Instrument Cluster lighting problems

[gavnator]

I have an '01 Pathfinder SE with instrument cluster lights that have a sporadic lighting issue. Sometimes the tach will be lit and not the speedometer or both are out an the small gauges work or somtimes it all out and then another day they all work. Has anyone had this problem or know what to go after to resolve the issue?

[Towncivilian]

You should verify that the bulbs are not damaged and are fully seated in their sockets. There is a guide here on how to access the backside of the instrument cluster.

[gavnator]

Thanks for the guide. It looks like a fairly straight forward procedure. If I'm going to go to the trouble of pulling the cluster then I'm replacing all the cluster bulbs. They are bulbs on an '01 Pathy. Correct??

[Towncivilian]

Thanks for the guide. It looks like a fairly straight forward procedure. If I'm going to go to the trouble of pulling the cluster then I'm replacing all the cluster bulbs. They are bulbs on an '01 Pathy. Correct??

The bulbs in the cluster are all #74 bulbs. I recommend switching to LEDs which never die, are brighter, and ultimately cheaper than buying an equivalent quantity of incandescent bulbs. You can see my results of LED conversion here. Personally, I didn't disconnect the cluster from the harnesses and just swapped all the bulbs with the cluster tilted enough to access all the twist bases, but I have small hands so it was easy for me. Doing it this way also allowed me to test every bulb for proper polarity easily.

[gavnator]

Thanks for all your help. I had the instrument cluster out in 20 minutes. Did not have to disconnect the cluster. Went to my local NAPA store for the # 74 inserts. I'll do the LED's when I get some time to follow up on ordering as I needed to get some light in the cluster ASAP. For giggle and grins I stopped by Nissan to see what they get for "1" bulb. You can't make it up. They wanted $20.00 a bulb and they would have had to order them. Your the man!!!! BTW, what is a 2001.5 Pathfinder SE. Mine is a 2001 SE bought in May of 2001 and it also has a 3.5. Did some 2001's have the old 3.3 motor. I had that in my '98.

[Towncivilian]

Glad you got it fixed!

[EsotericImage]

Im new here.. found this thread. Ill be doing LED replacements all over the cabin..


If anyone would like LED's for dome lights, map lights, tag lights, etc..

go here >>
http://www.velocityshop.com/categories/led_47.html