So I just bought my 1998 a few weeks ago and I am trying to fix things that are wrong with it. These forums covered most of my questions but I still have a few. I have an automatic and when I am shifting from park to drive or reverse at night I have to turn on the "map reading lights" to be able to see what I am shifting into. Does the '98 have a light in the automatic shifter to be able to see the gears at night? If so mine must be burnt out. How would I go about replacing it? I looked all over for screws or something to take it off but couldn't find anything. Thank you.

 

The shifter console lights do illuminate. How to change the bulb/s is a good question. I know you have to use caution when removing the plastic trim piece as to not crack it.

 

remove the center piece of the shift **** by prying it out.
remove the circlip that holds the shift **** on and remove the ****.
pry up the trim piece....and yes be careful not to bust it.
at this point you should be able to see the screws that hold the light assy in....take them out and then you can replace the bulbs.
a GE194 bulb will work ( 2 of them) but the actual ones have less wattage (sorry cant remember the number for you).
this would be a great time to clean out all the loose change and other crap that has fallen down in there too....lol

 

Thank you I got the two bad bulbs out and will buy replacements tomorrow.

 

I'd highly suggest not running 168/194 Peanut incandescent bulbs in the shifter assembly. Will it work? Sure Will it last no and you'll have horrible results as those 168/194 will actually melt your shifter housing eventually and make your shifter film brittle and it will completely fall apart. Leaving you with an eye sore, a place for debris to enter your shifter assembly, and they're not all that cheap for a good used replacement.

I highly recommend getting yourself a pair of Sylvania White 168/194 LED's for 14.99 (not the Zevo ones) and using them. They'll light up awesome and they do not put out nearly the same amount of heat. If you don't want those then you will need to locate the original peanut bulb that doesn't have nearly the watts of the 168/194 bulb.

 

I use the 161 bulbs which are 2.7 watts instead of the 194's which are 4W. Less bright but far less heat as well.

 

Thanks I had to special order the LED lights and they are 11 times more expensive but my Rover is worth it.

 

I grabbed my LED's at Walmart in the automotive section. 14.00 and not having to fool with em for a long long long long long time is worth it. I also swapped out the 3 main Dash Gauge Cluster Bulbs with them. Huge difference!