How do you replace the dashboard lights of a 95 Ford Escort?

Answer 1

First disconnect your speedometer cable on the back top side of the transmission. DISCONNECT NEGATIVE LEAD TERMINAL TO BATTERY!! Wait at least one to two minutes for airbag to deactivate. Then inside the car go ahead and lower the steering wheel normally held up by four bolts. Look under the steering wheel column and you'll see four gold shiny bolt heads. Those are the ones to take out. Drop steering wheel down delicately. Don't allow it to slam down after removing the last bolt. Remove all screws that attach faceplate that surround the steering wheel. It is normally the black plastic piece that has the vents coming out of it. Before yanking that off carefully you'll have to disconnect the rear window defrost and the power mirror switch on the panel itself if so equipped. Now that the panel is removed there are four screws that hold the instrument cluster to the dashboard itself. Two of the screws are at the bottom corners and two are at the top inverted into the dashboard. After those are removed slowly pull the instrument cluster out towards you. Don't pull too hard because there are plugs attached to the back of the instrument panel that control all the electrical functions of the panel itself. Once you have the panel out at about normal steering wheel location you'll see little black caps on the back of the intrument panel that are scattered about. Get a set of pliers (preferably needle nose pliers) and twist the cap counterclockwise until the cap comes out and you'll see the bulb. It's a 194 bulb found at any auto parts store. This may sound hard but it probably takes about a half hour to remove the panel to access the bulbs. You may need to get a new clip that attaches the speedometer cable to the tranmsission. They normally aren't any good once removed because you have to pull them out with pliers or pry it out with a screwdriver which can distort it. A haynes or chiltons manual has a great step by step process for replacing the bulbs in the dash panel but they add extra steps that aren't necessary. .

Holy CrapDude I've been wondering how to do this for ages, always tried to bend it, move it, shake it until i damn near pass out. I didn't know you have to drop the steering column. This makes perfect sence now. I have been wanting to put custom switches in my dash, near rear defrost switch for a long time now. I also have a lot of wiring under the dash, which i could run up. -- Fuzzbuster, Remote Starter/Alarm wires, Scanner/HAM wires... i have been looking all over for how to do it, and i found it!! you're a genious! :D :D