Okay finally decided on blue LED's. I won't get to this until at least next weekend, prolly after, and will document it if I remember.

 

Okay I replaced the 2 bulbs behind blower controls. Too much effort to post pictures here, so here is link to online album. Click slideshow to go in order or do one at a time, whatever. You don't have to sign up for anything, just click on link. I would be curious if anybody knows how to determine polarity on bulbs when replacing. Maybe I need to get out a microscope to look on these tiny bulbs for some indicator.

I'll document the gauge bulbs also when I do them, probably in 2 weekends.

http://picasaweb.google.com/DoofusOfTheDay/TruckMods

I think this should work too:

http://picasaweb.google.com/DoofusOf...59574580232210

 

Changed my dashboard lights(the one's behind the gauges). Not too bad, will try and post pictures and detailed instructions later, but probably tomorrow or Monday. I got to go do some tiling in girl's bathroom this afternoon.

 

Pics and some instructions for replacing gauge lights on my 1998. I forgot to take a picture of removing the transmission range indicator(you know P, R, N, D, 2 1) You kind of unclip from both sides of it and it drops off the cluster. It was kind of a pain to clip back in since I got big clumsy hands, but not awful to do.

http://picasaweb.google.com/DoofusOf...htsReplacement

I still don't know if there really is a concern with polarity on these bulbs, it seemed to work first shot, or I got lucky on all 5. Does anybody know if polarity does matter on these bulbs?

 

The polarty does not matter, they are incandescent resistance type lamp sand as the currret flows thru from either direction.

 

Does the panel dim still work with the LEDs? I'm about to dig into this, I'll let you know where that top spedo light is.

 

Yes, panel dim still works. What do you have to do to post images in threads? Seems like I can only put a link to an image at a URL...

 

First, you have to create a gallery. Be sure to include the pic you want to post. On the forum screen, click "User CP". On the left under the control panel, click "Edit Gallery". Click on the pic in your gallery you want to include in your post. Scroll down to the bottom where it says "[Forum Codes - For displaying image in forum posts]". Click on that. Copy and paste the url into your post.

BTW, thanks for seeing this post through. I've been planning on doing this to my '98 and it's good to have a guinea pig! I find it interesting that my dash is dim in exactly the same spots as yours. Design flaw maybe?

 

Also, could you give us some intel on whether or not there is a bulb between the tach and the speedo? That's the dimmest spot on my dash.

 

If you look at the photo album I posted you will see one between the Tach and Speedo, down near the bottom of the unit.

 

Your pic by pic instructions on this repair were just awesome. Thanks for taking the time to do it. I had it done in just a few hours.

 

Well glad they helped. Alas though, I sold my F-150 last month. Head gasket leak, and lots of stuff that was rubber or plastic under the hood disintegrating. Now I own a 2008 Ford Escape - v6 Black with 50,000 miles on it.

 

the only lights that are goin on mine are the ones behind the speedo and tach. it is the 194's that i need? also what mounts them into the panel? is it the lights themselves or is there a casing on them? i couldnt really tell by the picture. im thinkin about using led's from here Super Bright LEDs - Miniature Wedge Base Bulbs and im not sure what will fit in the pannel. i know they should all plug into the electricall conectors but i want to make sure they will fit the pannel. thanks for any insight

 

The black items indicated by the arrows in the pic are sockets removable by a 1/4 CC turn as noted by doofus. The replacement bulbs just plug in. I just did this change out with stock 194's. I have a '97 and if they lasted this long, I will never have to replace them again. FWIW, I would change out all 5 and be done with it. Doofus did a great job on this.

 

so do the lights plug in, and then the black part goes over top of it? i agree this was a great pictorial. the only part i dont know about is the actual replacement of the bulbs.