Greetings to all from central Illinois.
My 1971 T-Bird has a burned out dash turn signal indicator bulb. The signals work fine, just the dash indicator bulb for a right hand turn is bad. I spent nearly 2 hours last night trying to figure out how to get to the blasted dashboard bulbs. Taking out the instrument fascia revealed the instruments, but I could not pull the panel forward due to the speedo cable and electrical connections on the back side. No joy coming from underneath the instrument panel, I could not even see the bulb sockets when laying on the floor, looking up under the dash.
My service manual is still a couple of days away from being delivered. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to get to those darn dash light bulbs? I cannot believe that Ford intended for a service tech to take the dash apart ... but I have most certainly been wrong before!
Many thanks in advance for any help you can send.
1971 Dash Lights
1971 Dash Lights
Bruce
1971 Thunderbird Hardtop
1971 Thunderbird Hardtop
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- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2018 10:05 pm
Re: 1971 Dash Lights
What is causing the issue getting the dash bulbs out? Steering wheel getting in the way?
Re: 1971 Dash Lights
Here is the copy from my shop manual, my car is a 70 but can’t imagine it would be different
Have had over 40 t birds here from 57-2004
Currently have a 65,70,and 80 Silver Anniversary
Currently have a 65,70,and 80 Silver Anniversary
Re: 1971 Dash Lights
Success! My shop manual arrived in the mail, and eureka! it described having to remove the clear lens/mask assembly in front of the gauges to get at the bulbs. By golly, it worked! The plastic/metal push pin/rivet retainers were somewhat fiddly, but in the end the job was completed.
Bruce
1971 Thunderbird Hardtop
1971 Thunderbird Hardtop