Dash/Instrument cluster dissassembly help!

I am currently changing my instrument cluster bulbs in my 2003 toyota tacoma b/c they have been burnt out for a while now.( I am positive they are burnt out, not a bad fuse etc.)
I am at the part in the process where you take out the black molding around the instrument cluster itself. To get it off you have to unplug your hazard lights, dimmer switch, rear locker, etc. I AM HAVING DIFFICULTIES GETTING ENOUGH CLEARANCE TO SEE THE BACK OF THE LIGHTS, AND GETTING MY HAND BACK THERE. I have the screws all taken out and have the clips popped out, but i still cannot reach behind to unplug the switches. Someone with knowledge on this please help

 

pics Maybe? i didn't never took my cluster off but took the dash off plenty of times for the radio and installing the cb.

 

You should be able to take the whole gauge cluster out. The black trim piece is difficult to get over the steering column but it comes out. All the switches will have tabs you have to depress in order to take the wires out of the back
If its the same as my 98

 

I haven't took all that off in awhile but if I remember correctly there are the two screws above the cluster and one down under it. It should just pop out after that if you have the lower panel under the steering wheel removed and then you can unclip the switches.

 

It's the left side of the black trim that is holding and not Budging much like the right side. I think it might be the air ducting to the vent on the panel. I'm going to investigate more later.

 

Oh yeah, if it's like mine you have to reach up underneath and pop the vent apart. It's a PITA

 

This guy



should just pop apart

 

Got it to come off! It helped expose the back of the switches,now I just need to figure out how they disconnect themselves. One thing after another

 

So the black trim is far enough exposed to reach behind and unplug the wires, however i cannot figure out how to unplug them and i dont want to break anything. Not much room in there to work with either. Any ideas?

 

Anybody know how to get the plugs out? They will not budge.
Does the wires have a clip that holds them to the switches? Getting a good look at the back of the plugs is proving difficult.

 

You'll need to pull the speedo cable first, reach behind and feel for it, there is a tab on the end of it, push the tab and pull the cable attachment off. It's just plastic and snaps on/off. At this point you will have enough slack in the wiring to pull the panel out and it's easy to disconnect the wires from there.

 

x2
ive taken my dash assymbly apart of my 97 about 4 times this week. and will be once my LED lights come in. just reach in the back and pull the speedo cable out then the whole cluster should slack out enough for you to get the plugs

 

I have't even gotten that far yet! I can get the plugs out of the switches on the black trim that goes around the cluster. So the trim that holds the rear locker switch, hazard lights switch, etc.

 

whenever you pull the trim that has those switches, the back of the switch should somewhat pull out with it. and on the back should be just a clip that plugs in to it. just push the tab, and jiggle it out and it should pop right out.

 

Speedo cable??? uhh... I dont think he has one. He said his truck is a 2003.. Once he gets all the trim peaces off there are 4 screws that hold the clutster in then 3 plugs going to the cluster... At least thats how my 1999 Tacoma is. I cant imagine Toyota using a cable in a truck that new.....

also, Just take the trimm off the steering wheel. Takes 10 minutes the 1st time and will keep it from getting scratched and makes your life easier. a screw or two on the bottom, then you may need to turn the wheel to get the two screw that are hidden behind it. Once you get the crews out from there and the bottom, there are clips holding the halves together. Also, if your dash is built like mine, again a 1999, you will need to get the trim panel off the the center of the dash, radio cubby hole area. Once all the screws are out, you will have to pry up and the tabs will pop out freeing the trim to just hang out of the way.

Like others have mentioned, the vent on the far left side of the dash will hang you up. I like to take the duct off that goes under the steering colum, but I guess you dont have too. You can rotate the top of the trim peace torward the steering wheel and it should allow the vents duct work to clear the duct that is under the steering wheel.

It seens tough, but its really not. Take your time so you dont mess anything up.

 

When did Toyota stop using a cable? sorry about the wrong info.

 

uhhh 97ish. When ever they went to coil packs and got rid of the distributor. I THINK 97 was kind of a split year, some of the early years got distributors, but I know some got dual coil packs in its place.

 

Was the distributor just on the 4 bangers or the V6 too?
Mine is a 96. V6, has coil packs and no distributor, cable driven speedo.
I'm so confused

 

the 2rz and 3rz (4cyl) had distributors, I have never owned a 3.4L so I dont really know much about them... They may have had coil packs since they came out...