HOW TO: Change globes in cluster in a Gen 3 (demo on a TF)
HOW LONG: In and out, around 15 mins tops.
DIFFICULTY: Rookie (if i can do it anyone can)
COST: 2 Globes was $19.99 including postage.


This demo is just replacing any of the 4 that light up the Petrol Gauge, Spedo, Rev and Temp Gauge. To do all of these it requires 4 T10 globes.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/picture1.jpg


OKAY. Now this may seem like a baby thing, but for me it was a trial and error the other week to change the globes from white to red. This may help someone who is a newbie at this
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/picture2.jpg

Step 1
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture3.jpg

Sit in car and identify where the two screws to pull of the black surrounding that covers the outside of your cluster

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture4.jpg



Step 2
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture5.jpg

Begin to pull the cover out, you will find that cables attached to the back of your buttons (cruise, Dash brightness and Speed Warning).

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture6.jpg

Remove these by squeezing the sides and then pulling, not too hard but it will come out.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture7.jpg



Step 3
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture8.jpg

Undo the 2 screws on each side (not the ones that attach to the clear plastic, the ones on the top corners and bottom corners.)

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture9.jpg



Step 4
Pull Out plastic cluster, there is a cable attached to the top left so do not pull out past the steering wheel untill you undo this cable. IT IS IN THERE VERY TIGHT so it might take some time/effort/swearing but it will come out.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture10.jpg


You should be left with this once pulled out

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture11.jpg


Step 5

The four bulbs will be held in by these blue knobs

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture12-1.jpg

NOTE: One is hidden behind a white cover, remove the 3 screws to access it. Be careful not to damage the green plastic!

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture13.jpg



Step 6

Twist Knobs open and carefully remove globes.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture14-2.jpg

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k111/presti_01/Picture15.jpg

Replace globes and put clear cluster back in, turn car on to test if the globes work (work best at night lol) if its good, then do all the steps backwards...lol





Hope it all worked out for you, if not give me a yell. Hope the walkthrough was good, im used to doing different ones so yeah let me know :)

Thanks for this, it will be a huge help :)

Planning on replacing my existing bulbs with white LEDs soon.

Thanks for this, it will be a huge help :)

Planning on replacing my existing bulbs with white LEDs soon.


No probs man :) even tho i had a typo in the title haha!


i hope you do replace them with no problem :) they are easy to do but just take some time :)

Man, the photo quality and attention to detail is excellent. Well done ! :clap:

Can you provide a night shot with the new led lights?

Man, the photo quality and attention to detail is excellent. Well done ! :clap:

Can you provide a night shot with the new led lights?


Ah thanks man! appreciate it :) ill try to get a pic of it tonight for you :) still abit bright here in melbourne hehe :)

Thanks for showing the way. I've been needing to do this and I'm glad to find that it's relatively easy.

great thread,but ,unless im doing it wrong,why cant you set it up so the pictures are shown all the time and not having to click on the link every time you want to look at something...:nuts: .

.and you may find that with those led the light is way too focussed and despite what they say,may not give a real good spread of light..and looking at your photos in your other posts,what has happened is that you may be getting "hot" spots of light and the globes arent really spreading..took me ages and trying lots of different globes to get it right..

Hey mate, great walkthrough! Will come in handy when I finally get around to replacing my globes!

took me ages and trying lots of different globes to get it right..

Could you post a pic of the best globes to use? Thanks!

Awesome, I have a question :)

With the lights that show you what gear you are in (AUTO) any idea what bulbs they use? My drive bulb is blown :(

Thanks for this, it will be a huge help :)

Planning on replacing my existing bulbs with white LEDs soon.

I thought LED's were illegal? Not sure why just some faded memory I have that also involves a chicken, two cans of spam and a gimp mask... but anyway I thought I read somewhere we aren't allowed to have them.

Awesome, I have a question :)

With the lights that show you what gear you are in (AUTO) any idea what bulbs they use? My drive bulb is blown :(

im guessing your talkin about the drive light in the cluster. if so, they use T5 bulbs. they're like slim globes. if its the one at the shifter then it uses just 1 T10 globe

im guessing your talkin about the drive light in the cluster. if so, they use T5 bulbs. they're like slim globes. if its the one at the shifter then it uses just 1 T10 globe

Yeah the one in the cluster thanks.

great thread,but ,unless im doing it wrong,why cant you set it up so the pictures are shown all the time and not having to click on the link every time you want to look at something...:nuts: .

.and you may find that with those led the light is way too focussed and despite what they say,may not give a real good spread of light..and looking at your photos in your other posts,what has happened is that you may be getting "hot" spots of light and the globes arent really spreading..took me ages and trying lots of different globes to get it right..


i have to have links because AMC only allows 5 pics per thread. didn't wanna make multiple thread comment things so yeah :(

this is mine but in blue (for those wanting blue)....just in case

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/9195/dsc00164c.th.jpg (http://img7.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00164c.jpg)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8278/dsc00165v.th.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc00165v.jpg)

What colour is your car on outside? Is it white or blue?

Mine is sort of creamy white as you can see in my avatar pic. I am thinking of putting in blue leds in the cluster :think:

FYI - I have T10 chip-style blue LED's for my dials, and T5 white inverted LEDs for the rest. T5 LED's do not work in the fuel light, it will stay on indefinately.

