bbeyer

Trying to replace burned out lights in dash and heater control area. Did a search of old posts on this, couldn't find out how to remove heater controls to access lights. Does anyone know how to do this?

Soilent Green

I haven't done it myself but I have a manual and tried removing the plastic panel and it came out flawlessly.

All around the radio and heater controls there's a plastic liner that ends at the bottom when it starts rolling down towards the cig lighter area. Take a flat screwdriver and roll a couple good layers of electric or masking tape around the tip and carefuly insert it between the outer edge of the hard plastic lining and the soft interior rubbervinylwhatever, starting from the two top corners, above the radio. Be careful not to damage anything and pry the corner out, there's a plastic clip like thing that will unfasten, then do the other corner, the rest will come out easily, then you can unscrew the a/c-heater controls and slide them out then mark and disconnect everything and take the module inside to remove the plastic front and wheels ect.

My heater control lightbulbs might be out too so I tried it after reading about it in the manual and stopped after removing the plastic lining around the center controls but it's nothing really.

bbeyer

Thanks Soilent Green, I'll be working on this later this afternoon. I have dash lights out too. Can I just reach behind the dash or does it have to come out too?

Mike Gerber

It has to come out.

Mike

Soilent Green

Yeah for the speedo lights the whole thing has to come out, I'd get a 25$ manual for that part...

bbeyer

thanks to Soilent Green and Mike. I got the heater lights replaced following your instructions. Think I'll pass on the dash lights. I think only one is out. This is my wifes car..........over 250,000 trouble free miles, but I am trying to talk her into a new one. If she decides to keep it, then I will get the manual.
Thanks again.

Mike Gerber

It's really not hard to remove the cluster to replace those bulbs. First remove the 2 screws facing upwards just above the cluster. Then there are 2 clips at what I call the wings of the cluster area. That's the little wings to the outer side of the cluster. One of the wings contains the clock. Warm up the interior of the car first. Then pry outward against the outside of the wings with a taped slotted screwdriver or use one of those hook things like a dental pick to get behind there and pull outward. Then you will see 4 screws that hold the cluster in. They will be obvious. Remove the screws and then the whole cluster should pull far enough forward (without disconnecting any of the electrical connectors) for you to reach behind and unscrew the bulb holder containing the burned out bulb. Pull the bulb from the holder and replace it. The bulb is a 194 with a green sleeve on it. Most of the time you can peel off the sleeve and place it on the new bulb. Sometimes you can't, and you have to purchase the bulb with the green sleeve at the Toyota dealer. Push the bulb back in to the bulb holder and screw the holder back in to the back of the cluster. Try the dash lights before reassembling everything. Reassembly is just the reverse of the assembly procedure. It's really not that hard. Should take about 15 minutes. I think it's easier than the lights around the heater.

Mike

Soilent Green

No problem. Pulling back the dashboard to give you easier access shouldn't be too hard either assuming you follow mike's steps.

bbeyer

I'll try the dash light replacement this weekend. Thanks again to both of you for your help.

Soilent Green

It's okay, I accept Mastercard.

Mike Gerber

You're welcome.

Mike