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I did not know where to post this: Can I see behind the instrument cluster to remove a bulb by taking the dash pad off, or do I have to take the dash apart.
Dash needs to come apart, and the instrument cluster needs to be removed from the car. You'll need to remove the trim panels under the steering column to unscrew the cluster bezel, then the cluster itself. Fortunately it looks like you have a Firebird, so you don't have to deal with that stupid headlight **** that never comes out without breaking in the process.
This may or may not be necessary (can't remember when I did my T/A), but I STRONGLY recommend loosening the nuts that hold the steering column up if the turn signal stalk interferes at all with getting the cluster out. If this is the case, you'll want to drop the column down a few inches on the studs. Learned that one the hard way.
If this is a 3rd gen firebird, I've had them since 82, and none of them have the bulbs accessible from the top or the bottom. The dash frame encloses the cluster from the top, and if you have terribly puny hands, you might be able to get at a couple of them from the bottom, but pulling the cluster is the right way to do it. I don't know how different the camaro might be, it's been too long.... pulling the cluster isn't that difficult, but you definitely have to drop the steering column a hair.
I just removed the torx screws and the face came off.
I needed to replace a turn signal bulb and remove a SES light!
Think 427 is right also!
Hi, I think your dash is different than mine. I do not have any torque screws. I did take the top of the panel off and the cluster is shrouded. No way to get to it.
Hi, I think your dash is different than mine. I do not have any torque screws. I did take the top of the panel off and the cluster is shrouded. No way to get to it.
Louis
Hi Louis ,
here is a picture of the inner dash plastic from a 1989 Firebird , looking at where the gauge cluster sits you can see that there is no way to access the back of the cluster while it's still installed in the car .
Yea , I know a bunch of the plastic stuff has to come off to get to it , and Navy02ws6 is right on target , the steering column dropped a few inches is part of the fun (or misery , your choice) ...
When I was installing new speakers in the dash of my T/A, and snapped a photo or two of the area behind the cluster. These will show you what's under the pad.
Thanks guys, I did take the dash off, no big deal and there is no way to get to the cluster. This is not a pressing problem, I just would like to turn off the check engine light. I have to look at the wiring. Somewhere is a wire going to the light.
You cant get at the bulbs from just pulling off the face on a bird?
No , you have to take the outer dash plastic pieces off , take the gauge cluster unit out of the plastic inner dash piece I posted in my previous answer , and then the bulbs are removable from the back of the gauge cluster unit .
Here are two pictures of the 1989 Firebird gauge cluster . Even if you do remove the front plastic covers with the gauge cluster in place , the gauges themselves (which are covering the bulbs) are screwed in from the back of the cluster housing and are not removable from the front (like your Camaro appears to be , I wouldn't personally know , never having owned a third gen Camaro) .
I know the picture of the back isn't that great , but if you look close you can see the screws that hold the gauge units into the cluster . Even if you could change them from the front , by the time you get far enough into the dash to remove the cluster's bezel and clear plastic cover , spending all the time it would take to get into taking apart the cluster from the front , it's only 6 screws to pop the whole unit out and change the bulbs from the back as the General intended
08-19-2019, 07:54 PM
No , you have to take the outer dash plastic pieces off , take the gauge cluster unit out of the plastic inner dash piece I posted in my previous answer , and then the bulbs are removable from the back of the gauge cluster unit . 
