QuestionQUESTION: In Dec 2010 our temperature gauge light went, and yesterday the speedometer light went out on our 1996 Toyota Tercel 4-DR sedan. All of the other instrument cluster lights are working. Since we still have more than 14 hrs of darkness here, I need to get these replaced quickly. I've looked over this site, but didn't find anything specific to our car to replace these lights. Can you point me to a link, video, or directions on how to replace these lights? Are there any specific tools required? Any specific precautions like messing with the speedometer cable? Thanks.
ANSWER: There is no speedometer cable, the instrument cluster can be removed by removing a couple of screws on the trim piece, the cluster is held on with four screws, remove the electrical connectors on the back, the bulbs can be replaced on the back of the cluster.
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QUESTION: Thanks for the quick response. Got the trim out this afternoon and the 3 screws (top, right, left) holding the cluster in place. But the cluster won't come forward enough (only about 1.5 inches) to get my hand or fingers behind it to feel or remove the connectors on the back. Tried pushing it around a bit at different angles and pulling quite hard, but am reluctant to pull too hard and break something. Is it possible to reach up from below the steering column into this area to release the connectors? Got too dark to take off the kick panel. Will try again tomorrow.
AnswerThere may be a speedometer cable after all but I'm not sure, some models changed to electronic speed sensors in 1995, the repair manual doesn't show a speed sensor so I assume it has a cable, try to reach to the back and see if there is a cable, if so squeeze the sides of the sleeve that attached it to the cluster and it will come off.
