Replacing Instrument Panel Light Bulbs - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

techwhore · 01-23-2003, 05:50 PM

I've got a gen2 Camry. There must be at least 2 bulbs behind the instrument panel which light up the gauges because near the top of my RPM and MPH gauges doesn't seem to be getting illuminated at night anymore.

I'm sure replacing them is easy, but I was wondering if I could substitute a brighter bulb so that the gauges are more illuminated. I remember reading a thread recently on this board about that but I can't seem to find it now.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

MalooMAN · 01-23-2003, 10:12 PM

Mmmm i wound like to know how i do that 2. but if i was going to change the bulbs while i was at it i would get dif colour bulbs or dif instrument panel.

just a thought..............

CamrySpeaksJL · 01-23-2003, 10:18 PM

all you gotta do is get the instrument panel trim pieces off, and then its like 4 screws and 4 plugs to get the gauge cluster off. from there, just replace the appropriate blubs. im not sure what part # they are, i think that one is in a different thread, actually. as for changing the color, you could probably get some colored plastic or perhaps a marker and cover/color the new bulb the desired color.

i personally opted for just getting some gauges off of Ebay and slapping them on. they are the reverse indiglo "Halo" ones. sweet as hell.

anyway, good luck.
:wink:

white90dx · 01-24-2003, 03:11 AM

Its pretty easy for the gen2...

Adjust the steering wheel all the way down. Unscrew the 5 screws on the gauge cluster trim and pull that out. You will have to unplug the flashers, cruise and rear defroster before you can fully pull the trim piece out. There are then 4 screws that hold the instrument cluster in. Undo those, then pull the instrument cluster out. There are three electrical plugs on the back, undo those and wiggle the cluster carefully out. There are 4 bulbs that light up the instrument cluster (and lots of other indicator lights). The ones you care about are size 194, and are held in by little green holders. When you take the bulbs out, you will notice they have little green 'condoms' over them. Replace the burnt out bulb and you are in business... You can also replace all four with red bulbs for a neat effect, like I did:

-Charlie

MalooMAN · 01-24-2003, 03:54 AM

RESPECT! M8 that is the best almost free mod you could ever do to your car! thanks!

fallennite · 01-24-2003, 07:34 PM

I want to replace my lights in the gauges but have a 4 gen camry not a 2nd gen. Has anyone tried to replace the lights on the stock gauges. I do not want to get Indiglo gauges but do something like white90dx did with his 2nd gen camry

white90dx · 01-24-2003, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fallennite

I want to replace my lights in the gauges but have a 4 gen camry not a 2nd gen. Has anyone tried to replace the lights on the stock gauges. I do not want to get Indiglo gauges but do something like white90dx did with his 2nd gen camry

You can do the same thing... Its a little more difficult, I think but you can do it.

-Charlie

1MZ-FExle.s · 01-25-2003, 11:56 PM

i have a gen4.5 and its easy as hell to get to the bulbs. just take off the black trim that includes the air vents and the clock. then every screw you see, unscrew. but my problem is that i bought some piaa super plazma blues to replace the "condom" bulbs and the stock green was actually dimmer. white90dx how did you do that? i thought the markings themselves were light green to begin with?????????

fallennite · 01-26-2003, 12:21 AM

HEY 1MZ-FExle.s do you have a picture of the console like dxwhite does

1MZ-FExle.s · 01-26-2003, 12:45 AM

naw dont got a digiCAM, but now it just has a carbon fiber bezel and stock lights.i wanted to make the markings purple and needle red (jetta style) but my plan didnt work. maybe if i put red bulbs like white90dx itll work. get to the bulbs yet fallennite?

white90dx · 01-27-2003, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MZ-FExle.s

white90dx how did you do that? i thought the markings themselves were light green to begin with?????????

No no... The stock guages looks very yellow when lit by uncolored or 'superwhite' bulbs, actually. I think that may just be the fact that the plastic in my car is old. :roll: I'm pretty sure its that way on the other generation Camrys, thought I'm not sure.

-Charlie

fallennite · 01-27-2003, 11:54 PM

I found a site that shows you step by step how to replace the lights. The last picture doesn't do justice to the mod.

http://www2.hawaii.edu/%7Echarlsto/dashlights.html

1MZ-FExle.s · 01-28-2003, 12:53 AM

i feel sorry for gen 3 owners, thats a lot more steps than gen 4. ahh...fallennite, i dont think we can do this mod because our odometers are digital, not analog. so i dont think we can change that green. its like a screen, ya know? no bulbs. so it'll just be green... :cry:

white90dx · 01-28-2003, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1MZ-FExle.s

i feel sorry for gen 3 owners, thats a lot more steps than gen 4. ahh...fallennite, i dont think we can do this mod because our odometers are digital, not analog. so i dont think we can change that green. its like a screen, ya know? no bulbs. so it'll just be green... :cry:

If you are really into it, you can change the green LEDs that light the odometer to be red... It can be done.

-Charlie

1MZ-FExle.s · 01-28-2003, 01:07 AM

ah yes...the joys of soldering...i love the smell of flux in the morning