Well, for everyone out there who wants to replace that pesky little D4 light, heres how to do it. I did it today, and because no one has wrote up a nice detailed thing of instructions, I figure that I will take it upon myself. First one I have ever done.

What you will need:
Short philips head screwdriver
Long philips head screwdriver
Small flathead screwdriver (or similar)
D4 light

This only took me about 30 minutes to do from start to finish, it really isnt that bad if you have some background on what you are doing, and even just a small amount of skill with a screwdriver.

Also, the screws are all different, so try and keep them seperated so that they all go back into the right spot and you don't run into any problems.

Alright, first you need the light from your dealership, its part number 37103-ST7-003 and should cost you less then $5.


Now, you need to pull off the trim around the instrument cluster, its the piece with the 3 vents and the clock, and also the black trim around the instrument cluster closest to the wheel. Start by taking out the two screws above the instrument cluster, you'll need a short screwdriver so that it can fit in there, tilt the steering wheel down for the most room that you can get.


There is a spot, which I believe should hold two more screws, but my particular car did not have any there, maybe from a dealership not putting them back in or something, but they are behind the flap that is above the steering wheel.



Now you have to start pulling the trim out. When I did it I grabbed the black part and pulled out towards me, the top and bottom at the same time, and this got the left half of it out pretty easily.



For part of it, you may have to use a small flat object to wedge under the trim and peel it out. I used a small flat head screwdriver, with a smooth end, not ridged, because it would probably scratch things up. Be careful doing this, you don't want to bend anything too much and end up breaking something, if you need help, ask for it, its something anyone can help with.


Next, you have to unhook the wiring going to the clock and the hazard light switch so that you can pull everything out of the car. I believe one of them pulled right off, and the other just had a little snap that I unsnapped with the screwdriver.



Now, you should be able to take the entire piece out of your car and take a nice picture of it like so:


At this point if you really want, you can dust out the vents for the heat and everything, mine were a bit dirty but nothing that bothers me, and I dont notice it while driving.

Now there are some more screws to take out so that you can access the back of the instrument cluster. There are two on the side, and two on the top, though one was missing in my car (I see a bad trend here... ). The first two are on the top, the black tabs are where they are, the two other screw holes are for the first two that you removed. I almost dropped the screw, and I can imagine it would have been easy to get if I did (just remove the kick guard), just a pain and more time spent, that could have been avoided.


The next two are on the sides, they are above a small stud that makes sure the cluster is lined up right and everything will fit back together. One on the left, one on the right.


At this point, you should be able to remove the instrument cluster, pull it straight out towards you, and then spin it downwards. You don't have to disconnect the wiring or completely remove it to put the light in, you can just sort of rotate it down and pull the left side out a bit to get access to the light.


The staggered row of lights near the center is what you are aiming for. The D4 light is the fourth one up from the bottom (1,2,D3,D4,N,R,P respectively). The light twists about a quarter turn, then pulls straight out. Just drop yours in and twist it so it is lined up like the other ones, you can see where the wiring of the light has to touch the back of the cluster.


Now that its in, put up your parking brake, put your key in, put it in the II position. This way the gear selector lights light up. Step on the brake and shift down to D4, your light should light up, if it does, your done, and can reassemble everything in reverse order. If it doesn't work, either I wrote this wrong, or you did it wrong, or there is another problem.

 

Thanks for the Step by step pictuers...

A little kick in the aaaaaaa... rep points...

 

I forgot to ask... CAN SOMEONE MAKE THIS A STICKY!!! i don't wanna go seaching for it later...lol... and it will help a lot of TL'ers...

 

Yeah, I was hoping that if I wrote it out well, it would get a sticky, it seems like its been brought upa few times, but never answered as completely as this.

 

Done

 

Gracias Ken... hell of cool... now we can change the D4 light with no problems...

 

Your a stud, Ken-dogg! The pictures are a huge bonus! Thanks for the help!

 

All I did was sticky it

The thanks should go to UsanePyro! Give him some reputation points

 

thanks man, i tryed it earlyer today and couldnt do it, now i have this, its easier

 

Props & Rep points to both of you!

THANKS UsanePyro!

 

I changed the bulb today!! Instead of paying $5 for a bulb, I swapped it with the gear 1 indicator bulb. I didn't feel like paying for it, especially when I rarely put the shifter down there anyway. Thanks!!!!

 

Thank you, I replaced it with the trunk light and tightened the others.

 

Funny thing...

My D4 light went out 3 years ago, but last month it started working by itself.

Weird

 

sorta the same thing happened with me....stopped working for a day or so....worked for about 3 months...then quit altogether (for now)

 

yea same here like i remember for the longest time the D4 light didnt work.. then all of a sudden like around the end of december/beginning of january it started working again

 

My '96 2.5TL with 137000 D4 light JUST blew out yesterday, and I was pissed! Thank you so much for making that thread so I can change my own D4 light! Major props guy!

 

That looks like that was painful but thanks this is good to know if I ever have to do this

 

It actually isn't bad at all to do. I'm sure the other poeple here would agree.

 

I'm sure you're right just looks like alot of work for a light bulb

 

I replaced my D4 light this weekend, and have to say it was embarrassingly easy. It took about 30 minutes, and that included my getting all anal about cleaning around the instrument cluster and panel trim. There are only six screws total, but if you have a magnetized screwdriver to keep hold of them it might be helpful.

Also, I ordered the necessary part online from DelRay Acura: http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/jsp/home.jsp. Just put in your VIN number, and the site gives you a complete rundown of all parts for your vehicle. Cool.

 

Yeah Delray Acura rocks! It's a lot cheaper than my local stealership.

 

LOL now my D4 light doesnt work again

 

Just wanted to bump this because it does not appear to be stickied - can it be made a sticky? I plan on fixing my D4 light this weekend. Thanks to the original author of this thread.

 

thx, just changed my d3->d4, now it looks great.

 

This indeed shoud be a sticky. I used this along w/ manual to replace my D4 light last week.

regards

 

can you not access this from underneath dash?

 

Nope.

 

i know this going to help me out!!! ty!!!

 

All I can say is YOU'RE THE MAN !!!!!

 

I used this DIY to replace my D4 light. I've never worked on my car before and rate my skills for these type of jobs at -3 on a scale of 10.
It was breeze - great write up UnsanePyro! Thanks a ton!

 

THANK YOU very much!!! i dont even think it even took 30 min doing this the pictures are very helpful

 

Save yourself 4 dollars by taking out the 1 gear bulb and put in the d4 spot, Ive never drven in low 1 anyway and if I did it would be in a blizzard so I wouldnt be watching for the light anyway.

 

<3 you

 

Nice I did the exact thing last weekend when I put in my glow gauges.

 

I didn't even bother when I did my guages. I kinda like it off... One less light to look at, hehe.

~Cheers~

 

My light for the whole gage cluster is very dim is this bulb replaceable while i do the D4 light?

 

it was kind of unnecessary to quote that entire DIY but so be it. which light are you talking about replacing? there's about 25 of them on the entire cluster.

mod edit: quote removed

 

Its like the actual light that lights up the whole cluster and you control the brightness and dim with a rolling switch on the left side by the sunroof switch. This bulb is about to go on my car and its really dim even at night. I would like to find a super white bulb of its kind... does anyone know what the part is or the bulb size? or where i can get one

by the way just got a TL and im loving this site!

 

Thanks much Unsane, I'll swing by the Honda dealer after work to pick up the little bulb. This should add about 15 horsepower, or at least be one less thing to annoy me.

PLEASE STICKY THIS THREAD!

 

LOL