Tach illumination lights don’t come out the back?

[Discseven]

‘80 911. Bulbs for the turn signal indicators come out the back… but the gauge’s illumination that turns on with the headlights, those bulbs cannot be accessed from the back as I see. Do changing those bulbs require going in from the front? …Can they be changed? I know how to remove the glass/acrylic but have not removed a needle or faceplate so if those illumination bulbs can be replaced, need some help with how to get to them.



Gauge illumination bulbs have the red ends to them in photo.
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[Koizumi]

Take a blade or thin flathead driver and wedge it between the rounded lip and the back of the cluster. Don’t pull on the red part! The red part is attached to a metal base that has a lip.

[EC900]

Yes, use something thin to get under the lip of the bulb socket to pry it upward evenly. Pocket knife blade, etc, until you can get a grip on the socket rim, just twist while pulling up.
Once it’s up and out about a 1/16”, I managed to grab on the rim (arrow) with Leatherman pliers - they’re very flat nosed, twisting back and forth upwards until it releases.
I found regular needle nosed pliers didn’t have enough grip to grab, vise-grips too bulky.
So have an assortment of pliers to try whichever fits and works
They are a very, very snug fit, so go slow and don’t pinch the wires with pliers as they will slip off the socket rim.
Test your new bulbs and lube the sides/openings of sockets, no need to push the socket back into the housing all the way in flush - it’ll be easier next time to have that 1/16” reveal to grab and remove.

[Discseven]

Thanks guys. I'll get on with it.
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[Discseven]

Thanks for your input guys.

Don't think these bulbs have been changed since the factory put them in 45 years ago. The seam between the fixture casing and the gauge was invisible due to corrosion. Used a straightedge razor blade to first cut & prey the fixtures up slightly. Then they pulled out.

Gauge illumination is provided by the two red-ended fixtures towards the sides of the gauge. A similar red fixture towards the top of the gauge is the high beam indicator. This high beam light has the white w/blue stripe wire. Illumination lights both have black w/blue stripes.
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[A930Rocket]

Did you install incandescent bulbs or LED? The stock bulbs are weak.

[EC900]

+1 on using LED’s for dash lights.
I got the retro white bulbs and LED blue high beam & green turn signal arrow indicator bulbs and outer turn signal bulbs with appropriate flasher relay. Big improvement with Car Magic set and great customer service, quick shipping, also added the lighting switch fused circuit.

[Koizumi]

I upgraded many years ago with LEDs as well. Major upgrade!

[Lyle O]

YES, by all means, replace with LEDs!! Our member Englebert here has great products:

https://carmagic.us/led.html

Easy-peasy...

Lyle