'99 Chevy Instrument Cluster Removal?

Caver Dave

Caver Dave

Just holdin' it down here in BFV
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Mar 10, 2005
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Hooterville (24171)
Seems there a couple intermittent (RH signal indicator) or burnt (High-beam indicator) bulbs in the instrument cluster on the (new to me) towrig. Replacing them/cleaning connections isn't a problem...

*IF* I could figure out how to remove the cluster to access them! I looked briefly last night and couldn't find a single visible fastener :eek:
 
remove dash bezel, around the cluster are 4 7mm screws. remove those, and cluster pulls out. bulbs are 194 type. applies to new and old body styles. new body has plug in top of cluster, old body has no plug. it just sits on the plug when you tighten it back down.
 
it just "pops" out with compression style clips.

At some point in the evolution process the bulbs disappear and are replaced by diodes on the printed board... when those go out it is a little more of a problem.
 
Thanks guys... :beer:

Gonna try my "case cracker" (old school laptop disassembly tool, hopefully preventing gouges/cracks in the plastic like when you use a pocket knife/screwdriver :lol:) on it this evening...

SkyHiK5 said:
At some point in the evolution process the bulbs disappear and are replaced by diodes on the printed board... when those go out it is a little more of a problem.
Click to expand...

AFAICT, the '99 still uses bulbs. Hoping to find the hi-beam burnt out/missing and the signal loose...
 
just grab the top of the bezel over the cluster and give it a little yank. Some are loose some are tight, but thats the easiest way without scratching it.

194s are the illumination bulbs, i think the others are the little tiny ones. 03 and up had the soldered in bulbs. Gonna change all mine to LED when i get the bulbs in. Caver, you'd be as good to order a set of white 194 LEDs, then you wouldn't have to worry about blown bulbs any more, ever.
 
Thanks again guys! :beer:

Took a minute to get the bezel loose (mostly due to not wanting to break anything) and before I knew it, had the cluster in my lap!

Tested both bulbs (good), so turned to cleaning the connections old school Atari style... with a pencil eraser! :lol: Put the cluster back in and viola, all are working now...

Since I was that far into it, I yanked everything easily pulled (bezel, lower valance, cup holder ash tray, glovebox, & pass. vents) for a good scrubbing. It came from a surveying company, so the interior is covered with red dirt/dust. Plan to drop it all back in tomorrow afternoon and start on the remainder of the interior...
 
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