clock bulb changing

[amg61]

i would like to change the bulb on my clock in my 1996 Disco I. anyone have any ideas how to do this without braking the plastic covering? as usual, i worry that a seemingly easy DIY will be "impossible" on this Disco. i am easily able to remove the cruise control and fog light buttons below the clock, but it does not afford me any easier access to getting the clock out of the dashboard so i can get behind it.

thanks

i want to do this because the light is no longer working, though the clock is keeping time. interestingly enough, last night the light was working (first time in weeks), but this morning it isn't again. obviously, i hope it is just a bad bulb, or bulb connection, and not some short.

 

[amg61]

just so you know, i checked the Haynes manual and for post-1994 models. it says to pull out the dummy panel with the cruise control and fog light buttons (did that easily), THEN, "Reach in behind the the clock, release its lower retaining clips, then push the clock assembly out from the facia", B-U-T, the picture it shows in the book places the dummy buttons and clock assembly to the RIGHT of the heater controls, where my ashtray currently is. on my car the clock is to the LEFT of the heater controls, and when i did what the book said, i COULD NOT GET behind the clock. i had to remove the cup holder assembly part of the facia to reach under the clock, but still could not remove it. Obviously, my biggest fear is that i have to follow the pre-1994 instructions which says to first remove the centre console, the steering wheel, the instument panel, the radio and the whole center facia panel. Someone please tell me i don't have to do ALL that to change the bulb on my clock. THERE MUST BE AN EASIER WAY !!!!!!

 

[joey]

http://204.157.1.3/faq/clock.htm

 

[amg61]

thanks for the link, but that's what i tried and i still couldn't push out the clock. my concern was that if i push too hard, i'll break something. and with the putty knife trick, i don't know where the locking pins are???

 

[62Sunbeam]

I've done it. If your having a hard time you've missed something. It pops right out and you pull the bulb out of the back of the clock and unplug it and put in a new one.

$14.00 at the dealer

Good luck

Eric
'95 Disco

 

[joey]

$14 at the dealer, or go to Napa and match the bulb up... I bought 2 of them for less then $2. Mine was a pain to remove, but I finally got it...

 

[amg61]

well, the two putty knife technique worked, and i probably didn't have to remove the cup holder assembly in the first place. just slid one putty knife above the clock assembly and one below it, then jiggled them around to release the retaining clips and the unit pulled out. HOWEVER, i took out the bulb assembly (with holder) and went to install a new one and the new one (with holder, also) would not slide into the slot without breaking off the tiny metal connectors. i actually bought two of them, part BAU5311L BULB & HOLDER CLOCK DISCO SERIES I at www.motorcarsltd.com because they were so cheap at , $1.26 EACH, but they wouldn't fit in without snapping the connector off. so now i have my clock out and i need to find more bulbs. wonder what the equivalent part # is at NAPA????? i would hate to go to the dealer and spend $14 for a part that should be cheaper, but i do want a part that will FIT !!!

 

[joey]

I acually just took the old bulb with me and they matched it up to one they had in stock... can't remember the number. Sorry.

Sometimes I just should wright things down.

 

[amg61]

hard to believe, but the Land Rover supplier had the wrong bulb, though they wouldn't admit it. i went to a local auto supplier, matched up the bulb/holder and voila, fits and works like a charm. thanks for all the help !!!!