Auto, DIY

Infiniti Clock Light Bulbs Replacement Procedure

27 Comments

Replacing burnt out clock light bulbs in your Infiniti is very easy DIY procedure. Dealership will charge you over $100 for this, but you can do it yourself virtually for 20 cents and half an hour of your time. Recently I replaced bulbs for Infiniti G35 clock light without any problems.

Analog Infiniti clocks use two small 12V “Grain of Wheat” bulbs with covers. Stock Infiniti caps are of amber light. During replacement it is possible to remove caps from burnt out bulbs and install them on new bulbs, so there is no need to order caps or bulbs with caps. There are a lot of offers on eBay 100 “Grain of Wheat” bulbs for less than $10, i.e. less than 10 cents per bulb. I have ordered five (just don’t need 100) 12V small “Grain of Wheat” clear bulbs with insulated 7″ leads for about $3 on eBay. I decided to go with amber clock light again to match with other interior lights. However, it is easy to find different caps for bulbs, like blue, green, red, etc.

Let’s start with instructions. Please note that it is a recommendation and not an official repair manual. Always be careful during repair procedures and know what you are doing.

Grain of Wheat bulbs

It should be at least two small 12V “Grain of Wheat” bulbs with or without caps. It is hard to find these bulbs in a store in Canada (actually I could not), so the best way to get them is ordering online. Shop around, find what you need. My advice is to order more than two bulbs just for case of breaking wires during replacement. Make sure bulbs you are ordering are not larger than 4mm in diameter. Otherwise they will not fit clock bulb holders. If they are smaller, it is possible to fix.

Bulb with insulated leads:

Infiniti Clock Bulb - Grain of Wheat

Infiniti clock Bulb - Big

They are really small:

Infiniti Clock Bulb with Tape

 

Console Vent Cover Removal

You need to remove piece of plastic cover around the clock (console vent cover, or dash clock cover). Some solid flat tool like a blunt knife covered in a cloth is very useful for removing cover:

Infiniti - Knife on Towel

Insert it in the bottom corners and push directly up. It is the most hard step of bulbs replacement procedure and may take about 5 minutes. Be careful and persistent, and the cover will give up soon. Left side:

Infiniti Clock Panel Removal 1

And right side:

Infiniti Clock Panel Removal 2

Move it up when metal clips are released:

Infiniti Clock Panel Removal 3

Infiniti Clock Panel Removal 4

Be careful with the harness going to the small alarm light bulb. There is no need to disconnect this harness. You may put the removed cover on dash, so alarm cover is still connected and you can continue work on the clock.

 

Remove the Clock

Loose and remove two screws holding the clock panel:

Infiniti Clock Panel Removal 5

Infiniti Clock Removal 1

Remove the clock by pulling it upwards and disconnect the harness:

Infiniti Clock Removal 2

If you are not going to replace bulbs and put back the clock immediately, place the clock cover back onto its place, so it won’t disturb you when driving. Do not push on it to let the clips be released in order to avoid dash clock cover removal procedure again. Leave some opening:

Infiniti - Removed Clock

 

Clock Bulbs Replacement

First of all when your order with “Grain of Wheat” bulbs received you may want to check them by using a battery:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Check

Remove old bulbs from the back of clock panel using a screwdriver. Do not remove metal screws on the front of the panel! There is no need. Just remove two plastic bulb holders:

Infiniti Clock Bulb in Panel

Remove old bulbs from the grey holders:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Holder

Do not forget to remove amber light caps from old burnt out bulbs if you want to keep them before disposing bulbs off.

