How do you change the dashboard lights of a Toyota Echo?

Answer 1

This actually is an extremely easy job, and can be done in less than 5 minutes. Remove the oval shaped cover plate just in front of the guage cluster, using a small flat object to pry it up. Reach into the hole that was covered and gently pull up and away from the dashboard. The cover will come off. There are two nuts, one on either side of the instrument cluster, that remove with a 10mm socket (or a Philips screwdriver on older models). Once these are out, simply gently pull the cluster out and turn it over so you can see the back side of the bulbs (or in older models, release the snap-on cover plate to reveal the bulbs which are accessible on the front side of the panel). Do NOT unplug any of the wiring. Locate which bulb(s) that are not working, and gently "unscrew" the bulbs about 1/4 to 1/2 turn with a screwdriver (or in older models gently pull bulbs straight out with long nose pliers). These bulbs are about 2 inches long, and cost between $5 and $10 at your Toyota dealer (on older models the bulbs are less than 1 inch long, approximately 1/4 inch in diameter and cost between $1 and $2 at a Toyota dealer). Put in the new bulb and put her all back together. Very simple!

Testimonial: When I did this on my 2001 Echo, the bulbs pulled directly out (similar to the small, old-style Christmas tree bulbs). Each of 2 bulbs had a rubber-like color coating over it which came off easily. Examining the filament indicated that these bulbs were indeed lamps, and not LEDs. Looking closely at the filament revealed that the lamp had indeed burned out as evidenced by the gap or space between the two wire leads.