HONDA ELEMENT - How-to Change ALL Instrument Panel Cluster Lights in 30 Minutes 

Excellent, very informative video. I ordered all the bulbs this morning. Thanks! The Element is thoughtfully designed, and beautifully built. After 13 years and 305,000 miles, there are no squeaks or rattles. There is no rust, and the "E" has been 99.9% dependable since the day I brought it home. My goal is 450,000 miles before I rebuild the power train and suspension. Then, it'll be dependable for another 450,000 miles, I hope. Thanks again for the instructions.

Jim, I know you saved me at least $300 at the dealer here. I have already ordered my bulbs and can’t wait for a warm day on which I can get my 03’s odometer display working again! Thank you.

Great job Jim! I just ask someone how to do it and they said I had to remove the whole dash board. So glad you showed me. Thanks again Jim🌟

Proud owner of an 06 Element EX here. This was very very helpful. 1 single light in my instrument panel went out and this gave me the info to just replace all of them.

THANK GOD FOR YOU JIM, VERY INFORMATIONAL, I APPRECIATE HOW YOU BROKE EVERYTHING DOWN. I'VE HAS MY HONDA ELEMENT FOR 17YRS, SINCE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO KEEP HER FOR 17 MORE. HAVEN'T NEEDED ANY LIGHTS, EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO, AND THAT WAS A TAG LIGHT, THAT I NEVER EVEN HAD TO CHANGE UNTIL GETTING PULLED OVER. HAD NEVER EVEN HAD TO CHANGE IT BEFORE, WAS A BOT LOST ABOUT THAT, SO I WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED BOTH 🤣🤣🤣. BUT ALSO YOU'VE SHOWN ME SOMETHINGS THAT HAS GIVEN ME IDEALS FOR CUSTOMIZATION, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT PANEL CAME OFF, HOWEVER TWO OF MY VENT PANELS DID, AND WHICH I WAS GOING TO FIND THE. TO REPLACE, EITHERWAY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS VIDEO. MUCH APPRECIATED. WILL HAVE TO FIND YOU ONLINE, MAYBE YOU ALSO FIXING OTHER THINGS. I LOVE THE WAY YOU TEACH. 🕊🕊🕊

So glad I stumbled across your video. I have an 04 since 2010 and my heater control lights used to work randomly but now don't work at all. Also just recently one of the dash lights went out. Thank you Jim, now I will get some bulbs and attempt to change them out myself.

Thank you. The Element is MY first car. LOVE IT ! The trunk space and diversity of the vehicle. Good power train. The seats are adaptive to make space. Great with the girlfriend.

Awesome clear and concise video! I did the dash lights one day and tackled the control panel today which was way harder to remove and I struggled with but won after about 45 minutes or prying and tugging. If you can break the initial seal then you can get it going. I used a thin, narrow putty knife but it had a lot of flex in it which didn’t help. Don’t bother removing the subwoofer cowl like I did because it didn’t help gaining any better access to popping off the panel above it. Funny thing is it takes a second to snap everything back together! Just remember to hook up the wiring beforehand. Without this video I would have been clueless where to start. I did opt for LED replacements (found on Ebay) for all of the lights as I never want to do this again on our ‘04 Element which we love!

By the gods, changing the dashboard lights on my Element was the easiest project I had all weekend. Thank you!

Thank you, Jim. Your video is very helpful and made replacing my dash bulbs super easy!

Thanks for this video. My cluster went & I need to replace it. This helps me to navigate getting the cluster out. Looks like a new one simply plugs in?

Update: While my Wife was out of town, I changed out the Bulbs, and didn't tell her. I planned this ahead, because I had to order the Bulbs, then waited for them to be delivered. She started her week (last week), without me saying a word. I received a phone call from her, once she noticed the new lights; she was amazed. Thanks again for your help Jim!!!

Thanks for the video. Very clear. I ended up pulling each of the old bulbs out of the fixtures and replacing them with generic bulbs (Model 2721 LL at Canadian tire). I found they were easy to remove with needle nose pliers (just don't grab too tightly). One bulb broke while doing so and I simply used the pliers to remove what remained by pulling by the filaments. The replacement bulbs were easy to push into the fixtures...saved a lot of money by doing it this way.

With care, patience this is an easy repair. Hondapartsnow and this first rate.Thanks Jim!!!

That sticky mount is genuis. makes a much smoother video than other car how to's.

