off-roader
(Mitsubishi Forum Moderator)
07/30/09 03:15 AM
Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Decided to replace a burnt out Drive indicator bulb in my instrument cluster.

In case you're not sure which bulb I'm talking about, it's the light that turns on in your instrument cluster under the D when you put the Monty in Drive.

First I removed the instrument cluster upper cover. There are 2 exposed black screws on each side and one screw under a recessed and covered rectangular hole in the back of the cluster.

You simply need to pry up this plastic rectangular cover to access the phillips screw underneath.

Once you remove all 3 screws the cover will come up but it will still be attached to cables that are connected to the switches on each side of the cover.

The cable connectors can be a bit of a pain to depress and release their latches but still doable with a bit of patience. Remove the one on the left before you try to remove the 2 connectors on the right. This way you can lift up the left side and get better access to the rear of the right switches.

Once the cover is off you'll be looking at this...


Next you unscrew the 3 screws holding the instrument cluster in place.

Once unscrewed, carefully pull the cluster towards you. There are 4 wiring connectors in back. Carefully remove them.

Once removed you should see this...


and this will be in your hands...


The bulbs are held in the black plastic twist off bulb holders. To remove the holders from the instrument cluster, simply twist them a 1/4 turn.

The bulbs themselves can be difficult to remove from the holders. I got the bulb out by slowly & carefully rocking it back and forth eventually loosening the grip of the holder allowing the bulb to slide out.

Once removed you would simply install the new bulbs by pushing them into the holder then twisting the holder in place on the instrument cluster.

Then once the bulbs have been replaced, carefully re-insert each of the wiring connectors into the correct opening. If you're not sure which one goes where, simply examine where the wires are on the connector and the cluster. You'll quickly see that each connector can only go into one of the 2 connectors on the cluster.

Once those connectors are back in place, re-insert the cluster into the dash and screw it back in place using the 3 screws.

Next insert the key and check that all the bulbs now work as expected.

Next re-attach the 3 cables to the appropriate switches on the instrument panel cover.

Carefully put the cover back in place and screw it down using the 3 screws (1 on each side and one in front of the cover). In my case I elected to leave the rear screw off because it's a pain to unscrew due to the cramped quarters.

HTH.


JAVYPRO
(Body Damage is Cool)
07/30/09 11:00 AM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Did you get the bulbs from the Stealer or from other source?

Javy


WigWiggy
(Wheeler)
07/30/09 12:33 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Thanks for the detailed info and pics - I was just getting ready to do this. Do you happen to have the bulb brand/part numbers handy?

Mad_Scientist
(Roll Me Over)
07/30/09 12:42 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Quote:

Did you get the bulbs from the Stealer or from other source?

Javy




I had to go to the stealer when I did mine. I think it was the same bulb...not surprising I suppose.



Grasscat
(Roll Me Over)
07/30/09 12:46 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

You can go to one of the chain auto parts store and they have a chart that will tell you.

I change out all my dash bulbs, on the GrassCat, to the next brightness up the scale. Makes reading the gauges much better at night.

By the way, I did this with Ray's supervision sometime ago.


off-roader
(Mitsubishi Forum Moderator)
07/30/09 01:15 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Quote:

Did you get the bulbs from the Stealer or from other source?

Javy




You should be able to find them at both a dealer as well as a local parts store. I'm sure Sylvania/Osram sells a replacement.

I haven't bought mine yet. I simply swapped in a good bulb from one of the warning indicators because I bought the wrong sized bulbs (was right size for Gen I) & they're too big for the Gen II instrument panel lights. Anyone know the correct sized bulb to buy?

Also replaced the bulbs for my digital compass in the center gauge pod.

It was difficult to determine which bulbs they are via caps so the dealer brought out a bunch he had in back and we selected the right one based on a comparison with the bunt out bulbs.

Here's the part number for the correct bulb.


off-roader
(Mitsubishi Forum Moderator)
08/03/09 11:45 AM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Update: I noted above that I thought I bought Sylvania/Osram bulbs for the gen I not gen II.

In fact, I was wrong the ones I bought are the recommended a bulb for the gen II speedo cluster (model 74).

But they don't fit!! They are too large and push on the plastic bulb holders making them wider than normal. This in turn makes them to big to be re-inserted into the gauge cluster bulb holes.

Has anyone else run into this problem? Did I possibly purchase a pair of abnormally large Sylvania type 74 bulbs?

TIA.


sewerrat
(Wheeler)
08/03/09 02:21 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

When I replaced mine, used a bulb/socket for a J**p XJ, 1997 up. No one had the proper bulbs around here, or the listed bulds didn't fit (it was the jeep bulb).

Not exactly the same, had to trim the plastic (and my fingers ) w/exacto knife. 2 small cuts, lets the socket fit into the PCB w/o crushing the socket. Works fine, but kinda .


LandRaider
(Forum Moderator)
08/03/09 03:29 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

This is a U-Pull-It Junkyard item for me.

off-roader
(Mitsubishi Forum Moderator)
08/03/09 03:34 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Might become one for me too if I can't find the right bulb although I'd rather have a factory fresh new bulb myself.

cmonty72
(Trail Leader)
08/03/09 05:36 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Are the green lights that illuminate the wheels on the virtual drivetrain hard to get to? When I'm in low lock I only have the drivers front tire illuminated and I would like to swap the bulbs out if it is easy. If it is a PITA then I dont care as I know when it is 4x4.

off-roader
(Mitsubishi Forum Moderator)
08/03/09 05:49 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

All are accessible from the rear of the instrument cluster. I forgot to swap my a good bulb into my OD indicator so I'll try and get to that tonight.

JAVYPRO
(Body Damage is Cool)
08/03/09 08:38 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Last time I visited the local Advance Auto Parts they didn't have them. I got to find some for my 88 and my wife Gen III as well.

Javy


DavidG
(Body Damage is Cool)
08/08/09 11:03 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Great timing! I need to replace a couple bulbs too. Thanks for the writeup.

off-roader
(Mitsubishi Forum Moderator)
08/13/09 12:24 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Quote:

Last time I visited the local Advance Auto Parts they didn't have them. I got to find some for my 88 and my wife Gen III as well.

Javy




Yeah Javy, for some reason the bulbs their reference manuals recommend (Sylvania Osram 74) for my gen II are just a bit to big and don't fit properly causing the bulb housing to flare out wider than it should thereby making it also too big to fit into it's hole in the rear of the dash.

Quote:

Great timing! I need to replace a couple bulbs too. Thanks for the writeup.




Hey No problemo David. My pleasure. Let me know if you discover bulbs that actually fit.


MontyMcV
(Trail Leader)
08/13/09 01:58 PM
Re: Replaced a burnt out bulb in my 96's instrument cluster

Quote:

This is a U-Pull-It Junkyard item for me.




Right on. Grab them all next time your at one and don't look back. I have a parts drawer/bin with a big handful.





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