Auto Parts: Burned out dash and other bulbs, 1996 lexus es300, lexus es300


Question
Hello. Thanks for your offer of help.
My 1996 Lexus ES300 has several dash cluster bulbs out as well as a few near the radio panel.
Is bulb replacement possible. I cannot find anyway to access the area????  

Answer
    You have to get your three-year-old nephew to help, and then you have to grease him up so that he can get his hand up in there.  Actually it's not that big a deal.  The protective covering under the dash has to come off.  Then you lie on your back, wedge you head under there and shine a flashlight up into that space behind the dash.  The light bulbs are held in little black plastic gizmos that twist into the back of the printed-circuit dash panel.  There are no wires going to them, they get juice directly from the board.  Find the ones that seem to correspond to the ones that you have out, untwist them, and pull them out.  They use a bulb that is easily obtained at any parts store: a #194.  While you're under there, getting dust in your eyes and cursing, you might want to go ahead and replace all of the bulbs (bad or not).  That way you will probably never have to do this again, instead of next week.  Make sure everything is working and be sure to properly fasten the under dash shield so that it doesn't fall down and interfere with the pedals at an inconvenient time.