93 Escort Dashboard instrument lights

I have a '93 Escort (1.9L engine) and all my instruments lights are burned out The shiftpoint idiot light (it was the last one) just went out -- although that's not one I particularly miss.

It looks as though I should be able to get at the instrument panel by just removal the clear plastic window, or some portion of the panel, but when I look in the Haines book it seems as though I have to remove the steering wheel and steering column cover and everthing else just to get the instrument panel off. It looks like an 8 hour project.

Has anybody bothered replacing these lights? Is there an easier way? 'Cause right now, it seems better to live in the dark.

Thanks much.

Even with removing the steering column and cover, it only took me a couple of hours to do it on my '91. The cover doesn't have to come off, but it's a bear getting the black panel surrounding the instrument cluster out of there with the cover on.

I read that you could avoid removing the wheel and cover by dropping the wheel and column after removing a couple of bolts under the dash, but I've never tested it to find out if that's true or not.

I goofed, though -- I replaced all the bulbs, included that stupid shift indicator idiot light...doh! :)

Oh hey yeah Frunobulax is right, I remember now a freind did mine for me and it was done in a half an hour or so he just dropped the steering whell columm with those bolts. I couldn't remember how we did it untill you said that. Hope that helps towser42

Thanks guys, I'll have to look into that "dropping the steering wheel" trick. It sounds like a good timesaver. Does the entire dashboard have to come off, or is it only a section?

Thanks,

I think you just have to remove the intrument panel their are four or five screws. then just pull off the cover.