So anyways I was bored with my interior. Went out to the store and got some white paint, few new cluster bulbs to replace the burnt out ones. Sprayed my heater/AC vents all white (looks pretty good btw). Take out my cluster and go to change the bulb on the left turn signal. I twist the bulb housing, it comes out fine. But for some reason the bulb was a real bitch to pull out. I finally got it out and try to put in the new one, and it doesn't fit. It goes in, but it comes out of the housing really easy. I don't know if everytime you change the bulbs in the cluster you need new housings for them. I thought I read this somewhere but not so sure. So I gave up on it, put the cluster back in. Start up the truck and go to leave the house, 1 min down the road the CEL comes on. Now WTF is wrong!!!! I don't know where to start. Ideas please? You guys seem to know a hell of alot more about dakotas then I will ever know ha ha

 

Hard to say what could be wrong. Could be anything (both minor issues and major issues). First thing you ought to do is read the code. Either you can do it yourself(2000 or newer) or go to an Autozone or similar and get it read for free. See the sticky about CELs at the top of this forum. Once you know the code it should give you an idea of where to start.

If you want, you can also just disconnect the battery to reset the light (again see the sticky).It may just go away andif it comes on again get it read then...

 

Take your truck to AUTO ZONE, CHECKER Auto Parts, KRAGEN or some such place that advertises FREE C.E.L. diagnosis. If you have a repair manual (Haynes or Motor), once the codes are revealed then you know what to do to fix it. As far as the dash light situation, sockets do get tweaked out of shape due to heat. Hopefully you can replace the socket itself but it might need to get harrier and involve the friggin cluster. I think that when you pulled the cluster to replace the bulb, you might have caused a short in the cluster causing a "code". You can clear the codes by disconnecting the POSITIVE side of the main battery for 30 seconds. Re-connect and then turn the key to "ON" but DON'T start the truck! Wait for the cluster to do it's self check and the C.E.L. should go out. Then start the engine and wait and see if the C.E.L. comes back on. If it does, go get the codse from the above mentioned locations and go from there.

 

Thanks for all your help guys. So as for the bulb housing, does anyone know what size to get?

 

I do know after looking that when the tranny was replaced, they checked the codes and it threw a code for the O2 sensor. Never bothered to replace it. Im thinking it might be that. I'll just replace it anyways then check the codes again to see if it helped. And for the housing I found one at AutoValue, it was for a Ford/Chevrolet/Chrysler. It looks like it fits, i'll try putting it in tomorrow. Apparently when I took the bulb out before it damaged the housing, leaving it useless. POS. Sorry, but correct me if im wrong, Isn't it the NEGATIVE side to disconnect if you want to clear the codes? Could be wrong, just want to make sure.