I have a 97 XJ6. I need to replace a couple of light bulbs on the gauges....I have NO clue how to get to them. Neither does anybody else I ask. Anyone out there able to tell me what I must do to replace the lights for gauges in the dash...🧐

 

If you can get to them they may be what's called grain of rice bulbs

There are 2 ribbon connectors on the very aft side of the cluster assembly that can be a real pain

Grain of wheat

Grain of sand

There may be a coating on the bulb to give it color and the coating transfers over to the new , but the coating rips easily

 

I might have known they wouldn't make it user friendly.....ribbons.....grains of wheat...😵‍💫
this may be the straw that broke my interest in this car......gonna find an old Chevy, Ford, with a carburator......points......no computers, clutch.....and instrument panels with bulbs 🤣😂Thanks for your info

 

no idea where to get those bulbs from but you can get any kind of NEO WEDGE style dash globe that uses SMD LEDs and use those.
in doing so you will get brighter light, may get different/incorrect colour, may also get uneven light.
So i would suggest if doing this you change them all and maybe even go as far as i did as to install LED strips in the back to give a super bright even glow.
there is a thread in the sticky FAQ that shows
but if you wish to simply replace with regular globes i am unsure where to find them. over here in aus i would suggest a place we have called JAYCAR which is an electronics hobby store. selling all kinds of electrical components.

those globe parker has shown appear to be the correct style of globe and they would need to have the legs trimmed to fit in the holder.
there is no coating of the globes. the natural slight orange colour of the globes gives the needle its orange colour and passes through a light blue tint on the instrument cluster lense to give the green colour.

in my images you can see after putting LED strips in.
super bright and even but not a 5min job.
this is using white LEDs that gives the nice blue colour.
ignore the airbag warning my cluster was not plugged in properly



.

 

Getting to the bulbs isn’t too hard: 4 screws should allow the removal of the instrument pack, and you will then be able to access the bulb holders which detach with a half turn. The last time I looked the bulbs were available if a bit expensive. That may have changed, but as has been mentioned there is an LED option.
Don’t give up!

 

ok so found for you.
here in AUS
NARVA 47790 (1.2W) or 47794 (2W) is an exact replacment for globe including holder.
for finding a similar spec from another brand you want.

B8.7D 12v 1.2W/2W
I may be wrong but given the different fitting colours i "think" the warning lights are 1.2W and the guage lights are 2W from factory.
i may be wrong, but if you end up with mixed wattages in the warning lights you will not notice, but if you get mixed wattages in the guages you will possibly get a brighter and duller area. so replacing all 8 at the same time is an idea.
not sure if an B8.5d socket would fit properly or not.
but as the B8.5 is a much more common globe and socket combo,
you could buy the B8.5D (BAX10D) and if you find it does not sit snug you could take the globe from that holder and put it in your original one.

 

How do you remove the instrument cluster from the dash to begin with????? I see no screws...do I have to remove the steering wheel???

 

Iwas able to tilt the steering wheel down far enough to get clearence but just barely

If I recal correctly the mounting hardware is on the front lower section of the assembly

You will have a couple of connectors to remove I think was the switch blocks on each side lower front

I did not change any bulbs

 

The problem with the LED is that they are too bright unless you figure out how to make them dimmable. I tried to replace them and had to "wear sunglasses at night". If you need some replacement bulbs, let me know how many. I may have a few clusters that I took apart and may have the bulbs. Just PM me and let me know.

 

I don’t have any images to show you easy where the screws are. But,
remove lower dash panel, 2 philips head screws and 2 ?8mm nuts. Unplug temp sensor.
lower and extend steering wheel to make removal of cluster easier
from under the dash there are 4 screws. 2 phillips head accessible either side from a hole in the lower plates of the cruise control panel and headlight control panel.
and then 2 self tappers just slightly further toward the front of the car.
pull forward, lift up and move cluster forward.
to unplug i find that the left plug is easiest to reach around from under and the right plug is easiest to reach from the top.
the warning lights are immediately visible from the unit and uclip and open the white cover to find the rest.

as far as LEDs go, brightness is subjective of course.
the LEDs are dimmable. I have mine on close to full dim.
the rheostat in the x300 simply reduces the voltage to the lights. Reducing the voltage to a LED reduces it brightness.
now they do not dim anywhere near as much as a incandescent but imo that is good.
but they are dimmable.
i suppose it would be technically possible to add a rheostat that had a larger voltage range too.

 

Really appreciate giving you time and energy to me on this

 

I just try and repay the help that others give me where i can.