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Changing dash lightbulbs 93? CROWBAR NEEDED?


Dave ESPI
01-03-2003, 07:32 PM
1993 Chevy Cavalier. HOW THE F@%@ ! does the dashboard come apart?

My Fiancee asked me to replace the bulb in her dash. She has owned the car fer 10 years. Recently with the cold weather, it had one of the 2 light bulbs that backlight the dash display gauges burn out. I told her to deal with it fer now. But BOTH are now out, less than 3 weeks apart from each other. She complained fer what seemed like hours on end last night for me to look at it so I gave in and went out.... Today. She was messing up my solo "Plantain Time" last night.
I figured a pair of plyers, putty knife, and a screw driver or 2 would be all I'd need. I gathered up my tool bucket and go out to her car. I sit in the driver seat and stare at the dash. NOT A SINGLE FUCKING SCREW ON IT. No Seams, No gaps, no locking pin, no access under the dash, nothing. Not a word in the owners manual as to what to do. I WAS PEEVED.
I can fumble my way around cars under the hood, but this is completely alien to me. My 1966 Thunderbird Dashboard is entirely screws and a few retaining clips and Ive totaly taken it apart and back together no problem. Of course this is comparing Apples to Bananas, but still. WTF?

First: Do I HAVE to go to a dealership to get this done or is it simply a "monkey wrench and pry-bar" rough-housing thing? From experience with door moldings and car speaker installs, is it just some plastic mushroom retaining push clips holding the dash cover on? Because I just LOVE the sound of cold plastic snapping with wild abandonment, and the melody of my Irish lineage slurs & cussing that flow from my mouth like blood from numb bloody knuckles when sh*t doesn't come apart.

Secondly, Anyone done this before? I don't mind paying mechanics to do major auto work and shit I dont have tools to do, but changing a F'n lightbulb is NOT something I want to admit having paid a d00d money that I dont have just to open the dash and replace a 8 watt # 912 peanut bulb and get 3 hours SHOP TIME LABOR RATE to do it.

I posted this on 2 automotiveforums sites, and the dealerships (when called) have been no help.
I figured at least here you could have help or at least make fun of my misery.

Mechanicaly Frustrated, Thanks.

Pikachoo
01-04-2003, 09:47 PM
:cool: :cool:

http://www.v6z24.com/mods/howto/?page=gaugeremoval

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