Remove isolation from new bulb leads:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Iso Removed

Check if new bulb fits the holder:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Holder

If it fits tightly (4 mm bulb) skip the next (taping) step, otherwise we need to fit it tightly. Bulbs I ordered were 3mm in diameter. They were “small” in the description. So I had to fix it by applying tape around the base of each bulb:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Taping

Prepare the bulb and put a cap on it:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Taped

Infiniti Clock Bulb covered

Put new bulbs with caps into holders:

Infiniti Clock Bulb covered in Holder

It requires some simple wiring. Put the wires into special holes, so it will create electrical contacts with clock panel leads later:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Wiring 1

Infiniti Clock Bulb Wiring 2

Infiniti Clock Bulb Wiring 3

Insert the bulbs in holders back into the clock panel. Use a screwdriver to tighten them:

Infiniti Clock Bulb Insert 1

Infiniti Clock Bulb Insert 2

Infiniti Clock Bulb in Panel Ready

 

Assembly

  • Cut excessive wires
  • Put the clock panel back onto its place
  • Attach clock harness
  • Switch on low beam to check clock lights. If not working try to figure out the reason – it should be a simple task
  • Tighten screws
  • Replace dash clock cover and push down to attach metal clips
  • Set up time
  • Enjoy working clock

Infiniti Clock Bulb Working

Let me know of any inaccuracy here or if you have some problems replacing clock light bulbs on your Infiniti.

27 thoughts on “Infiniti Clock Light Bulbs Replacement Procedure”

  1. I have a 2008 G35x with wood grain dash around the full clock and controls panel. Total different setup. Please provide tips for disassemble and bulb replacement if you’re familiar with this model.
    Thx a ton!

  4. Hi,
    I have a 2001 I30T. Is the procedure and light bulb size still the same? I tried removing the top cover and it is being very persistent. I don’t want to break anything.

    Thanks,

  5. would like tp
    o contact Roso re: infinity light bulb replacement
    Article published April 18,2013
    Thanks
    Earl

  9. I have a2003 Infiniti g-35, love your instruction , can you help me find the bulbs for my clock in my Infiniti ? Thanks Mackie

  10. Great Topic!!! It appeared as a DIY Tutorial…And some more are there which could save our warm pockets even at the hard times too…Hard times could be during any sort of technical issues and mini financial ones also…

  11. hello i was wonder if the long wires hanging from the bulb need to be left like that or can i cut it before screwing it in?

  12. Hi I followed all your steps and replaced the bulbs with no problem. After I finished
    And started my car it ddnt work and now my center console lights won’t turn on either the buttons still work but no lights. Help please

  14. I was wondering on the 12v bulbs. What Operating Current did you use. 100mA, 80mA or 70mA. Also what type of Power. 1.2 W? which one would last longer life or burn brighter?

    Thanks,
    John

  16. I was wondering what year your infiniti was. I am truly grateful for this easy-to-follow guide and would love to fix my clock, but the more I look at the picture of your dashboard, the more I think that my dashboard differs slightly? I have an 04…

  19. THANKS GREAT INSTRUCTIONS ONLY WISH I WOULD HAVE LOOKED HERE BEFOR PUTTING A SMALL CRACK IN DASH COVER GETTING IT OFF MY BAD SPOT ON INSTRUCTIONS ON BULB REPLACMENT BEST VALENTINES DAY PRESENT I COULD GIVE WIFE YOUR THE MAN

  20. Hi Charles,

    Dealership sell these bulbs only with plastic base, which was about $50 three years ago. You can order bulbs from eBay for $1-$2.

    Regards,
    Trueler

  21. Good Morning, I live in a very small city with NO Infinity dealership within 85+ miles. Can I order a bulb for my clock from you? OR must I just order it from a dealership?

    I also want to “Thank You” for such easy instructions. I have no apprehension of changing this bulb all by myself.

    Keep up the good work! Sincerely, C A Jones (Tennessee)

  24. Thanks for the info! Definitely the most detailed “repair” I was able to find on the web! Thanks a mil!

  27. I just used this on a used g35 I bought with the clock light out; it worked very well! These are definitely the most detailed instructions I was able to find. Thanks for the confidence tips on removing the console around the clock, I needed that to get over the “I’m breaking something” feeling.

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