P38A Dashboard bulb replacement

cornishboater · Jan 17, 2018

Hi all, just wondering what is the best way to replace the bulbs on the dashboard switches, before I try prying them out and breaking something. The ones I need to replace are the fog and cruise ones, well, most of them actually

Cheers

stemac33 · Jan 17, 2018

twist 90 degrees and pull

cornishboater · Jan 17, 2018

How does the switch come out of the dash? Do I just use a flat screwdriver and pry it?

Joss155 · Jan 17, 2018

You can but that will ruin your dash and probably break it. You'll need to strip the centre console out working up to the switch panel. Once you can get behind it you can push them out from behind. It's a silly design.

brianp38dse · Jan 17, 2018

I seam to remember the cowl for the clocks has to come out as well to access a screw by the lighting switch.

pwood999 · Jan 17, 2018

Download RAVE and read.
Remove lower panel under steering column. (4 big screws)
Remove left & right finishing centre console panels (2 screws in each)
Remove stereo surround
Pull steering wheel out as far as possible
Remove instrument cluster panel (the one with the filler cap button) ( 4 screws)
Not sure if factory stereo needs to be removed (mine is no longer fitted & dash panel doesn't requite it to be removed)
Remove centre dash switch panel (4 screws hidden by previous panels)
Change lightbulbs
Refit . . . . .

cornishboater · Jan 18, 2018

Many thanks for the replies

Wazzajnr · Jan 18, 2018

Only British Leyland could design a vehicle that you have to dismantle half the interior to change a bulb in a switch!

cornishboater · Jan 18, 2018

And everything else Wazza! Still, it wouldn't be fun if it was easy..........

pwood999 · Jan 18, 2018

Wazzajnr said:
Only British Leyland could design a vehicle that you have to dismantle half the interior to change a bulb in a switch!

But at least the body doesn't need to come off for spark plug change !!

wammers · Jan 19, 2018

Wazzajnr said:
Only British Leyland could design a vehicle that you have to dismantle half the interior to change a bulb in a switch!

Don't know about that, ask Tomcatalan how much it cost to have one bulb replaced, i think a side repeater, on a modern car. About £19.00 i think it was.

cornishboater · Jan 19, 2018

I have read somewhere about removing the button switches by using 2 pieces of tin slid in on the top and bottom of the switch to release the clips, similar to the radio removal tool I guess. I may give it a shot, although I have to remove the centre bits anyway to get to the HVAC unit for replacement.

cornishboater · Jan 19, 2018

Just think, if after removing all of the internal panels you replaced the screws and bolts with Velcro it would make all of these jobs so much easier....

Grrrrrr · Jan 19, 2018

cornishboater said:
I have read somewhere about removing the button switches by using 2 pieces of tin slid in on the top and bottom of the switch to release the clips, similar to the radio removal tool I guess. I may give it a shot, although I have to remove the centre bits anyway to get to the HVAC unit for replacement.

yeah, I heard that but they're pretty well jammed in. I don't think I had to take all that off but maybe I did. MartyUK has replaced his with LED ones and I must say they do look impressive.

Mark Piercy · Jan 19, 2018

If your going in there, do them all at the same time! A lot of work to go back for another bulb soon after!!

cornishboater · Jan 19, 2018

+1 on that, I now have all the required bulbs and am changing them all even if they are still working, sods law states that as soon as I change a few they will all follow like sheep

Mark Piercy · Jan 19, 2018

cornishboater said:
+1 on that, I now have all the required bulbs and am changing them all even if they are still working, sods law states that as soon as I change a few they will all follow like sheep

Maaa!

Joss155 · Jan 19, 2018

cornishboater said:
+1 on that, I now have all the required bulbs and am changing them all even if they are still working, sods law states that as soon as I change a few they will all follow like sheep

I have learnt this the hard way in the past

P38A Dashboard bulb replacement

cornishboater

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stemac33

Well-Known Member

cornishboater

Well-Known Member

Joss155

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brianp38dse

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pwood999

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cornishboater

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Wazzajnr

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cornishboater

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pwood999

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wammers

No longer with us, RIP

cornishboater

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cornishboater

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Grrrrrr

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

cornishboater

Well-Known Member

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

Joss155

Well-Known Member

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