XJ instrument cluster lighting

[tab1324]

Tonight I went for my first "night ride" and noticed the tach lights work but not the speedo... Where do I find the bulb for the speedo - how do I take the speedo apart without wrecking it?

Tom B.

[Parr8hed]

just did this yesterday. back of speedo, undo the cable, undo the 2 8mm bolts that hold it in. pull out from the front. The lights are the 2 blue and black wires that connect with black plugs on the top and bottom. not sure what the green and white wires are for that connect in the middle of the speedo assembly. At least that is how it is on mine. looking for my manual to see what kind of bulbs they are... it is around here somewhere...

[Jerry]

An alternate method.....

There are 4 screws that hold the back chrome cover to the guage cluster. If you have a 90 degree Phillips #2 screwdriver you can remove this cover without taking the gauges off the bike. (You still have to disconnect the speedo cable.) Once the cover is removed you will see the wires for the bulbs; the bulbs press into the guage cluster through rubber grommets, which is why each bulb has 2 wires, power and ground. I don't have the bulb number, but know they can be found at any auto parts store. My recollection is that there are 2 bulbs on the speedo side, one at the top and the other at the bottom of the speedo.

To make the job go much easier, go to Sears or your local tool house and get a ratcheting 90 degree Phillips screwdriver. A couple of the screws don't have a lot of "swing" room and the ratcheting unit will make a world of difference.

To put the screws back in I take a little dab of grease and put it on the head of the screw; this tends to make it stick to the screwdriver point. Once in I wipe the screw head with a shop rag to remove the grease.

The XJ is the only one of the series where the guage cluster can be split like this; XS units are quite different and require a different approach.

[John]

I believe the bulbs are a #194. Just a small push in type that doesn't need to be turned to latch into the socket. That is what's in my XS's.

[tab1324]

This is the only problem with my newly installed windshield - it'll need to come off to access the instruments.

Thanks for the tips guys.

Tom B.