Jump to content
HybridZ

How to change bulbs in gauge cluster 240z


415DZ

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone,

 

I did a search on this but couldn't find an answer.  I'm looking to change the bulbs in the center gauge cluster which contains the gas/oil/clock gauges.  I found online that someone said each gauge uses 2 Ba9s bulbs.  Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

Next I need to know how to get to the bulbs.  Do I have to remove the entire gauge, and if so how do I do it?  Any help/pictures anyone can share would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Remove the glovebox, reach in and pull the sockets. Note some replacement bulbs are too long and will not fit. If you can't reach the bulbs you can also pull the heater control grill.

 

Search here and at Classic Z car for the correct bulbs. I removed the green filters so bulb size is not an issue. Brighter too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So today I went in and took the glove box out.  After remove a single bolt for each of the small gauges I was able to pull them out the back.  Took me awhile to get the old crusty bulbs out, and when I finally did, they don't light up now.  The new bulbs and the old bulbs don't work.  Any ideas on what I could've botched?  Could the bulb housings have gone bad?  Pretty frustrated that such a simple task is proving to be such a headache.  Any help is appreciated. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're trying to turn them on when they're not in the gauge housing they won't work. The ground for the bulb is integrated into the socket, so they need to be plugged back into the gauge to work. The gauge housing is the ground in the circuit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're trying to turn them on when they're not in the gauge housing they won't work. The ground for the bulb is integrated into the socket, so they need to be plugged back into the gauge to work. The gauge housing is the ground in the circuit.

That is incredibly useful information.  I feel like an idiot now.  Thanks!  I'll give this a try.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can anyone tell me how to disconnect the gauge wires so I can take the gauge out to work on it. The led bulbs are too tall and don't fit behind the green dome. The plugs don't appear to pull out or unscrew. Much appreciated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ended up just dremeling out the green caps while the gauges were still attached. Made it hard on myself but I got it done. Thank you all for your help. You guys are great!

 

 

 

Now to tackle my power seat install.......post-38158-0-63219700-1373170026_thumb.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For anyone looking to do this I recommend removing your glove box as well as your heater console. This will give you 2 points of access. Each gauge then disconnects via one bolt each. With some finesse you have to then either disconnect the wires so you can work on each gauge or you can do it the hard way like I did and work on it still attached.

 

You have to remove the light socket and like someone mentioned in this thread, the light won't work again until it is plugged back into the gauge. For the LEDs I chose, they were too tall to simply plug back in, so I had to use a grinder on my dremel to drill out where the green plastic bulb caps attach. Once these are removed you can put in your new bulbs and piece it all back together like Humpty Dumpty.

 

Also the bulbs I got were from superbrightleds.com

 

Each small gauge takes 1 bulb and the tach and speedo take 2 each. Turn signals and parking brake are extra.

 

Bulb type is BA9s.

 

Hope this helps anyone else who aims to do this. Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 years later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...