How To Change Odometer and Diagnostic Bulbs - 2002 Avalon

[bobflood]

This task is quite easy; it took me about an hour from start to finish. You need a flat screwdriver (or even better a trim removal tool) to remove the trims, and a #2 Philips head screwdriver for the screws (a magnetic bit will help). You also need the new bulbs (odometer bulb is #74 clear – use LL bulbs – available at any auto parts store; don’t know what the diagnostic bulbs are). There were no separate illumination bulbs for the “LED” portion of the panel in mine. I did not need to disconnect the battery, as I had no need to unplug anything but speakers.

1. Begin by removing the little cloth covered speakers at the edges of the instrument panel area. Use your wedge tool (or flat screwdriver) and pry gently lest you break something. The speakers are on clips only. The pry motion can dislodge the outer clip, but the inner clip needs a straight out pulling motion. Over-prying can break it. When the speakers are free, you may disconnect their wire harness. The speaker clips have little metal retainers that can get stuck in the hole. If this happens, remove it very carefully lest it fall into the car and vanish.

2. Now remove the upper and lower trim pieces which run the width of the car. With the speakers out, you can use the trim tool or your hands to put at the trim clips gently until it begins to release from one end; then work your way across the dash. Again, be careful of the metal clips – a couple of mine broke. Replacement clips are Part #90468-04157; about $2@ at dealer.

3. With the speakers and the trim pieces out, you can now see some of the screws that need to come off. Working from the passenger side, the first panel from the door has no buttons or functions on it; it’s just a cosmetic cover with “Avalon” written on it. It is held down by 2 screws on the door end of it. Once you remove these, the other end is held by clips onto the middle panel. Gently tease out the clips on the left side (pull straight out) and put it away from scratch danger.

4. Now you can see the passenger side screws of the middle panel (the one with the odometer, diagnostic lights and LED panel); take these out. On the driver’s side of the middle panel, there is a narrow trim piece that separates the middle panel from the speedo panel. It is held down by a screw at the top; once you remove the screw, you can tease out the bottom (careful not to break it) and off it comes. Now you can see three screws; two hold the middle panel, remove them and free up the middle panel. (If you wanted to remove the speedo panel, you just take off the third screw on the passenger side and the screws by the driver door side and off it comes.)

5. Ease out the middle panel; then tilt the bottom of the panel up and out so you can see the back. All of the bulb holders are visible. The odometer bulb holder is alone at the bottom of the panel; mine was a different color (blue) from the diagnostic bulb holders. Twist it about an eighth turn to remove; I did not have to unplug the 5 wire harnesses to get the odometer bulb holder out or back in. (If you also have diagnostic light bulbs to replace, it will probably be easier to disconnect the battery, unplug the harnesses and remove the panel completely.)

6. Pull the old bulb straight out of the bulb holder; then push the new bulb in and reinstall the holder in the back of the panel. Be sure to test that the new bulb is working before you put all the panel screws back. (Note: Should you decide to replace the odometer bulb with an LED, be extra sure to test!! Unlike regular bulbs, LEDs are polarity sensitive and will only work one way. If the LED doesn’t light up, just remove the holder, rotate 180 degrees, and reinstall.)

7. Reassemble by reversing the above steps. All the screws were the same size, so you don’t have to keep them straight.

[ChiTDI]

Sticky???