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2003 Dash lights

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by takamineman, Jan 5, 2012.

  1. Jan 5, 2012 at 12:39 PM
    #1
    takamineman

    takamineman [OP] Active Member

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    greg
    auburn, ga
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    My dash lights have gone out (like alot of others on here) and I was looking for a thread that shows how to get the dash out to replace the lights. I saw a couple with the dash already out, but nothing on the how to. If it's self explanatory, feel free to tell me so...I just kinda like to know what I'm up against before I start a project! Thanks, Greg
     
    chattacoma likes this.
  2. Jan 5, 2012 at 2:30 PM
    #2
    TIPICOTACO

    TIPICOTACO Well-Known Member

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    Tyler
    nw nj
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    Some lift, some armor, some scratches..
    hey Greg, WELCOME! It is pretty self explanitory just a bunch of bolts and a couple clips, along w/ wiring "plugs"

    Did you check your fuses first?? that is the easiest fix and first thing to check out.

    if you discover that its not the fuses, then there is a breakdown here:
    http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=77
     
    POOPIE likes this.
  3. Jan 6, 2012 at 4:24 AM
    #3
    takamineman

    takamineman [OP] Active Member

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    greg
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    Thanks Tyler! Can't believe I just now found this forum! That article is exactly what I needed! I'm gonna be sure and check all the fuses but I want to change the light color anyway, so that link will come in handy! Thanks again!
     
  4. Jan 6, 2012 at 6:24 AM
    #4
    TIPICOTACO

    TIPICOTACO Well-Known Member

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    Some lift, some armor, some scratches..
    glad to help.. throw in some 360* LEDS in the color of your choice and be on your way :)
    [​IMG]

    this is an awesome forum!! use the search function near the top of the page right under your "welcome" box, pretty much every question you have has been already discussed!
     
  5. Jan 6, 2012 at 7:59 AM
    #5
    takamineman

    takamineman [OP] Active Member

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    Yours look great! So much easier on the eyes than the orange!!
     
  6. Jan 6, 2012 at 5:16 PM
    #6
    01Yota

    01Yota Well-Known Member

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    Where do you buy your leds from? And if I wanted to make mine white all I would have to do is put in white 360 leds and it'd be white?
     
  7. Jan 6, 2012 at 8:59 PM
    #7
    ratso

    ratso Well-Known Member

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    Camburg coilovers,ARB, warn 9000,avic d3,KN cold air,poweraid, optima yellow top,line x
    Dash lights looks good did you change the light behind the ac?
     
  8. Jan 7, 2012 at 7:10 AM
    #8
    tacomaforlife

    tacomaforlife Well-Known Member

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    Its a Toyota what more is there to say.....
    TRD S/C 3" sky jacker suspension lift,33" kumho road venture mt kl71's 16" 320c pacer wheels,billet grill,EBC slotted and dimpled rotors,super 44 muffler with gutted cat,smoked l.e.d. tail lights, deck plate mod with K&N filter,fog/blinker mod,cobra cb with 4' firestick antenna/100W PA,clear corners with l.e.d bulbs,55w back up lights,urd O2 sim., blue l.e.d bulbs behind gauge cluster.

    superbrightleds.com and yes.
     
  9. Jan 7, 2012 at 8:32 AM
    #9
    TIPICOTACO

    TIPICOTACO Well-Known Member

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    Some lift, some armor, some scratches..
    yea superbrightleds.com BUT your stock lights have an orange "condom" on them creating the amber light. You might wanna just take that off (its super easy) and see if the resulting light is white enough for ya.. if not get the LEDS
    thanks, no because the reason they are amber is from a film on the panel itself, not the bulb IMO. you can remove the film, but I tried that and it was a dissaster lol
    http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/lighting/187714-1st-gen-ac-heat-plate-mod.html
     
  10. Jan 9, 2012 at 7:42 AM
    #10
    takamineman

    takamineman [OP] Active Member

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    greg
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    How many lights does it take for the instrunment cluster and how many for the climate control panel? I want to make sure I have enough before I take it apart!
     
  11. Jan 9, 2012 at 12:51 PM
    #11
    TIPICOTACO

    TIPICOTACO Well-Known Member

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    Some lift, some armor, some scratches..
    4 for the cluster, 3 for the climate control panel IIRC. I dont remember the size bulbs, but superbrightleds.com will tell ya what you need
     
  12. Jan 19, 2015 at 10:26 AM
    #12
    03TacomaLimited

    03TacomaLimited Active Member

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    None as of yet
    So where can I get some decent leds for a better price? And will any 194 bulb fit?
     
