Tried earlier but thread blew up.

Okay I am going to replace all my dash lights as at least 2 are dead now. Not bad for 100,000 miles though. Anyhoo, picked up a Chilton's CD and understand how to get at the intrument cluster by removing the headlight switch(and the little tricks that go with removing it) removing bezels, etc. I also surfed over to Sylvania's site to check what bulbs I might need as the Chilton's CD does NOT list the bulb specifications, which is pretty ridiculous, but maybe I couldn't find them in the CD. The CD is prepackaged with Adobe Reader 5.0, nice and new stuff there. Can't upgrade it to something more current, as it is on un-writeable CD and you must use CD to use program. Anyhoo, all that aside Sylvania shows me this for Intrument general lighting for my vehicle:

Instrument-general
161
194
194LL Long Life Upgrade: Up to twice the life of the standard lamp
37

Okay how many of each do I need? Can anybody recommend a light bulb source? Could I use like Red Bulbs instead for a different look? I'd rather not take the whole thing apart, count the bulbs and note the type of bulbs, put it back together, order bulbs, take it back apart, put in bulbs and put back together. Wouldn't it be super if I could just take it apart once? Well that was my thought anyway.

Thanks.

 

161 would be the proper choice. 194 is about 50% brighter. may be too bright for instument panal. NAPA Auto Parts usually stock these bulbs. I cannot tell you how many, but your owners manual may have that info in it.

 

i just recently did the lights in my 97. there are five 194LL that you need, the other bulb is for the blower switch, i believe the 161. and yet the other is for the warning lights in the gauge bezel

 

Excellent, so 5 194s(LL for sure!), and 1 each of 161 and 37.

 

Hey there if you want colored lights for your instument cluster, I would suggest getting some 194 led bulbs, there very bright and long life and you can get them in blue, red, green and amber. Just go to Ebay and go into Ebay Motors and in the search type 194 led. You will have many to choose from, these leds will also light your needles up like a light saber really cool effect. This is something I will be doing real soon and will also post pictures aswell. Goodluck

 

Sorry failed to mention they also have super white and if looking for something more interesting they have black light 194 leds pretty sweet.

 

Cool idea. I think I'll be getting some blue leds and see how they look. Heck they're only $9 on ebay for 10 of them. Great little mod. Thanks guys.

 

No problem glad I could help, yeah you cant beat the price for those leds becuase the regular 194LL costs what about 2 to 3 bucks so when you look at the hole picture, you get better lighting, the color you want,and save money all at the same time. Yano they also have those for your tail lights gives a nice lighting effect. Ill be ordering a bunch a bulbs here shortly going to redo all my lights with leds, well besides my main headlights. Leds are becomming a huge wave for the future of all lighting. You can even buy leds for lamps inside your house.

 

If anybody decides to replace the dash lights could you please write up a whole How-To if it's not too much troubble. Pics too. Just wondering what trim pieces need to be removed and exactly which bulbs to replace. It would be a great pinned thread or at least a good bookmark. I might be doing my dash lights in the next two weeks so if nobody has a write up by then, I'll do it.

 

Chiltons and Haynes both have great write ups about it.With pics too!

 

Yeah, but this is the free way. I hate paying for info. I'd just be better if everyone could share, well about this kind of stuff anyway.

 

I will try and take pictures and document. Although as said, the manuals do a good job of documenting the procedure. I have looked at those LED's also, seems like LED's are going to be the way to go.

 

I'm glad this thread is here because I just noticed the dash lights on my '98 are all dying too. I'll be doing this soon. Question though...Isn't it the plastic on the gauge faces, and not the bulb itself, that's colored? So, putting a blue bulb behind a green gauge face would put out some kind of yellowish color, right?

 

I think the color still comes through fine, at least that's what I thought.

 

Well, took apart enough to get at blower controls. There are 2 type 161 bulbs behind it. That's all I know so far.