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1987 Dashboard Lights

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  • Robert Schillo
    #1

    1987 Dashboard Lights

    I have a 1987 convertible with about half of the lights burned out in the dashboard. The ones that are burned out are supposed to illuminate the Tach plus other gauges. My question is... What is involved in replacing these bulbs? Any advice will be appreciated.

    Bob
    Tags: None
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    • Juliet P.
      Very Frequent User
      • June 30, 1999
      • 349
      #2
      Piece O' Cake.

      I just went through this a few weeks ago with my '87. I removed the dash bezel, the lower trim panels and dropped the steering column down (it lowers about 2 inches). There are then 4 screws holding the dash cluster in place. You need to take the cluster out. Lift up gently on the center dash and tip the top of the cluster out. Disconnect the wiring harness from the side of the cluster. With the cluster on the workbench take the backing cover off it and remove the first layer of circuit board. The 2 layers are held together with a multi pin deal on one edge of the cluster. You can then insert new bulbs from the backside and reverse the process. Replace all 4 bulbs at the same time. I used #882 halogens from the local auto parts shop - they were about $9 each. Don't touch the glass part of the bulbs with your hands - use a towel to handle them. I have read where folks were able to replace just the glass part of the halogens from the front, but I couldn't figure out (or didn't want) to separate the glass from the plastic base / housing part. So I did it the long way. ~Juliet
      2019 Sebring Orange 8-Spd Coupe (daily driver & autocross) 6k mi.
      1970 Bridgehampton Blue Convertible - Chapter Top Flight 2005 68k mi.
      1965 Coupe (Greg's project No Flight)
      Gone but not forgotten:
      1987 Yellow Convertible 199k mi.
      2002 Yellow Convertible 100k mi.
      2007 Atomic Orange Coupe 140k mi. RIP flood 2015
      2007 Lemans Blue 6-Spd Coupe 34k mi.
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        • Juliet P.
          Very Frequent User
          • June 30, 1999
          • 349
          #3
          Re: 1987 Dashboard Lights

          I forgot to say that you'll need 4 of the halogen bulbs. There are another 3 down on the lower section but I didn't swap those and I don't know what part number those are. ~Juliet
          2019 Sebring Orange 8-Spd Coupe (daily driver & autocross) 6k mi.
          1970 Bridgehampton Blue Convertible - Chapter Top Flight 2005 68k mi.
          1965 Coupe (Greg's project No Flight)
          Gone but not forgotten:
          1987 Yellow Convertible 199k mi.
          2002 Yellow Convertible 100k mi.
          2007 Atomic Orange Coupe 140k mi. RIP flood 2015
          2007 Lemans Blue 6-Spd Coupe 34k mi.
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            • Jim T.
              Expired
              • March 1, 1993
              • 5351
              #4
              Re: Piece O' Cake.

              Juliet I don't think your 87 halogen lights are any different from what is in my 85, so I will say this. About the hardest thing to do here is to remove the knob from the headlight switch. Once it is done it is a piece of cake. The knob has a slot in it. Insert a small screwdriver and release the spring that retains the headlight knob on the stem.
              One the plastic facia is removed for the instrument cluster that you have mentioned, all you have to do is remove the four metal round covers. Behind the covers are the halogen bulbs. Using a piece of rubber hose over the bulb just simply pull out the bulb and install the new ones. This method saves work and time in not removing the instrument cluster. With the metal covers removed you can turn on the lights and see which ones are burned out. Don't use anything but the 882 halogen bulbs or you could melt something from the extra heat.
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                • Juliet P.
                  Very Frequent User
                  • June 30, 1999
                  • 349
                  #5
                  Re: Piece O' Cake.

                  Jim - I tried to get them out, but they were affixed in the plastic housings (which were screwed in from the back side). I couldn't see HOW they would come out? I even tried needle nose plyers covered with duct tape. I gave up on that approach. The plastic housing part (the base of the bulb) was quite deterioriated and brittle on mine. In fact one of them was cracked! ~Juliet
                  2019 Sebring Orange 8-Spd Coupe (daily driver & autocross) 6k mi.
                  1970 Bridgehampton Blue Convertible - Chapter Top Flight 2005 68k mi.
                  1965 Coupe (Greg's project No Flight)
                  Gone but not forgotten:
                  1987 Yellow Convertible 199k mi.
                  2002 Yellow Convertible 100k mi.
                  2007 Atomic Orange Coupe 140k mi. RIP flood 2015
                  2007 Lemans Blue 6-Spd Coupe 34k mi.
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                    Comment

                    • Jim T.
                      Expired
                      • March 1, 1993
                      • 5351
                      #6
                      Re: Piece O' Cake.

                      You do good work Juliet. I guess I was lucky in that my bases were in pretty good shape. They are easily inspected with the bulbs removed and my bulbs came out easily.
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                        • Juliet P.
                          Very Frequent User
                          • June 30, 1999
                          • 349
                          #7
                          Re: Piece O' Cake.

                          Hmmm, well I got lucky on the light knob. Mine just pulled off. I had nothing to release with a screwdriver... It was just press fit onto that triangular piece which was slid onto the shaft. Maybe someone had been in there before? So we're even. LOL! Some days you're the bug - other days you're the windshield. ~Juliet
                          2019 Sebring Orange 8-Spd Coupe (daily driver & autocross) 6k mi.
                          1970 Bridgehampton Blue Convertible - Chapter Top Flight 2005 68k mi.
                          1965 Coupe (Greg's project No Flight)
                          Gone but not forgotten:
                          1987 Yellow Convertible 199k mi.
                          2002 Yellow Convertible 100k mi.
                          2007 Atomic Orange Coupe 140k mi. RIP flood 2015
                          2007 Lemans Blue 6-Spd Coupe 34k mi.
                            • Top

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