dash bulbs? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dubtastic · 03-02-2008, 07:31 PM

Does anybody know where I can find bulbs for my dash lights? I'm talking about the larger ones (used for the Tach, Gas, Speed, Temp display).

I went to an Autozone down the street but they told me I'll probably only find those at a dealership.. and the closest Toyota dealership is about an hour away from my house.

#PC194

Thanks..

fredk · 03-02-2008, 09:40 PM

looks like a 194 pushed into a grey socket?

brohawk · 03-03-2008, 04:15 AM

there a t5 bulb in a t5 socket

dubtastic · 03-03-2008, 11:18 AM

Sorry I'm not so familiar with bulbs.

Are you saying that I could buy the bulb only and replace it into the same socket?

I talked to the dealership and they told me they can order them $11/each. I don't know how much it costs to make one of those, but for $44 I could probably get a brand new instrument panel with working bulbs inside it.

atobe · 03-03-2008, 11:38 AM

just goto the auto store and buy 194 /168 bulbs.. pull your old ones out of the holder and replace em.

dubtastic · 03-03-2008, 12:22 PM

Thanks for all the advice.

I've come to find out these are T3 size bulbs and you cannot pull the bulb out of the socket holder because of how it was designed.

If anybody ever needs these, you can order them here
http://www.donsbulbs.com/cgi-bin/r/b.pl/pc194.html

(I got lucky and found the exact same at a local Orileys for $1.50 each. Fair deal)

stumeston · 03-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Does anybody know any place to buy these besides online or a Toyota dealership? I'm down to one bulb in my dash and I can't find them anywhere.

fredk · 03-03-2008, 08:54 PM

that bulb will come out of that grey socket, it was put in there, it will come out

stumeston · 03-03-2008, 09:08 PM

Are you sure they come out? What if they're built into the socket?

dubtastic · 03-04-2008, 02:58 PM

I don't know about you guys, but on my 91 LE they were built in. I'm 100% sure on that.

The simple little problem is really starting to bug me. So I replaced the fuse and the bulbs, still no working dash lights! Can't see anything at night! What else could it be?

dubtastic · 03-04-2008, 03:07 PM

I searched and searched but didn't find anything useful.

I'm starting to think it's either bad wiring or a relay?

Doctor J · 03-04-2008, 08:14 PM

If you are talking about the speedo/ tach illumiating lights, check if you have radio/ heater contol /ignition keyillumination working. Otherwise, check the ground, if OK, rotate the rheostat knob as its wiper may lose contact at this spot

fredk · 03-15-2008, 05:23 PM

i just swapped clusters in an 89 and all the bulbs pull out of the sockets, get another cluster or go to a junkyard and pull out the bulb sockets and then you can change bulbs

brohawk · 03-16-2008, 01:29 AM

well i swapped the standard bulbs in my cluster with hi intencity green leds. and the standard bulbs came straight out there a lil hard to get out a first but once there out u can swap them

TBayToyotaBoy · 03-17-2008, 01:05 AM

I cannot believe your dealership wanted $11 each for them. A couple of years ago I was visiting family in Toronto when two of the bulbs burnt-out. Bought all new bulbs for my guages for $0.30 each at a dealership in Scarborough. The guy almost gave them to me...

And yes, those bulbs WILL come out of the grey/black/green plastic housing. They're like corner marker bulbs--sometimes very tough to remove.