Dash Cluster Bulb replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,182
Likes: 14
From: POINT PLEASANT NEW JERSEY
Dash Cluster Bulb replacement
I have a burned out bulb on the MPH side of my Dash Cluster. I want to replace all the bulbs that are behind those metal clip/covers. Are these bulbs stab locked , pushed, twisted or screwed in??? Is there a tool to remove them???Any suggestions on how to remove them without having one break or fall inside the cluster and cause a short.
My Haynes book says nothing about bulb replacements. Also where is the best place to buy them??? Thanks!!!!
My Haynes book says nothing about bulb replacements. Also where is the best place to buy them??? Thanks!!!!
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fullerton CA
If you buy the bulbs from a dealer your going to pay a bunch. There was a thread on this forum a few years ago about buying the bulbs and bulb sockets at pep boys. There not the same bulbs but they are close enough. I believe the bulbs were 687's. I replaced every bulb in my cluster with them and haven't had a problem since.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
OK heres a suggestion;
Click on the Search tool pull down button
In the "Search By Key Word" Block
Type in "dash bulb" in the KeyWord field
Select Search titles Only
In the "Search in Forums" Block
Select C4 Corvettes 1984-96
Check ON the block, "Also search in child forums"
Then click on the "Search Now" button
Also look in the Tech Tips section
Lots of info here if you look for it
Click on the Search tool pull down button
In the "Search By Key Word" Block
Type in "dash bulb" in the KeyWord field
Select Search titles Only
In the "Search in Forums" Block
Select C4 Corvettes 1984-96
Check ON the block, "Also search in child forums"
Then click on the "Search Now" button
Also look in the Tech Tips section
Lots of info here if you look for it
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,726
Likes: 710
From: Bergen County, NJ
Here is the A-Z Dash Cluster Repair for '84-89 Corvettes.
It covers everything.
Its compiled by C4 "guru" Gordon Killebrew.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999...ash/dashp1.asp
It covers everything.
Its compiled by C4 "guru" Gordon Killebrew.
http://www.corvettemagazine.com/1999...ash/dashp1.asp
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
Likes: 673
From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
All kidding aside. ( 
) I have a Word document that gives a complete step by step for repairing the digi-dash. Send me an email and I'll be glad to attach a copy.
BTW I just replaced the 882's with 194's in my 86's dash. Also fixed the short in there that keep turing off the lights. Its good reading.
-JRC-
) I have a Word document that gives a complete step by step for repairing the digi-dash. Send me an email and I'll be glad to attach a copy. BTW I just replaced the 882's with 194's in my 86's dash. Also fixed the short in there that keep turing off the lights. Its good reading.
-JRC-
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 34,062
Likes: 4
From: Evans, GA
The metal cover just pulls off. Use a piece of plastic tubing pushed over the blub for removal or rubber tipped forcepts. Replace with the same plastic tubing and when you want to remove the tubing, insert a small dowell into the plastic tubing to hold the bulb in place while you remove the tubing. The bulb has two wire type pins and are cheaper to buy at Wal=mart.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
From: Smithfield VA
great info
My 87 is dark on the MPH side as well .... all LEDs work well (thank goodness). I have the new bulbs .... the front entry replacement is definitely esier than pulling the cluster.
My car is basically an unmolested example of how an 87 left the factory. No exotic throttle body, injectors, cams, etc ... just basic Vette charm. But ... on the downside it ws never shown or detaled, and tolerance for small nuisances (like dead bulbs and locked in ECM codes) exist. Sooooo ... I am undoing 18 years of dirt, grime, and neglect. Is it worth it? Hmmmmmmm .... lemme think .... DEFINITELY!
When done it will look like it rolled out of Bowling Green (except for the AM/FM/CD upgrade ..... gotta have the tunes). Stock Bose head unit is wrapped up snuggly in the garage. Replaced with the Pioneer Bose-compatable that I got from Zip.
HEED THE WARNING about keeping oil and grease off the bulbs. Halogens will fail quickly if not kept clean.
My car is basically an unmolested example of how an 87 left the factory. No exotic throttle body, injectors, cams, etc ... just basic Vette charm. But ... on the downside it ws never shown or detaled, and tolerance for small nuisances (like dead bulbs and locked in ECM codes) exist. Sooooo ... I am undoing 18 years of dirt, grime, and neglect. Is it worth it? Hmmmmmmm .... lemme think .... DEFINITELY!
When done it will look like it rolled out of Bowling Green (except for the AM/FM/CD upgrade ..... gotta have the tunes). Stock Bose head unit is wrapped up snuggly in the garage. Replaced with the Pioneer Bose-compatable that I got from Zip.
HEED THE WARNING about keeping oil and grease off the bulbs. Halogens will fail quickly if not kept clean.
