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NorthernLime
Member
Posts: 425
Joined: 7-22-2007
Location: Ontario
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Anyone familiar with 2003 Taurus?
Hopefully I'm posting this in the right place. Got a question about a non-Mustang. The instrument cluster on my winter beater (03 Taurus SE) has one of the bulbs burnt out. It's just behind the speedo and Tach. The other bulbs are working and there's enough light to still how fast I'm going. I talked to a few people about pulling the thing out but I can't get any clear info on how difficult this would be. There appears to be 2 screws just above the cluster. There's a plastic trim piece that goes around it. Should the cluster easily pop out once this is removed?. Or.. is there more involved?.
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fst06stg
Moderator
Posts: 1829
Joined: 2-8-2006
Location: 3rd point of the Oklahoma Triangle
Real Name: Yancey the Bandit
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youre right on about this. my wife has a 2003 taurus. the white plastic tabs with screws in them are what youre looking for. just unscrew those and the cluster should come right out. couldnt tell you what bulb you need right off hand but im sure you could figure that out.
2006 Legend Lime - H281C -
K&N CAI - O/R X-Pipe - 40 Series Flowmasters - Eibach Pro-kit - MRT rear louvers - American Muscle blackout panel - Cervini window scoops - 19'' Saleens - painted hood and spoiler - visor appliques by Jadeuel - Shelby black billet grille - GT500 rear spoiler - American Muscle mirror covers"Yes, I just ordered a Shirley Temple... so did Chris and Charles, haha."
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oi8achevy
Member
Posts: 165
Joined: 2-14-2008
Location: Lindley NY
Real Name: Brian Davis
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this is a fairly easy R&R. once you remove those two screws you refer to that piece will pop out. youll probably have to tilt the wheel down to the lowest position and if its a column shift put the shifter in low for clearance. once you have that piece out youll see 4 screws holding the cluster in place that will need to be removed. then you can pull the cluster toward you enough to reach behind it to unplug the electrical connections and then its out. change your bulb and replace in reverse order.
RETIRED L1 certified ASE Master Tech only wrenchin for fun....now where did i put that mod list?
currently employed at Corning Inc. Corning NY Consider it a 4.0R! corners like a gocart ;) Color matched window trim, mirrors, center console,modified GT500 front spoiler, Cervini KR hood, custom graphics, hand fabricated dual exhaust(very loud),fully sound deadend interior,K&N AF,FRPP springs,GT500 dampers,GT sway bars,adjustable panhard bar,255/45/17front 285/40/17rear firehawks, GT front brakes, Gt wheels.
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NorthernLime
Member
Posts: 425
Joined: 7-23-2007
Location: Ontario
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Thanks guys! I'll give this a try tomorrow morning. I went to Ford and bought a couple bulbs. I figure I might as well replace the other one too. They gave me a printout showing how it pops out (it's exactly as you guys described). My only question is with removing the plastic trim bascially goes around the intrument cluster and the vents. I'm hoping this will easily come off without snapping anything (all plastic). Just for curiosity sake, I asked Ford what they would charge to replace the bulb. It would be one and half hours labour to do!!!. So that's easily over $150. The bulb cost me 50 cents. So, I'll try it myself.
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oi8achevy
Member
Posts: 165
Joined: 2-14-2008
Location: Lindley NY
Real Name: Brian Davis
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my experience with plastic parts removal is that warm parts are less likely to break than cold parts. if one of the tabs does break off put a small dab of silicone on the attachment point at reassembly, it will keep the part from rattling.
RETIRED L1 certified ASE Master Tech only wrenchin for fun....now where did i put that mod list?
currently employed at Corning Inc. Corning NY Consider it a 4.0R! corners like a gocart ;) Color matched window trim, mirrors, center console,modified GT500 front spoiler, Cervini KR hood, custom graphics, hand fabricated dual exhaust(very loud),fully sound deadend interior,K&N AF,FRPP springs,GT500 dampers,GT sway bars,adjustable panhard bar,255/45/17front 285/40/17rear firehawks, GT front brakes, Gt wheels.
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NorthernLime
Member
Posts: 425
Joined: 7-23-2007
Location: Ontario
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I think this is going to be a bit more complicated... I've discovered that there's some hidden screws behind the center vents. This means that the radio/heater and it's trim also has to be removed in order for me to access the screws holding the instrument cluster trim. I don't know if this bulb is worth all the work. Any idea how the radio is removed?. There's 4 small holes on each side. Is there a special took for removing this?.
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fst06stg
Moderator
Posts: 1829
Joined: 2-9-2006
Location: 3rd point of the Oklahoma Triangle
Real Name: Yancey the Bandit
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a cut up wire hanger or a couple of allen wrenches will work too. theres 4 tabs that have to be pressed in to let the radio slide out.
Post last edited by fst06stg on 2-8-2010 6:40 PM
2006 Legend Lime - H281C -
K&N CAI - O/R X-Pipe - 40 Series Flowmasters - Eibach Pro-kit - MRT rear louvers - American Muscle blackout panel - Cervini window scoops - 19'' Saleens - painted hood and spoiler - visor appliques by Jadeuel - Shelby black billet grille - GT500 rear spoiler - American Muscle mirror covers"Yes, I just ordered a Shirley Temple... so did Chris and Charles, haha."
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