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  #1  
Old 12-06-2009, 12:10 AM
RangerTruck RangerTruck is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 156
Default Changing Dash Lights

Hey Everyone,

For some strange reason that I cannot figure out, I really want to change the lights behind my gauges on my dashboard, and the lights on my AC controls. Right now, I'm pretty sure the bulbs behind them are green, because everything lights up green. I want to change them to blue.

Has anyone done this? Is this hard to do? How do you do it?

Thanks alot.
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  #2  
Old 12-06-2009, 05:04 AM
mcpink mcpink is offline
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The bulbs behind the dash are clear (just bought some to replace a couple of mine that burned out) and I believe shine through a plastic piece that's tinted green. Same for the HVAC controls. I just saw a thread yesterday by NOLArat that walks you through changing the HVAC controls. Looks like the part of the knobs that the light shines through are green themselves, but you can find some from a 95 - 97 (thanks, Fx4wannabe01 , in the same thread!) that are already blue. STL also posted a great how-to on replacing the bulbs in the instrument cluster. I bet you could follow that and get to the piece you need to change the color there as well.

4791-how-change-green-color-your-temperature-control-picture-heavy.html

3204-how-instrument-cluster-bulb-replacement.html
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02 Ranger XLT 4x4 Off Road, 4.0L SOHC, Automatic, 8.8 4.10 LS, Super-Cab, 3" Body Lift, 33x12.5x15 BFG All Terrains on 15x8 M/T Classic IIs, 5K 55w Heads, 5K 35w fogs, custom front skid plate, various other goodies.
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  #3  
Old 12-06-2009, 10:52 AM
Fx4wannabe01 Fx4wannabe01 is offline
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RangerTruck....It'd help us if you had a signature or just listed your year in your post...


Here's a link to a ton of how-to's. I used them about 5 years ago to change all my dash except the cluster. There's also a how-to for the cluster color change....this is specific to 95-03 clusters, but the same ideas would work for other years.

Link to cardomain: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394 (has a real good LED tutorial to read over and learn alot)
Link to cruise pods: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/23
Link to headlight/4x4 switch: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/12
Link to fog switch: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/6
Link to cluster: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/296394/24

Mad props to an OG who's been absent the past few years. John, we miss you and your comedy and huge knowledge of these vehicles!


I did the cluster paint mod then soldered in 36 5mm LED's. I now have like 60 5mm 13000mcd blue LED's and my entire dash is now blue LED.
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  #4  
Old 12-06-2009, 08:26 PM
RangerTruck RangerTruck is offline
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Hmm, that sounds a lot harder than I thought it would be. I might have to put that one off for a few months. Thanks for all of the info though, really helpful stuff. Thanks Fx4wannabe01 for telling me about the signature thing. I always wondered how everybody had that...
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  #5  
Old 12-15-2009, 06:55 PM
DangerRanger2.3ltr DangerRanger2.3ltr is offline
Paul
 
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i just bought the wedge style bulbs for my cluster on ebay
changing it all to blue, my friend did it himself on his volvo so once they come were gonna do them
on my 97 ranger the cluster comes out pretty easy so it shouldnt be too bad, not sure about other years tho...
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1997 Ford ranger. 2.3 ltr 4 cylinder 5 speed. 10" Kicker CVT, Alpine MRP-M450, Alpine CDA 9825. Flowmaster Delta 40 series. Smoked tails and corners. Black grille. Blue LED dash and interior backlighting. Front Fog Lights. Bad ass snowtires in the back.
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  #6  
Old 01-04-2010, 05:29 PM
DangerRanger2.3ltr DangerRanger2.3ltr is offline
Paul
 
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i actually just finished replacing my cluster bulbs 4 hours ago lol. check out the pic i uploaded from the phone. when i did the swap i had to take off the driver side lower dash to get at the bolt for the middle part of the dash, ur gonna a Torx 20 bit and a Torx 10 (i think) to do it. it took me about an hour of work and it was deffinately worth it.
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1997 Ford ranger. 2.3 ltr 4 cylinder 5 speed. 10" Kicker CVT, Alpine MRP-M450, Alpine CDA 9825. Flowmaster Delta 40 series. Smoked tails and corners. Black grille. Blue LED dash and interior backlighting. Front Fog Lights. Bad ass snowtires in the back.
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