replace centre clock bulb for renault clio?

Is it prudent to remove the battery as there is an airbag on the passenger side dashboard...???

Phil
October 2013

Haven't tried this myself but it seems that you can do with without removing the whole dash in about 10 mins.

Right...... feel at the back of the cowling for the gap between the cowling and the main dash, press your finger tips in and pull it gently towards you it will slide out and inch or two and come off in your hand (no worries it is supposed to).

The lighting unit itself is held in by two screws, one on either side, they ideally need one of those many sided screw drivers or you can probably get away with a small screw driver.

Undo each holding screw being careful not to drop them inside!

You can now pull out the unit for the length of the cables. This is enough room.

Now go to Renault and pay between £6-£9 for each bulb with the plastic housing, or get them to do for around £75, or you can go to Halfords with the faulty bulb and buy what you need at £1.99 each.

Replace the new bulb, push it in firmly as far as it will go.

Put the bulb and the plastic thingy into the unit, remember twist it to the right so that it is firmly held.

I did it with the ignition on so I could see they lit and stayed lit.

Reverse the procedure.

Re-attach unit, slide it right in and screw in firmly not too tight. Slide in the cowling.

I did it this afternoon in 10 minutes. One of the ways to be ripped off by a dealer.

http://www.renaultforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=9822

SSB
November 2010

This job is a bit of a pain, but if you are patient it should be possible for anyone to do. Effectively you need to remove the top half dash board cover to gain access. Approx 1hr job for semi-skilled person, can take up to 2hrs if having difficulty re-assembling dashboard fascia. If you can get someone to help you this will be beneficial when taking the top half of the dashboard fascia off and door pillar trims off. Alternatively take it to a garage and be pleasantly ripped off for what is simple job. Patience is the key with this job! be warned!

Prior to starting: You shall require 2x instrument bulbs in holders for the back of the clock assembly. The instrument bulbs and holders can be purchased from any car parts shop (should cost no more than £1 each or less). If you explain to any car shop what you require them for they should know what type of bulbs you require (make sure you get bulbs and there plastic holders as until you get your faulty bulbs out you won't have any idea whether your bulbs are or not soldered into there holders, not worth messing about with).

1. Remove the door pillar interior plastic trims (passenger & driver side parallel to windscreen edge). These snap off, can be very difficult to remove as the clips grip very tight. Support the trim where you are trying to unclip in order to prevent breaking it.

2. Remove the steering column plastic shrouds (this has to be removed to allow the dashboard top section to be removed), screws located underneath steering column. To do this you need Torx type screw driver (they have a star shaped head). Removing this also exposes 2 of the dashboard screws you need to remove in the next section.

3. Remove the 7 screws holding the top half dash board cover, screws located at:
3-along top edge (in windscreen vent slot)
1 at each end of the dashboard fascia (dash board ends next to door pillar adjacent to the side window vents (you may have to move the door seal to access)).
2-screws below speedometer instrument panel (only accessible with steering column shroud removed).

4. The top section of the dashboard cover is now ready to remove, do this by sliding the upper dashboard fascia toward you and away from the windscreen. There are some snap clips which may need gently easing free, note where they are as these will need to re-locating on re-assembly.

5. Once the dashboard top half fascia has been removed you should have access to the Clock assembly in the centre of the dashboard, there are 2-torx type screws which you need to remove on each side of the clock, remove the screws and the clock can be removed, there are 2-locating pegs on the clock assembly, note where these are for re-assembly. The cables to the clock can be removed if you desire (not essential), this will make bulb changing easier, there are locking clips on the cable plugs, carefully remove the cable clips to avoid damaging them. There are 2x instrument bulbs in holders on the back of the clock assembly, these simply turn/twist out and unplug, replace both bulbs and there holders. The instrument bulbs and holders can be purchased from any car parts shop (should cost no more than £1 each or less).

6. Re-fitting is the reversal of the removal procedure.

Allot of work just to change some instrument bulbs! Hope this helps?

Staffordshire - Dingle
January 2010