gauge lights going out one by one

[98exp]

It all started with the lights on the fuel gauge then months later lights going out on the other side of the cluster, only the ones straight up the middle are working. How much should I expect to pay for replacements?

[jbhitar]

Originally Posted by 98exp

It all started with the lights on the fuel gauge then months later lights going out on the other side of the cluster, only the ones straight up the middle are working. How much should I expect to pay for replacements?

When you have this condition, I would suspect loose connection problems---like maybe circuit board securing screws have worked loose.
I had this very problem a couple times on an 80 Buick dash circuit board.

[wseng]

I have the same problem on my 97 Explorer. The guage lights on either side are out, and I can just barely make out the speedometer and the tach. Is it definitely a loose connection? Or, maybe some burnt out bulbs? Is there a way to fix/replace the bulbs yourself? Thx!

[jbhitar]

I'm not familiar with a Ford Explorer. I'm a TV technician that is very familiar with electrical problems. 99 percent of the time when there is an intermittent electrical problem in anything, it generally turns out to be a loose connection--not a wire hanging loose--but a solder connection that has cracked or a mounting screw that is not tight which serves as a connection. Like, in my other post I had screws work loose on a circuit board behind the dash in an 80 Buick that caused panel light problems. So, to specifically give an answer to the 97 Ford Exp. I can't.

[ExplorerFX]

Originally Posted by wseng

I have the same problem on my 97 Explorer. The guage lights on either side are out, and I can just barely make out the speedometer and the tach. Is it definitely a loose connection? Or, maybe some burnt out bulbs? Is there a way to fix/replace the bulbs yourself? Thx!

Originally Posted by 98exp

It all started with the lights on the fuel gauge then months later lights going out on the other side of the cluster, only the ones straight up the middle are working. How much should I expect to pay for replacements?

Yes, there is a way to fix it yourself. How much are you going to pay for the bulbs? Mine I think were $3.99. It is a little bit of trouble though. First, disconnect the battery from the car. Second, remove the dashboard screws holding the instrument panel in. Third, pull the panel out enough to replace the lights. I believe you just pull them out and put them back in. Now your probably wondering, "Which one's and where do I get them?" I went to a local Walmart, they'll have an aisle in the automotive section with a lot of lights in there, look for a blue programed thing sticking out of the wall, there you can put in your year, make, and model of your car in and search for any light it uses. Hope I helped you guys out.

[[email protected]]

Have a 99 with the same problem. Dealer told me that it would cost $78 for the circuit board and $130 in labor. Can I really fix it myself?

[XLT03]

I'd try ExplorerFX's fix 1st. It's cheaper than replacing instrument cluster. It's usually the bulbs. Not too many clusters go bad. If it doesn't work you can always have Ford replace the cluster. You can replace it yourself, It's
pretty much the same procedure that ExploreFX outlined except you replace the cluster.

Good Luck. Let us know how it went.

[ExplorerFX]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Have a 99 with the same problem. Dealer told me that it would cost $78 for the circuit board and $130 in labor. Can I really fix it myself?

Another problem about giving it to the dealer, is the labor charge like you said. If you decide to go with the dealer, they usually charge by the hour that they work on it. Most times, they will overcharge you (labor wise atleast). To solve that problem, if you have a digital camera, take a picture of the time you leave your car. Most work requires disconnecting the battery, therefore, stopping the clock. When you get your car back, check the time. That will give you the amount of time that they actually spent on the car. It might just save you some money.

[phoneguy1]

i just replaced the dash bulbs in my 97 explorer. its not too difficult. the only thing you have to be careful with is the gear selecter cable. ot is a thin brown wire. if you tug on the gauge cluster too hard it will break. the bulbs were slyvannia #194 . there are four bulbs total. if you flip the gauge cluster you will see 4 black bulb recepticles. turn them a quarter turn and they will pop out. hope this helps.