Dashboard light workaround?

whiskywhisky

Hi

I have a Mondeo Mk3 and the some of dashboard lights have stopped working, I have heard this is a common problem and in order to replace the faulty bulbs would mean most of the dash/speedo etc taken out to access the bulbs. Quotes from mechanics are a lot and I cannot afford. The main problem this causes at night is I cannot see what speed I am travelling at, therefore when there are speed camera I struggle to see whether I am under the limit etc.

Over the last few months I have got by with purchasing small led torches and using them. However they only have a short life and also some reflect of the glass/plastic therefore I still struggle to read the speed.

Anyone got any ideas of a workaround?

Are there such things like small lights that I can place in the right location, and then feed the wire straight to the battery?

Thanks

JustinR1979

Cheap satnav, shows your speed.

BeenThroughItAll

Can you not just replace them yourself? Removing the instrument cluster isn't hard (see instructions in this link)

http://www.fordwiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Replacement_Dials_-_How_to_fit_to_Mondeo

And the bulbs should cost literally pennies from a local motor factors. Pop them in, stick the dash back, job done.

adouglasmhor

USB power socket that fits in lighter socket, Led laptop lamps from pound shop.

whiskywhisky

Justin - thats what I have been using (SatNav), but have noticed the speed not to be exactly accurate and sometimes does not update, i.e when going through tunnels.

BeenThroughItAll - Thanks but too big a job for me and will most likely end up with a wobbly dash afterwards.

adouglasmhor - I did not think of that....sounds like plans..thanks. I will order a usb power sock and light straight away and see how I get on.

4743hudsonj

Glow in the dark stickers stuck at 10mph increments on the instrument cluster? Or as above just do it yourself for a couple of pennies and an hours work.

custardy

whiskywhisky wrote: »

Justin - thats what I have been using (SatNav), but have noticed the speed not to be exactly accurate and sometimes does not update, i.e when going through tunnels.

BeenThroughItAll - Thanks but too big a job for me and will most likely end up with a wobbly dash afterwards.

adouglasmhor - I did not think of that....sounds like plans..thanks. I will order a usb power sock and light straight away and see how I get on.

given you are messing about with torches etc. I would say you dont sound too safe on the road. I would rather you had a wobbly dash and were paying attention to the road.

JustinR1979

Satnav will be more accurate than speedo.
But as said do it yourself, is just a few screws and some time; may be daunting but isn't too bad a job if you have a guide.

forgotmyname

If you can use a screwdriver to change a plug you can swap the bulbs in the dash.

Even working slowly it whould be easy in under an hour. Even if you refit it without the screws the dash wont wobble.

Its a very simple job.

Slowly_does_it..

There is a good youtube vid of someone removing the dash from a Focus of that age, I would recommend a look at it. Take it steady, one bit at a time, bulbs are known to blow, so they will make replacing them not too difficult!

No harm in taking pics of where things came from, or notes on which screws came out of where, but this might be OTT.

reddwarf2002

Another good way of seeing your speed would be to purchase an Elm327 Bluetooth obd2 adapter and connecting it to your car. You would need a smartphone and use an app called Torque to display your speed and RPM. There's a whole host of other things you could view too. The adapter is roughly £8 and the app is free.