How to remove and replace picnic table and reading light bulbs?
 

The owner's manual set does illustrate how to pry out the light housings located on the rear of the front seats to replace the bulbs, but the illustration shows seats without picnic tables.

I'm a bit worried about trying to "figure it out" by randomly prying around the plastic lens and the wood itself, risking cracking either.

So does anyone have any advice on how best to remove the light fixture/housing to replace the bulb?

Both of mine are not working, so thought it best to check the easiest thing first, the bulbs.

I've also got one reading lamp out, the ones mounted to the D pillar that pull out and swivel. After almost 25 years, I'm sure the plastic is unforgiving. If there are any tips to advise or avoid, that is also much appreciated.


Also, what type bulbs are used in both the picnic table and reading lamps?

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Here are some photos that may be helpful for reference:


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...2d6ec3aac6.jpg



https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.jag...5b262e3e5e.jpg


From:

Interior Lights ? Valve Chatter


From the photos above, it appears that the lamp housings will come out if one were to insert a flat feeler gauge on either side?

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OK, went out and figured out how to open both..... ;)

The D pillar pull out reading lamps are easy enough. When you pull them out and open, one can see a small opening on the inside side near the end of the lamp where a small implement (driver, awl) can be inserted to press down on a catch. Then the grid/lens will pull out of the body with little effort. To remove the bulb, one has to depress a metal catch and then the plastic grid will pull away, revealing and releasing the bulb. It's hard to describe, so just take a minute to look at how the grid is held onto the metal reflector body, and it will be obvious. Don't force it as I'm sure the old plastic will break.

The bulb in the reading lamp is a T4W or bayonet 233 according to the manual.

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For the rear seat picnic table lamps, they do not appear to be able to pull or pry out.

I took a look and the upper wood trim, into which these lights are set, comes off with two phillips head screws from underneath. All one has to do is open the picnic table partially, then use a long phillips driver to remove both screws. The wood trim may resist your attempt to pull it down and away at first, but with some gentle pushing and pulling it will easily. I found that mine obviously hadn't been removed in many years so was sticking to the surrounding leather at first.

Upon removing the wood trim, it was obvious that the lamp holder was attached to the wood from the rear with screws. So again, I don't think one can successfully remove the lamp via prying from the front.

Both bulbs were missing from my lamps, which is an interesting mystery, but both are some sort of festoon style bulb.

The manual says it is a "festoon 239" 5W which I think is the same as a C5W festoon.

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Yep, that's what I was thinking....

The reading lamps are fine. The right hand side turns off as expected when stowed, and the left hand bulb is clearly burned out (black inside). So I don't think there is any risk in renewing those.

But you are correct that the seat back lamps are suspect. I'll put them in and see what happens. It should be pretty obvious if they fail to turn off.

Interesting BTW that the "dimmer" switch is just a plastic shield/shutter that moves in front of the bulb. It seems to also be a switch to turn it off/on, but when on it physically masks the bulb depending on where it is positioned.

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