Oh wow! I am going to order new instrument panel and console lights on my Element and try this. Thank you Jim. I've been driving in the dark and it's been a guessing game for a while now but I can't wait to try this out. Thanks again.

Hey Jim, thanks soooo much for this informative video; it gives me the confidence to tackle the project. I have a 2008 Honda Element LX and absolutely love it! This past weekend, I just swapped out the front headlights with the JDM ASTAR 8th Generation LEDS. I got them on amazon for $119 and the difference in night vision is astounding… not to mention the ultra white look to the lights are far more visually appealing than the standard yellowish oems. Thanks again for the great video!

Thanks jim.fixed my 04 all on my own watching your video,feeling proud.your awesome

Hi Jim, This is a great video. Very helpful with clear instructions. My odometer and speedometer lights on my 2004 Honda Element will not turn on sometimes when I start my car. This just started happening 2 months ago and has only happened 2 times so far. The first time it was just the odometer lights that would not turn on. The second time the odometer lights and the speedometer lights did not turn on, but after I hit the dashboard with my hand the speedometer lights came back on but the odometer lights stayed off until the next day when I started my car. Does this sound like the bulbs are bad? I have not changed them before so I think they are the original light bulbs on my 2004 Honda Element EX AWD. Since the light won't come on when I start my Element (and they won't come back on if I turn the car off and on again - but the next day they do come on, could it be the harness connection? From your video it does not look like there could be any play in the harness connection plugs. But does it make sense that the bulbs are bad even though they came back on again?? When the bulbs are going bad do they sometimes come on and sometimes they don't come on? Thanks for any help with this.

Thanks! The dealer wanted $350 to do this. It took less than an hour. Total cost: $30 which included shipping.

Thanks Jim, I just did my dash bulbs using your instructions - great job!

Great “how to” video, Jim! Took less than 30 minutes. Thank you!!

Thank you so much! This helped me replace the gear shifter bulb myself as well as know I can replace my cluster myself. Does anyone know, if I replace the cluster, does the mileage of the engine show up correctly on the new one (new from salvage yard)?

Thanks guy with the blue element! I was trying to do this and was worried I was going to break something. Seeing you pop off that center panel let me know it was safe to move forward.

You're a Genius!!! Thanks for being the "Brave-One", in tackling this task, filming, posting, to show us Scaredy-cats how to fix our Vehicles; and impress our wives!!!

An excellent video. Thank you for posting. Thanks again. Just completed the process. Your video was crucial.

Wow Jim, This is perfect. Your presentation style gave me confidence to do this. Thank you!

Thank you very much for all your helpful advice, very thorough, and good humor was helpful too.

Thanks for the helpful video. BTW, if you don't like listening to the annoying "key inserted in ignition" beep, the bump next to the gearshift at the 4 o'clock position has a place to insert your key and push to manually release the gearshift interlock so you can move it to the N position without the constant beeping.

The Honda Element is an awesome car. The mechanical issues are minor, things like the cluster will short out (very common). All the bulbs are out? It may be a short instead of dead bulbs.

I've also got a 2003 Element that I recently did the same procedure to. I ended up getting most of the bulbs from my dealer, because the shipping price for just a bunch of little bulbs was ridiculous !! You said you recently bought that car, it's in awesome condition ! Mind if I ask how many miles on it ?? I've got just under 250,000 on mine. I love it. Very informative and well done video.

Great video!! Now all I need is a Element!😀

Thank you, Thank you! Process went smooth!

Thanks Jim, valuable info to see beforehand! I'm about to go outside and replace a couple deadbeat bulbs in my '06 Element's instrument panel.

Giving the part numbers instead of just pointing to bulbs you have already replaced would have been REALLY helpful.

Thank you. This is the most complete how to video I found. I was able to order and change all the HVAC, cluster and shifter bulbs in a short amount of time. The parts were easily ordered at Hondapartsnow and installed by me for FREE vs' the 200$ my guy wanted to charge. Thanks thanks thanks!!!! -AmyL

This was great, thanks a million. I have an original 2005, and yes, the dealer wanted a ton of money to change 'em out. I'll buy extra gasoline with my savings and go camping in my "steel tent." Best regards!

Great vid! Made my job very easy! Thanks!

My light just went out. Thank You..Helpful..

Great video Jim. Had trouble getting the outer trim bezel started, without snapping the plastic.