  13. Jan 25, 2015 at 8:17 PM
    #13
    roly6two

    roly6two New Member

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    HID lights, blue dash lights
    This thread help me out and here is the result.

    image.jpg
     
  14. Jan 26, 2015 at 5:35 AM
    #14
    JoeyDel

    JoeyDel Well-Known Member

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    I just replaced my lights with leds when one light died but because of a mistake I made or maybe a loose connection I had to do some trouble shooting.

    I had no dash lights after replacing them so a trip to my auto parts guy and he recommended replacing all the bulbs with standard bulbs and work from there. He had some 193's in a box of 10 for something like $4. He told me they were not as bright as the 194's but would work to help trouble shoot. When I put them in I made sure all my plugs were snug and the wires were actually pushed into the plugs. The lights all came on and I actually liked the look, they were still bright enough because the bulbs didn't have those orange condoms in them but the gauges were a nice soft white and a lot easier to look at with my old eyes.

    Well I had $25 in amber led bulbs sitting there and I was going to use them. The amber leds look nice also but to be honest I would have been happy with the 193's at a fraction of the cost. In my situation where I was looking for better visibility the cheaper option was fine, if you are looking for a color, leds would be the way to go though.
     
  15. Feb 10, 2015 at 12:40 PM
    #15
    Lostoam311

    Lostoam311 YETI

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    Spec D headlights (garbage, Do not buy) replaced bulb with H7 80W Osram Off Road bulb so I could actually see. The lights they send do not put off any light at all and it's impossible to see anything at night... TOYO Open County AT III's (smooth ride, not loud) with Matte Black 17-In. TRD PRO Wheels Plasti dipped emblems and Bull Bar (Lasted about 2 years, need to spray them again)
    I just got my blue LED's... just looks like a couple screws, but I'm sure it'll turn into more than that... any clips I should be careful around or any other useful tips would be helpful! Also, is there a right or wrong way to put these LED's in? I thought with some it mattered which way you put em in... I would hate to replace them, then not work and have to take apart my dash again!
    slow day at the shop today, so might pull my truck in and knock it out!
     
  16. Mar 16, 2015 at 2:20 PM
    #16
    NH03TacomaTRD4x4

    NH03TacomaTRD4x4 Well-Known Member

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    So all this must be done to get to replace a bulb?
     
  17. Jul 21, 2016 at 12:02 PM
    #17
    DomBo547

    DomBo547 Open_Diff_Taco_Drift

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    Auxbeam V-series 52" Light Bar Relentless Fab 50" Light Bar Roof Mount (modified) K&N Air intake system Aftermarket muffler
    Quick note, if you don't have telescopic steering wheel, then you should remove the steering wheel shroud. There is one on the bottom, and two behind the steering wheel it self. You have to turn the wheel to access them. Also if you have the cluster that doesn't have the tachometer, you only need 2 bulbs to change and not 4. There's also a hidden screw that the guide didn't show, but once you get the the point to removing the black shroud around the cluster, there is a screw on the tucked sightly to the left under the steering column.
    Easter 3-27-2016 317.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2016
  18. Jul 21, 2016 at 3:42 PM
    #18
    Sicyota04

    Sicyota04 Slowly but surely.

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    01 - 04 Tacomas Instrument gauge cluster 4 - #194's, HVAC area - Neo wedge 4mm, Glove box, gear shifter and ashtray lights are all #74's

    image.jpg
    image.jpg
    image.jpg
    image.jpg
    image.jpg
     
    NorCal3056 likes this.
  19. Jul 21, 2016 at 6:54 PM
    #19
    EJPHI

    EJPHI Well-Known Member

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    N CALI
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    2003 2.4l 5sp 5 lug
    pt474 cruise control Alpine head unit
    For the 2003 does anyone know what bulb the 4way flasher button needs?

    Also how do l get the button apart to install the bulb?

    Thanks
     
  20. Jul 21, 2016 at 6:59 PM
    #20
    gmr102

    gmr102 Well-Known Member

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    Did you add those LEDs in the ash tray and glovebox? or were there lights in there to begin with? If there were lights there already then mine must be burnt out.
     

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