Hey guys,

My turn signal indicator on my instrument panel is out for my left turn signal. I want to replace it but I have few questions first.

Is this difficult to do? Do I basically have to take the dash apart to replace whatever bulb is back there?

I wanted to replace all the lights in the back of the instrument panel to LEDs to make it easier to see at night. They are pretty dim. So should I do two birds with one stone here and wait to do both at the same time?

Thanks.

 

its pretty easy to replace that bulb, just remove the speedo bezel and its right there (just a generic bulb available at any parts store, even walmart), no need to pull the dash apart, I think its like 5 screws 3 on the top and 1 each side if I remember correctly. the LED switch I am not sure about, but I would love to here how it goes if you decide to do it

 

Is there a write up on the site anywhere the shows how to do it?

 

I wouldn't say take the dash completely apart, but if you're going in there for one bulb, wait and repair/replace them all... In my '80 I had to loosen and lower the steering column, remove the instrument bezel and gauge cluster (which involves a bit of maneuvering over and around the steering column), being careful not to damage the brittle plastic, reaching under to remove the speedo cable clip, and carefully pulling the electrical connector as the printed circuit board is also fairly brittle and prone to catch on every angle and corner as you remove the cluster...

Decided to pull the center gauge cluster and replace all those bulbs as well.

I then repaired the burned and shorted wiring I found under the dash (no wonder my courtesy lights never worked!), removed every bulb socket, cleaned the contact points on the sockets, connector, and printed circuit, replaced all bulbs, glued down some loose "wiring" on the printed circuitry, added a better ground wire for the center cluster and clock, and reversed to install. Now all my bulbs and indicators work! My damn clock still only works when it wants to, and the bulbs, well they're still nowhere near as bright as my 10-year old Ford F150 gauges, but I kinda like the old, dim, incandescent look. It suits the car. I feel the ultra-white LEDs just wouldn't match...

 

Haha, that seems like a large project for not being too bad. Exactly whats left to do to retro fit for LEDs that wasn't mentioned? Aside from "Install LEDs".

As for the LEDs I thought it would be nice to see my dash at night. And I thought it would be neat to make the dash have a yellow backlight like the exterior color.

 

I don't have any experience with the swap to LED, although it seems to be fairly common. Hopefully someone will chime in. The variety of colors can look pretty cool, and of course the benefit is that you'll likely never have to replace the LEDs again...

If I upgraded my lighting then the rest of my interior would have to be upgraded! It's a never ending dilemma.