Thanks for making it easy, Jim!

Great video. What's the part number for the bulbs behind the A/C selectors? Having trouble locating them on the website

awesome video, thanks for a great outline. My problem is I can,t find the bulbs for me Element. what category are they in ? Only bulbs I could find were headlights.....

Easy cluster removal, great job thank you

Thank you, very nice explained!

Thank you very much for sharing this video. Very informative and helpful. 😃

YOU DA MAN!! Thanks so much Jim

Nice video - how do you get to the lights behind the cruise button above that little pull out tray and next to that side panel you pop off for the dash lights? Thanks

Zowie! Thanks Jim this is a great help.

Such a great tutorial, thank you

Thanks again for making this!

great job Jim, I need to change all of mine out as well.

After you ordered your parts from hondapartsnow.com how long did it take for the parts to get to you ??

Thanks for the video, helped. for $11 you could buy 10 LED lights off Amazon

Can you show me how to replace the dome lights and the map-reading lights??

Love that ole Makita drill 👍

Going to finally do mine 🤗 2004 Honda Element 🌟

Is it true LED bulbs have polarity?

Does this keep it from having to be smacked to make it work?

What's the bulb part number and is there an LED equivalent?

Great video! Thanks.

Great video, would of been nice if you would of shared the part numbers.

I'm looking to get a front passenger seatbelt retractor for my element. What part would I need to look at the the website you mention

Would a newer dash panel be compatible with my 03 EX? Changing the bulb would be ok but I feel the dash in my 03 looks very outdated

Excellent video.

Have a 2004 element , the light showing the odometer went out . Any way to replace that one . Dealer said it would have to be sent away . thanks Bruce

Thank you Jim!

What is the bulb numbers for gear selector and hazard light?

Great vid! Unfortunately, for me, they won't b e any brighter than the ones in there now. I simply can't hardly see anything in the daytime. I'll try the LEDs, maybe even spruce it up a little with green and blue ones.

I know you’re not supposed to touch headlight bulbs with bare hands. Is that not true with these tiny bulbs?

I did all mine. was pretty simple. Some were ok but I changed them anyway. Now I got some spares. Going to run LEDs to all the cubby holes including doors and in the back. Should look like a Box Submarine .... Hunt For Red E

Thanks Jim. I'm having trouble finding the bulb for the automatic transmission window. Are you (or anyone) able to be more specific on a part number?

Thanks Jim I just buy the bulb for my 2008 Element...

Hi Jim Howard, does the three outside that have "Red" knobs illuminates 24:11? Mine are not lit.

Спасибо. Очень полезное видео.

Having some trouble locating replacement bulbs for the HVAC dials at HondaPartsNow.com. Found the Instrument panel ones, no problem. Any suggestions would be appreciated. #GivingMy'03BabyToMySons ::(

EXCELLENT!!!

Can I use any of the other bulbs for the emergency light bulb?

What’s the bulb part number for the hazard button and the gears

Thank you !!!!

really helpful, thanks

Thank you this was very useful Hondsparts.com owes you a few free bulbs

can I fix my gauge needles from the front ..they all fell off

Did you buy the bulbs from your local Honda dealer?

What do I need to do if my shifter is hard to shift into gears? It shifts but I struggle shifting it.

It would have been nice if you shared the part numbers...

THANK YOU 👍👍

I replaced a bulb in the console and it doesn't work. Not sure why. I inserted it and turned it to lock. Any ideas?

How about the light for the gear indicators next to the shifter?

Why not replace with LED replacement bulbs?

when I bought my used Element I popped the cluster panel, I found $7 worth of change inside the vents, the last owner's kids must have had lots of fun tossing the coins through the vent slots.

Now I know... Thanks!

The one bulb I wanted to see you replace you decided to not show getting replaced

Nice. I'll use a bevel square to remove my panel.

Number 74 bulbs will work for most of these and 2721 will do the rest for just a few bucks.

are you a elevator guy? those are fixing angles holding your tools lol ...good video cheers

Good video! However, you must hold the camera a bit more steady, got a headache trying to focus on the video. Perhaps you need a second person taking the videos.

I put in Green LED bulbs.

Damn expensive little bulbs.

Have you ever heard of grey market parts? It’s the unauthorized use and distribution of “Honda genuine parts”. A knock off if you will, no guarantee you bought “ genuine” parts from an online retailer.