My dash lights are out on my 2000 Mountaineer. Are they bulbs or does the entire panel have to be replaced?

Not a Mercury driver, but here is what a mechanic said on another forum for the same question you just asked: Remover the center trim plate surrounding the radio remove the clusters trim screws remove the clusters attaching mounting screws Pull out gently and remove the cable the to shift indicator Pull out the cluster and replace the bulbs needed by turning the light sockets counter clock wise to remove Reverse this procedure to reinstall

So the bulbs for the dash are behind the radio?

I just read the manual and it says "to replace all instrument panel lights see the dealer" . I assume the lights I am talking about would be considered the instrument panel?

No. What the guy is saying is that in order to remove the instrument cluster, you first have to remove the face plate from around the radio. Not remove the radio itself. I'm guessing the radio face plate must help hold the gauge molding somehow. Never torn it apart myself. Just copied and pasted what a mechanic told someone else. If you want the dealer to replace it, it's up to you.

he is right, it doesnt take that long, if you have a U-PICK junk yard near by go get a cluster from there for 11.95 then you can see how they come out and then use the bulbs from the 11.95 cluster for yours..2 birds 1 stone lol

no,that won't work! if you have the PATS anti theft system and replace with another cluster,it will not start because the computer will not know this new/used cluster and the keys will need to be re-programmed to the cluster/pcm with a ford scan tool/programmer,then it will start unless you have NO Transponder key....