replacing bulbs in 03 camry SE climate control

[CharmCityES]

recently, the bulb in the 3rd wheel on my 03 cam SE's climate control died, so it is no longer backlit at night....i have the correct sized bulb reccomened in the toyota manual, but im baffled as to how to get to the bulb....does anyone know how to remove the cluster/change bulbs on a gen 5 cam? pleasee any help is crucial....i dont wanna fork over 80 bucks and a day of my time to toyota dealer!

[LE05]

just take any flat bladed tool (taped up screwdriver works well) and pry the HVAC controls out. its held in by four clips: two on each side near the top/side of the hvac controls, and two near the bottom/side of the controls. i'm not sure what your replacement bulb looks like, but if it has a twist base, just twist out the original and twist in the new one. the bulbs are slightly recessed into the back of the unit, so you will also need a flat blade screwdriver to twist the bulbs in and out.

[CharmCityES]

thanks LE05! youre the man!

[CamrySe02]

How would you this into anoter color like blue?

[LE05]

do you mean the cluster lights? it's rather difficult if you have no experience soldering small surface mount LEDS. and to be honest, i myself wouldn't even try to mess with something as important and as expensive as the instrument cluster.

[CamrySe02]

How much time/effort will it take?

[LE05]

i haven't done it personally, but i imagine several hours at least. if you search around, i think there was a DIY thread about changing those lights.

[CamrySe02]

thanks ill search around.

Originally Posted by LE05

i haven't done it personally, but i imagine several hours at least. if you search around, i think there was a DIY thread about changing those lights.

[CamrySe02]

Can't find any thread, i know somone know.