I have found the chip-style the only type to give an even light spread (Thanks Owens_Mighty_Magna for trading). I also have T10 inverted in my trip computer display (middle of the dash), it is mostly even spread, but there are a couple of bright spots... to replace the lights in the trip display follow the below instructions:

1. Remove the AC vents (top part of console) by pulling until it unclips
2. Remove the wire attached to the AC vent part of the console (note this is a bitch to get back in)
3. Remove the 2 screws on each side of the display
4. Pull out the trip display and squeeze the black clip down to release
5. Flip upside down and there are 3x T10 wedge bulb holders, twist them until they release
6. Remove the lights from each holder and replace with your LED's (While doing this, ensure you put the pins the right-way up on each, the pins on each side should match)
7. Reinsert the bulb holders into the assembily and plug the back cable back in, turn the car on to verify it lights up, if it does not, turn the car off, remove the cable, and turn the bulbs around
8. Screw your assy back in, reattach the vent cable, and push the vent panel back in to place. All done!

The following method can be used to colour your trip meter display, but keep note, if you use a directional bulb (ie. T10 dome) you will get a "light spot" on your trip display and it will look horrible.

thts my car

<<<<<<<<<<<

im guessing your talkin about the drive light in the cluster. if so, they use T5 bulbs. they're like slim globes. if its the one at the shifter then it uses just 1 T10 globe

I replaced the Drive bulb today in the cluster. It was tricky to find anywhere that stocked them and I ended up getting one at a scrappie for $5.

For anyone else who's doing this in future, I noticed one strange thing. The Park, Reverse and Neutral lights didn't work properly until I put the console back into the dash. While I had it hanging out and loose 1,2,3,D all lit up correctly, but P & N wouldn't light up at all and R lit up when I had it in P or N. Anyway, once I put it back in the dash properly all the lights worked OK.

I know this is an old thread but can any1 recommend a good type of red LED that will light up behind the dash cluster bright without any black spots? Also btw for those of you who are using Inverted LEDs within your trip meters if you sand the bulbs around the top of the edges and around the rest of the bulb (not a lot just enough to roughen it up) you get a better spread of light and the black spots are not as noticeable. hope that helps :D

Can't help with the query but re the original post I'd add a warning that if you turn the ignition on when the dash is removed you will probably set an airbag fault which can only be removed by the agents.

I've just changed to the blue LED.
Takes a bit of getting used to......

I thought LED's were illegal? Not sure why just some faded memory I have that also involves a chicken, two cans of spam and a gimp mask... but anyway I thought I read somewhere we aren't allowed to have them.

In regard to this illegal LED matter, it only apply to all outside lights. It has something to with modification to vehicles. Inside lights are not restricted. With instrument lights, as long as the readings are readable, the cops will not worry about it. Cheers.

I thought LED's were illegal? Not sure why just some faded memory I have that also involves a chicken, two cans of spam and a gimp mask... but anyway I thought I read somewhere we aren't allowed to have them.

That also means all HID headlights modifications are illegal (which involve tap-in or split head light wiring) unless it is OEM equipment or factory options.

Can this be done in 2002 TJ? I'm unsure if they still use bulbs or they are the generation which uses led soldered on? guess I could just pull it off and have a look haha

also interested, i guess with any LED you will always get hot spots

sorry to bump an old thread, but im planning on changing all the globes for the speedo/dash cluster tonight.

what sizes and quantities will i need for a TW Magna please?

im not too sure if these are the clusters with the soldered leds in them?. i mean you can unsolder and resolder other leds in them, but considering how flimsy the circuit board is on these, its better you then me doing it, and i work on computers for a living. you will definately need a wattage adjustable soldering iron for the job, not just any soldering iron will do. and your coice of solders will have to be different too, probably fine flux free solder, you will want the solder to cool down quick. and if that dosent deter you, you should make sure you have an extra cluster laying around lol

Hey guys,

Just wondering if it's possible to swap out the indicator lights in the cluster as well. If so, would this help LED indicators to come out correctly? Cheers.

You can swap any of the light colours in the cluster from what I saw of mine, you just need the correct bulb.

Hey guys,

Just wondering if it's possible to swap out the indicator lights in the cluster as well. If so, would this help LED indicators to come out correctly? Cheers.

yeah mate they all remove, but the cluster itself has tinted plastic inside of it that make it green so changing it would do no good other than making it brighter. They are all 'yellow' globes that come stock with the cluster, some have coloured plastic in front of the globe and some don't (so you can colour code them)

You can swap any of the light colours in the cluster from what I saw of mine, you just need the correct bulb.


yeah mate they all remove, but the cluster itself has tinted plastic inside of it that make it green so changing it would do no good other than making it brighter. They are all 'yellow' globes that come stock with the cluster, some have coloured plastic in front of the globe and some don't (so you can colour code them)

Thanks guys :) Won't be bothered changing them, getting the T10s & T5s soon!

Question:
If you install LED's into the instrument cluster, can you still dim them? I would think that they would be ON or OFF, but nothing in between.

yeah mine still dimmed in and out

Hey guys,

Just a question about the climate control and stock radio for the Magna TF, how do I go about changing the LEDs in those? Can't seem to get to them yet.

what could be the reason for my dimmer not working i had an alarm instaled and dimmer has not worked since then thanks

just tried to change mine. all soldered. end of story.