Dashboard bulb change
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Dashboard bulb change
My long beam blue light stopped working on my 71 dashboard and now I don't know if my long beam is on or not.
How do I change that bulb? Do I have to dismantle the entire driver side dashboard?
How do I change that bulb? Do I have to dismantle the entire driver side dashboard?
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,451
Likes: 326
From: Indy Indiana
if you have tiny hands and pretzel fingers you can..
one has to experience the horrors of replacing that bulb.
you will probably have to unscrew all the screws and pull the dash out about 3 inches from the top to get to it.
one has to experience the horrors of replacing that bulb.
you will probably have to unscrew all the screws and pull the dash out about 3 inches from the top to get to it.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,160
Likes: 4,236
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi P,
Unfortunately the 'bright' indicator is at the top of the housing which makes it difficult to access as jw describes.
Also, you need to be careful as you pull the bulb holder out of the housing. There's a metal insert in the socket that may stay in the housing even when the socket has been remove.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Unfortunately the 'bright' indicator is at the top of the housing which makes it difficult to access as jw describes.
Also, you need to be careful as you pull the bulb holder out of the housing. There's a metal insert in the socket that may stay in the housing even when the socket has been remove.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 689
Likes: 169
From: Palm Bay Florida
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
I have done this more times than I care to remember. Seeing how I have done it so much I kinda know what I am up against....so...IF I can get away with not having to pull the dash panel...I will. BUT...this often times STILL requires me loosening up the steering column to get it to come down enough so I have good movement of the dash panel itself. And if teh steering column is going to be loosened and lowered...you MUST be careful so it does not damage the area of the dash panel where your lower steering column panel is attached. The metal screw retainers for this panel can easily break off if you are not CAREFUL.
Also....as like 'Alan 71' mentioned and this advice from him should NOT be taken lightly. The metal retainers in the light sockets CAN come out when you are removing the socket from the backside of the gauge...and thus...the light bulb can fall into the gauge.
DUB
Also....as like 'Alan 71' mentioned and this advice from him should NOT be taken lightly. The metal retainers in the light sockets CAN come out when you are removing the socket from the backside of the gauge...and thus...the light bulb can fall into the gauge.
DUB
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,093
Likes: 4,017
From: New Braunfels Texas
I had a couple out on mine so bought several new sockets and bulbs....
Alan is correct in the socket/contact separating.....this is a big reason that I replaced them all.......set it and forget it.
Jebby
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Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
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From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
For me, I'd replace all the bulbs and I'd do it by pulling the left pad and when we pull the left pad we also pull the steering column. We do this because the weight and age of the dash pad can cause it to crack at the U area above the steering column, and the time to remove the column from the car is very quick.
The column and pad really are not that hard to pull and it will make the bulb replacement easier in the long run.
If you decide to pull the pad, I did a write up on our site that will walk you through the procedure.
1968-1977 Corvette Left Hand Dash Pad Removal
The column and pad really are not that hard to pull and it will make the bulb replacement easier in the long run.
If you decide to pull the pad, I did a write up on our site that will walk you through the procedure.
1968-1977 Corvette Left Hand Dash Pad Removal
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
I will change the speakers also and I'm looking at repairing my odometer which is not working!
So probably pulling out the dash, looking at the state of the wiring harness and changin what needs to be changed.
So probably pulling out the dash, looking at the state of the wiring harness and changin what needs to be changed.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,613
Likes: 347
From: No Where USA
.................and you are off to a frame off restoration.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Probably!
I'm changin the body mounts this summer also so does that count?
Pitty I repainted the car couple of years ago otherwise I would definately do a frame off!
Last edited by Primoz; Jan 31, 2018 at 08:05 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
If that's the only thing that is not working in that dash area, save that job for when you actually NEED to get in there.
If it is dark and you want to test if the 'brights' are ON...just cycle the foot switch. You can easily see which set of lights are ON.
Or, if your fiber-optics are still working, just look at the display to see if the 'bright' indicators are lit.
If it is dark and you want to test if the 'brights' are ON...just cycle the foot switch. You can easily see which set of lights are ON.
Or, if your fiber-optics are still working, just look at the display to see if the 'bright' indicators are lit.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
If that's the only thing that is not working in that dash area, save that job for when you actually NEED to get in there.
If it is dark and you want to test if the 'brights' are ON...just cycle the foot switch. You can easily see which set of lights are ON.
Or, if your fiber-optics are still working, just look at the display to see if the 'bright' indicators are lit.
If it is dark and you want to test if the 'brights' are ON...just cycle the foot switch. You can easily see which set of lights are ON.
Or, if your fiber-optics are still working, just look at the display to see if the 'bright' indicators are lit.
I noticed that I work too much on the car and not driving it enough and enjoing it.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 407
Likes: 14
From: Mulberry Florida
I thihk every reply is spot on. I had to pull my dash to replace speaker on that side. While I was at it I need another speedo because my needle was broke off. I thought it just need to be put back on ,but the steem was broke off, needed a tach board. The speedo plastic housing was broke also, replaced both. The dash was broke at the top of steering column. Got a good use one, and dyed it dark brown. I did need to fix the part that was broke off, like one reply said, where the lower column cover screws on.While I was at it I replaced all the bulbes and one of the sockets.
I never want to do that again without pulling the column, even though that would be a heck of a job.
Good luck.
I never want to do that again without pulling the column, even though that would be a heck of a job.
Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 54
From: Fayetteville NC
Not a fun job! Ended up with bloody knuckles. I dropped the steering column which allowed me pull the top dash far enough to barely get my hands in to change all the bulbs. I also pulled the center bezel which helped. I purchased a new set of bulb sockets in case they broke which some did. I installed new LED bulbs in hopes I'll never have to do that again. Lights were much brighter than OEM bulbs. Good luck!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 253
From: Catlett VA
Not a fun job. When I replaced my dash bulbs, I put in LED bulbs so I would never have to do the job again. Also- make a diagram of where the wires go when you are working on the dash panel. It is difficult to read the stamped wire color on the panel when it is only partially removed and it is easy to connect the wire to the wrong location.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Hello
I am with some of the replies here. You might as well change out all of the bulbs at the same time. If one bulb went out, you have to think the rest of the bulbs may be the same age. I replaced all mine at the same time during my interior restoration.
kdf
I am with some of the replies here. You might as well change out all of the bulbs at the same time. If one bulb went out, you have to think the rest of the bulbs may be the same age. I replaced all mine at the same time during my interior restoration.
kdf
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 750
Likes: 180
From: Springfield Missouri
This is how I made it easier on my 76. I made two pigtails ending in Molex plugs which makes it simple to reinstall the gauge panel. And I do have small hands and I'll have the gauge panel out this spring to replace the glass fuse block with a blade one using all the old wiring.