Dash lights

2001 XJ. The "book" says that you disassemble the entire dash to replace! Is there a better way? I have two lights out and expect more soon. I sure will replace them all if that is what is really required.

Which ones? You will have to take some of it apart to get at them.

Ditto that, which ones?
Instrument cluster lights are a lot easier to get at than you'd think.

Cluster illumination lights. How easy?

Pull the center bezel around the radio/ac and start removing screws You will eventually get down to the instrument cluster, remove the cluster and turn it around, the bulbs are in the back, twist turn to remove. Just go buy a dozen and do em all at once... Disconnect the battery and let it sit for 20 min or so, you'll be fooling around with the airbag indicator ckt and one never knows, beside the FSM recommends the battery disconnect. Also check the two connectors on the back, they are called 'self docking' when putting the panel back in but be gentle, dont' bend any... total time about 1 hour...

Make that ~15 small ones, 3 small blue ones and 3 large ones like are used in the marker lights. Sorry, don't know the sizes, bought 3 boxes of them and put them in my plastic drawers months ago.

wilewil said:

Cluster illumination lights. How easy?

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Very easy as per Rich's instructions.
Here's a photo step by step I used when I put my white gauge faces on. I found it very helpful. Link is HERE.

Like they said, "it's not hard". Infact the hardest part is getting the trim bezel around the headlight switch off it's a very tight fit, but will come with persistance.

Thanks. That is essentially what the book says. Appreciate the encouragement and the website with guide.

You'll also need to disconnect the speedometer cable. If you don't, the cluster will not come out. The cluster will only pull out far enough to get your fingers back there to disconnect. You can also crawl under your rig and disconnect it from the tranny. It simple unscrews at the tranny. Hope this helps.

NO speedo cable on a 01, all electronic. I think that went away with AW4

JaysXJ said:

You'll also need to disconnect the speedometer cable. If you don't, the cluster will not come out. The cluster will only pull out far enough to get your fingers back there to disconnect. You can also crawl under your rig and disconnect it from the tranny. It simple unscrews at the tranny. Hope this helps.

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84-90 have a cable, 91-up are electric. AW4 was used from 87-01.

That was the year I was thinking for the cable. I just figured they switched with the AW4. My pre 97 is not to good yet, but I'm picking it up slowly.