure the PARKING BRAKE is ON!! NOT responsible!!

    if you want, i found it was easy to use a zip tie to hang up the whole trim piece. that way it keeps the weight off the wires for the switch and it makes it easy to test them with the switch handy.
    [​IMG]


    now you are going to take out the cluster. unscrew these four fasteners with the 7mm...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    when you have them out, you can pull it forward a bit. there is 3 plugs in the back you unplug...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    the best way i found to get it in or out was to tip it on its back more and point the left side towards the left-front of the truck.
    [​IMG]

    once you get it out, this is what you'll be looking at: the bulbs are highlighted.
    [​IMG]

    they are in black plastic holders. to take them out unscrew them.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    next you can put in your new LED bulbs from buggman.
    [​IMG]
    with the LEDs you have to guess at the polarity so you might get lucky putting them in correctly. i had two that didnt work and with some switching they worked great(so dont think its the bulb right away).

    then, put it all together backwards of that and your done!
    before:
    [​IMG]
    after:
    [​IMG]
    mine were white LEDs but there are plenty of colors you could get
     
    Last edited: Jan 24, 2012
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  3. greenmachine2000

    greenmachine2000 New Member

    damn...nice might give buggman a holler for those lol
     
  4. Same here when I get my white gauge cluster
     
  5. OP
    SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    you better lol. hes a great guy to deal with and good prices and shipped fast
     
  6. klinger86

    klinger86 Moderator

    Sweet. Buggman is the king of LEDs around here.
     
  7. greenmachine2000

    greenmachine2000 New Member

    how much were they? i just wonder about bulb life
     
  8. LEDs last a minimum of 20 thousand hours on average. So you don't need to worry about bulb life Damien
     
  9. OP
    SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    mine were like $18. i think they go for like thousands of hrs dont they??
     
  10. greenmachine2000

    greenmachine2000 New Member

    ok good. lol i hate taking my dash apart.
     
  11. klinger86

    klinger86 Moderator

    Yeah the last for years.
     
  12. greenmachine2000

    greenmachine2000 New Member

    wipe of the brow..good. i just replaces them last week with stock bulbs..dont like em lol
     
  13. OP
    SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    lol its not bad at all and i hate to too, and it was cold in the garage but it didnt crack anything so i was glad
     
  14. Once spring rolls around, I'm getting my OHC in, and getting all LED's for lil red.
     
  15. greenmachine2000

    greenmachine2000 New Member

    once my next check comes im getting ohc from hurley..then ill order my leds
     
  16. OP
    SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    its like an LED uprising lol they are really nice tho im so glad i did it. my fuel bulb had burnt out so i knew what i was gonna do lol
     
  17. buggman

    buggman Do not touch the trim!

    Great write-up!

    One thing to note for guys with automatics, you may need to remove the surround trim around the steering wheel to get the dash surround off & cluster out... at least that's what I had to do.
     
  18. greenmachine2000

    greenmachine2000 New Member

    just apply e brake drop truck in 1 thats 2 below d lol for you blondes..comes right off buggman and tilt steering wheel down all the way if possible. thats what i did.
     
  19. OP
    SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    oh yea forgot to add that about the autos, that lever would get in the way, ill add it in
     
  20. Hooligan

    Hooligan Rangerholic!!

    Great write up man! The guages look awesome!!! Dont orget to add pics to the buggman thread too
     
  21. OP
    SalRanger2

    SalRanger2 Ranger Lover

    thanks alot!! where is that thread i cant find it ha.

    oh i also added another pic to it in this thread, id transfer it to the other one but its closed. i added that i hung up the trim piece that has the light switch up with a zip tie to make it easier.
     

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