85 vette dash bulb replacement...
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Joined: Feb 2015
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From: Albuquerque New Mexico
85 vette dash bulb replacement...
How do you replace the bulbs in he Atari dash? What kind of bulbs are they? And can you buy them at a car parts store or do you have to special order them?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
You don't need to remove the cluster to replace the bulbs. The bulbs you need are #882. They come with a socket, but you can unplug the bulb from the socket and plug it into the old socket. Be careful when handling these bulbs because they are halogen and get very hot. Skin oil can cause the glass to heat unevenly and can cause it to crack.
Remove the bezel from the instrument cluster. The backlight bulbs are behind 4 round metal reflectors/heat shields. Pull out the reflector of the bulb(s) that is not working and remove the bulb. Some people suggest long nose pliers but I was always afraid of breaking the glass. I wrapped masking tape around the bulb and pulled it out. Plug the new bulb in from the front and replace the metal reflector.
This will give you an idea of what the metal reflectors look like (they just snap into place and come out easily):
Remove the bezel from the instrument cluster. The backlight bulbs are behind 4 round metal reflectors/heat shields. Pull out the reflector of the bulb(s) that is not working and remove the bulb. Some people suggest long nose pliers but I was always afraid of breaking the glass. I wrapped masking tape around the bulb and pulled it out. Plug the new bulb in from the front and replace the metal reflector.
This will give you an idea of what the metal reflectors look like (they just snap into place and come out easily):
Last edited by Cliff Harris; Apr 17, 2015 at 02:06 AM. Reason: Corrected spelling error.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I agree with Cliff.
I wrote something up a while back and copied it below.
I just looked and found an old package of lights. They are #882 bulbs. They are little 5 watt halogen bulbs. I think they are about $30 each at the dealer, but I got them at Advance Auto parts for about $8 each a couple years ago. I didn't shop around too much. They didn't have them in stock so I had to wait about 2 days. You may find them at various part stores.
The bulbs are halogens, so don't touch the bulb with your fingers. The bulbs may come with a twist-in socket base that twists into the back of the instrument cluster. To do that the instrument cluster has to come completely out.
The easier way is to pull the bulb out of the twist-in socket base from the front without taking out the whole cluster. The bulbs just pull straight out and push back in, so it is not breaking them or the socket base.
When you take the front trim plate off the instrument panel (just a few screws and then carefully manuver the plate out away from the panel) you can see there are some small snap-in covers over the place where the lights are. These covers are a bright metal and are under an inch diameter.
Once the covers are out, I use a small piece of electical shrink tubing. (Radio Shack sells a selection for a buck or two). I push the shrink tubing over the bulb. Take a small pliers like a needle nose and gently grip the outside the shrink tube on the bulb and pull the bulb out straight out without twisting. (don't grip very hard or you may break the bulb.)
Once the bulb is out, put some of the shrink tube over a new bulb and use the tubing to hold the bulb and guide the bulb into the existing twist-in socket base. The tubing will not hold the bulb well enough to push it all the way in by itself. You will need to only line it up and start it with the tubing and then push with your finger or the pliers (over the shrink tube so you don't touch it). Once it is in place, pull the tubing off. Replace the snap in cover. You can turn on the lights to make sure it lights.
Repeat the same procedure for the others. I think there are 4 bulbs.
Replace the front trim plate.
Done.
There are a lot of words, but the whole thing is only about 15 minutes and pretty easy. Just be cautious, take your time, and not break the bulbs. I have replaced 6 or 8 of them on 3 cars this way.
Good luck
I wrote something up a while back and copied it below.
I just looked and found an old package of lights. They are #882 bulbs. They are little 5 watt halogen bulbs. I think they are about $30 each at the dealer, but I got them at Advance Auto parts for about $8 each a couple years ago. I didn't shop around too much. They didn't have them in stock so I had to wait about 2 days. You may find them at various part stores.
The bulbs are halogens, so don't touch the bulb with your fingers. The bulbs may come with a twist-in socket base that twists into the back of the instrument cluster. To do that the instrument cluster has to come completely out.
The easier way is to pull the bulb out of the twist-in socket base from the front without taking out the whole cluster. The bulbs just pull straight out and push back in, so it is not breaking them or the socket base.
When you take the front trim plate off the instrument panel (just a few screws and then carefully manuver the plate out away from the panel) you can see there are some small snap-in covers over the place where the lights are. These covers are a bright metal and are under an inch diameter.
Once the covers are out, I use a small piece of electical shrink tubing. (Radio Shack sells a selection for a buck or two). I push the shrink tubing over the bulb. Take a small pliers like a needle nose and gently grip the outside the shrink tube on the bulb and pull the bulb out straight out without twisting. (don't grip very hard or you may break the bulb.)
Once the bulb is out, put some of the shrink tube over a new bulb and use the tubing to hold the bulb and guide the bulb into the existing twist-in socket base. The tubing will not hold the bulb well enough to push it all the way in by itself. You will need to only line it up and start it with the tubing and then push with your finger or the pliers (over the shrink tube so you don't touch it). Once it is in place, pull the tubing off. Replace the snap in cover. You can turn on the lights to make sure it lights.
Repeat the same procedure for the others. I think there are 4 bulbs.
Replace the front trim plate.
Done.
There are a lot of words, but the whole thing is only about 15 minutes and pretty easy. Just be cautious, take your time, and not break the bulbs. I have replaced 6 or 8 of them on 3 cars this way.
Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 591
From: New Port Richey FL
I agree with Cliff.
I wrote something up a while back and copied it below.
I just looked and found an old package of lights. They are #882 bulbs. They are little 5 watt halogen bulbs. I think they are about $30 each at the dealer, but I got them at Advance Auto parts for about $8 each a couple years ago. I didn't shop around too much. They didn't have them in stock so I had to wait about 2 days. You may find them at various part stores.
The bulbs are halogens, so don't touch the bulb with your fingers. The bulbs may come with a twist-in socket base that twists into the back of the instrument cluster. To do that the instrument cluster has to come completely out.
The easier way is to pull the bulb out of the twist-in socket base from the front without taking out the whole cluster. The bulbs just pull straight out and push back in, so it is not breaking them or the socket base.
When you take the front trim plate off the instrument panel (just a few screws and then carefully manuver the plate out away from the panel) you can see there are some small snap-in covers over the place where the lights are. These covers are a bright metal and are under an inch diameter.
Once the covers are out, I use a small piece of electical shrink tubing. (Radio Shack sells a selection for a buck or two). I push the shrink tubing over the bulb. Take a small pliers like a needle nose and gently grip the outside the shrink tube on the bulb and pull the bulb out straight out without twisting. (don't grip very hard or you may break the bulb.)
Once the bulb is out, put some of the shrink tube over a new bulb and use the tubing to hold the bulb and guide the bulb into the existing twist-in socket base. The tubing will not hold the bulb well enough to push it all the way in by itself. You will need to only line it up and start it with the tubing and then push with your finger or the pliers (over the shrink tube so you don't touch it). Once it is in place, pull the tubing off. Replace the snap in cover. You can turn on the lights to make sure it lights.
Repeat the same procedure for the others. I think there are 4 bulbs.
Replace the front trim plate.
Done.
There are a lot of words, but the whole thing is only about 15 minutes and pretty easy. Just be cautious, take your time, and not break the bulbs. I have replaced 6 or 8 of them on 3 cars this way.
Good luck
I wrote something up a while back and copied it below.
I just looked and found an old package of lights. They are #882 bulbs. They are little 5 watt halogen bulbs. I think they are about $30 each at the dealer, but I got them at Advance Auto parts for about $8 each a couple years ago. I didn't shop around too much. They didn't have them in stock so I had to wait about 2 days. You may find them at various part stores.
The bulbs are halogens, so don't touch the bulb with your fingers. The bulbs may come with a twist-in socket base that twists into the back of the instrument cluster. To do that the instrument cluster has to come completely out.
The easier way is to pull the bulb out of the twist-in socket base from the front without taking out the whole cluster. The bulbs just pull straight out and push back in, so it is not breaking them or the socket base.
When you take the front trim plate off the instrument panel (just a few screws and then carefully manuver the plate out away from the panel) you can see there are some small snap-in covers over the place where the lights are. These covers are a bright metal and are under an inch diameter.
Once the covers are out, I use a small piece of electical shrink tubing. (Radio Shack sells a selection for a buck or two). I push the shrink tubing over the bulb. Take a small pliers like a needle nose and gently grip the outside the shrink tube on the bulb and pull the bulb out straight out without twisting. (don't grip very hard or you may break the bulb.)
Once the bulb is out, put some of the shrink tube over a new bulb and use the tubing to hold the bulb and guide the bulb into the existing twist-in socket base. The tubing will not hold the bulb well enough to push it all the way in by itself. You will need to only line it up and start it with the tubing and then push with your finger or the pliers (over the shrink tube so you don't touch it). Once it is in place, pull the tubing off. Replace the snap in cover. You can turn on the lights to make sure it lights.
Repeat the same procedure for the others. I think there are 4 bulbs.
Replace the front trim plate.
Done.
There are a lot of words, but the whole thing is only about 15 minutes and pretty easy. Just be cautious, take your time, and not break the bulbs. I have replaced 6 or 8 of them on 3 cars this way.
Good luck
over the years at the dealership I had to change these bulbs many times, do as shown expose the dash no need to remove. as stated the bulbs are under the metal tabs. to remove use a clean unused vacuum line a little smaller than bulb push the hose over bulb wiggle it out.
to install use a little larger hose find something plastic or wood dowel (charms blow pop stick) that can pass thru the hose, line up the prongs push home with dowel. once seated keep pressure with dowel slide off hose.
onto the next dead bulb.
Last edited by s carter; Mar 11, 2015 at 09:33 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 275
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hi
Batee has the Xenon bulbs that do not run as hot as the halogen ones in the early C4's.
Some are now putting LED lights in that run even colder than the Xenon and use less power.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xenon-Bulb-Kit-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Panel-Gauge-Dash-/111581157541?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19fac158a5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Bulb-Kit-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Panel-Gauge-Dash-/121508214444?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c4a7436ac
Batee has the Xenon bulbs that do not run as hot as the halogen ones in the early C4's.
Some are now putting LED lights in that run even colder than the Xenon and use less power.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Xenon-Bulb-Kit-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Panel-Gauge-Dash-/111581157541?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19fac158a5
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Bulb-Kit-C4-Corvette-Digital-Cluster-Gauge-Instrument-Panel-Gauge-Dash-/121508214444?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c4a7436ac
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 226
Likes: 22
From: Dade City Florida
I tried it that way but due to the age of the sockets I was not getting a good connection. After removing the whole unit and replacing from the other side I was able to get good connections. At the point the show in the pic your only a few more screws and a couple harness away from removal
