Registered: Mar 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 12

DIY Clock Light Replacement (with pics!)

My parents had a silly debate on whether or not the clock had a backlight. I took it upon myself to do some research and as I suspected, there was indeed a backlight. I came across this thread and decided to fix the lamp. The instructions were very detailed and overall, the process was fairly simple. However, there was a lack of pictures and I noticed there was a demand for them. Hopefully, this tutorial will provide some help to the people who were afraid to do it themselves. Keep in mind, this was my first time removing a dashboard.

I’ll go step-by-step through the pictures, so you don’t have to juggle back and forth between this and the other thread.

TOOLS REQUIRED:
- 10mm or 1/4" socket wrench to disconnect battery
- phillips screw driver
- working gloves
- tiny flathead screwdriver to remove hazard button connector
- wrapped flathead screwdriver for prying. (not needed if you have small fingers)


1. Here’s the part you need to buy, Radio Shack part #272-1092. Despite Radio Shack’s rip-off prices, this was only $1.49 for two micro lamps.



2. Disconnect the battery. Personally, I don’t believe this step is necessary, but you can do it to be on the safe side.

3. Put on the emergency brake. With the engine off, shift down it into the lowest gear to give yourself some clearance.

Last edited by VT FIJI Graphix on 11-15-2005 at 12:39 AM

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 12

4. Remove the panels to the left and right of the steering column. WEAR GLOVES! I found it easiest to start from the side closest to the steering column and pull from there. If you notice in the picture, I also removed the cap that covers the hole where a button is supposed to go. Use that hole to pull, too.

right side removed


left side removed



5. After you remove the left and right panels, you need to remove a total of 8 screws.

4 behind the right panel


2 behind the left panel


2 above the gauge cluster

Last edited by VT FIJI Graphix on 03-09-2005 at 04:16 PM

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 12

6. Once those screws are removed, the top panel can be pulled out. The part by the gauges is the hardest to remove. Just be careful with the plastic panels and work your way from the sides.

top panel removed



7. Behind the top panel, you’ll notice two wires that connect to the hazard light and clock. You can unplug the clock easily, but the hazard light requires a small screwdriver to release the lock.






8. I took the top panel inside to give myself some more work space. Here it is lying on my kitchen table.

front


back

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 12

9. Remove the plastic housing that covers the clock. The lamp is located on the top left of the circuit board. It removes with a simple twist.




10. And after ALL that work, you can finally replace the lamp. I wish I took the picture with a penny to show a size comparison. It’s a shame it requires all this work to get to a tiny lamp.




11. Replace your panels and screws and you’re all done!!

SIT BACK AND ENJOY YOUR CLOCK AT NIGHT

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Registered: Feb 2005
Location: Folsom, California
Posts: 528

Cool work! Great pictures. I'll pass on to my friend with 2nd Gen Odyssey.

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2005 - Honda Odyssey EX (Desert Rock Metallic) with Billet Grille
1995 - Volkswagen Passat V6
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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Cupertino, CA, USA
Posts: 606

Nice job documenting the fix. I was under the impression that getting to the clock was impossible. I love these $2 part fixes.

BrianB

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Registered: Dec 2003
Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 3261

Excellent post on the clock light

This is a great post on replacing the clock light, especially with pictures. Pictures make all the difference! I had the clock light replaced under warranty already and now I feel like I can handle this myself if it burns out again with these pics... Thanks.

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2001 Odyssey LX - WARRANTY WORK: top rubber sliding door gaskets, rear brake drums, clock light, driver's seat belt and EGR TSB performed.

UNOFFICIAL 2001 ODYSSEY THREAD: www.odyclub.com/forums/showthread.p...4664#post384664

1994 Subaru Impreza L

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Registered: Sep 2002
Location: So Cal
Posts: 12661

Once You have done this once, (I've done it three times-two Odys) you will be able to remove the lamp without removing the entire upper trim. I don't even remove anything on the left side but the screws above the speedo. Once you know what the lamp looks like (thanks for the pictures!) reaching in to twist it out is easy. One skipped step here is removing and replaceing the lamps from radio shack from the little grey plastic holder. You need a teenager's eyesight to do it. The lamp, when purchased from a dealer's parts counter, has the lamp as a complete unit. Considering how often the burn out, two for $1.49 sure beats one for $4.50 from the dealer.

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 12

quote:

---

Originally posted by egads
Once You have done this once, (I've done it three times-two Odys) you will be able to remove the lamp without removing the entire upper trim. I don't even remove anything on the left side but the screws above the speedo. Once you know what the lamp looks like (thanks for the pictures!) reaching in to twist it out is easy. One skipped step here is removing and replaceing the lamps from radio shack from the little grey plastic holder. You need a teenager's eyesight to do it. The lamp, when purchased from a dealer's parts counter, has the lamp as a complete unit. Considering how often the burn out, two for $1.49 sure beats one for $4.50 from the dealer.

---

haha. I thought that part was self explainitory. It's a lot smaller than I expected, so you do need really good eyesight. I'm only 20, so I still have my eyesight.

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Registered: Mar 2005
Location: virginia
Posts: 61

Has anyone looked at installing and LED in place of the radio shack bulb? If so does anyone know what LED (ie at Radio Shack) and how to do it (solder instructions etc). Also are the other lights for other items in the dash the same radio shack bulb? Might as well replace as many as I can get to when I do it.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Vestal, NY
Posts: 841

Great job with the pictures.. should probably put this into the TECH section.. this question comes up often.

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05 EX-L Midnight Blue Pearl
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Registered: May 2004
Location: N.Calif US
Posts: 107

Great Job, I really love this work. Thanks for your great work and for pics.

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'04 Odyssey EXL-RES (May'04 outside of Vin Range for Trany&Fuel Pump Recall)
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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 4379

This repair kinda reminds me of the time they had to remove the engine from my Chevy Citation in order to replace the rear crankshaft oil seal. If our light goes out, I think I will keep a flashlight in the console.

Jerry O.

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UNION, YES!!!
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2006 Ocean Mist Metallic EX-M(Mouse fur) + WeatherTech cargo mat, Mr. Grille, Dashhugger dashcover, ScanGauge, Magellan GPS, Acura MDX wheels, 245/50-18 Yokohama ADVAN S.4 tires and AirLifts. Also, a few "faux" items, such as "dual" exhaust outlets, smoked plexiglass foglight hole fillers, and miscellaneous homegrown ground effects items, topped off by an "R" next to the "Odyssey" on the rear liftgate.
2001 GG LX-R(revised), still in the family. Now at 85K miles.
1994 Dodge Caravan SWB w/3.0, still in the family w/ over 150K miles
Dyson DC17 vacuum cleaner (to maintain the "dash rug")
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Registered: Dec 2002
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 69

just be careful of the front panel, the bottom part, it break very easy, my dealer broke mind, they have to pay for the part, anyway, mind is still under warranty, and they seem they don't want to fix it at the first place, but my 03 ody is less the 20000 mile at that time, so they have to anyway, and i guess they have no idea what they are doing, anyway, if the light gone again, i am sure i will do it myself, thanks for the info.

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07 - RAV4 4x4 - Classic Silver Metallic
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Registered: Apr 2001
Location: _
Posts: 296

My dealer replaced our 2001 two years ago.
But they had to do the same thing again next day because the machanic forgot to plug one of the connector back.
The signal wasn't working.

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