2001 Echo Instrument Panel

[NoCal]

First time on the forum, so forgive me if this has been asked and answered before. Didn't see anything in the existing posts, so.....

One of the IP's white lamps is burned out (right side). I'm assuming there are only two considering the size of the panel. So now the questions:

• How do I get to the bulbs? Is it a "reach up and feel for it" deal? I know there's a little access hole in the front of the IP that looks like it's for pointing the IP to the right for RH drives. Is it possible to get the IP's top cover off gracefully without disassembling the entire front of the car?
• Does the IP need to be completely removed?
• Shall I just drive in the daytime and forget about it?

Thanks.

[NoCal]

Never mind. I figured it out. Seems that the 30+ people who read my post either (a) didn't know the answer either, or (b) figured I was too stupid to live so why bother answering the question.

Anyway, for those that read my question but didn't know the answer either, you pop out that little oval access thing at the front of the IP with a small screwdriver and that opening then becomes a handhold so with one good yank toward you, out pops the IP cover. Two Philllips screws hold the IP in place. Pull it straight out (no need to disconnect the two electrical connectors on the bottom of the IP) and then turn it 180 degrees and there are your light bulbs. There is no speedo cable. The bulbs are in little candleabra-like things and there is a colored sleeve that slides over the two "main" bulbs. I had to get the replacement bulbs from Toyota Parts...local auto store didn't have them. Screw the IP back in, push the cover thing back into place until it snaps, you're done.

I replaced both since the IP was out of the dash anyway.

Total R/R time: about 10 minutes.
Total cost: $8

So there you go.

[Lasse D]

Thanks ;-)

[Alikat]

Awesome! I needed to know that. Mine is dirty on the inside and I want to get in and clean the plastic. Anyone got any ideas on how to remove silica spray from a windscreen? There was overspray at the valet.

[Alikat]

I might add that the little panel that has the odo/clock buttons has two clips holding it into the instrument pod and they are on the side. Experience has taught me this as I broke one of the two clips. Just as well I had to go to the wreckers. The plastic wasn't dirty. It has been sprayed with something which has eaten into the plastic on the front of the plastic panel.

[NoCal]

Great. Glad I could help. I should've added, though, that you want to use two hands when removing the IP screws. Yes, they're easy to get to but even easier to drop down into the bowels of the dashboard area. I realized that as the first screw I'd removed was just about to head south. Yikes!

Now it's off to the Camry Forum for another question.