HELP! How do I get the instrument cluster out?

[skopiec]

I half heartedly started to tackle replacing the "D" light today, and when the cluster didn't come out easily, I put everything back.

Now it looks like I pulled the harness loose from the rear, because the IP lights and the tach don't work.

How do I get this thing out? I can't be as hard as it appears - is it?

Thanks!
Scott

 

[100 TD]

Besides the 4 screws which hold it in, there are 2 bigger bolts with screw heads, 1 each side on the bottom, these hold the electrical connectors on the back of the cluster, they have to be undone all the way, then push the screw in, to release the electrical connectors, then when you get the cluster out, check the rear connectors are sitting locked in place in the dash before replacing cluster.

 

[skopiec]

I saw these bolts, but they seemed to just spin, without really getting looser (or tighter for that matter when I went the other way).

Am I missing a trick?

Thanks a bunch!

Scott

 

[100 TD]

I saw these bolts, but they seemed to just spin,

Scott

Undo, undo, undo, anticlockwise(counter clockwise for you guts who are up the wrong way)! Then after they are undone, get your screwdriver and push the bolts in.

 

[skopiec]

Excellent info!

Is there enough room (or slack) back there to reattach the harness when reinstalling?

 

[100 TD]

Excellent info!

Is there enough room (or slack) back there to reattach the harness when reinstalling?

Just make sure the harness connectors are locked in place by their plastic clips then push cluster in and do up the screws up which will pull the connectors together with the cluster.

 

[skopiec]

Thanks - I'll give it another shot. I was worried about getting it apart then needing to disassemble 3/4 of the dask to get my arm back there to hook up the harness.

About 1/2 way through this job, this struck me as one of those "Shoulda left it along" kinda things

 

[100 TD]

Maybe I forgot to mention, this is for later 2002 cluster, but my manual says about the same for them so it should be the same?

 

[TLC98]

Just make sure the harness connectors are locked in place by their plastic clips then push cluster in and do up the screws up which will pull the connectors together with the cluster.

do up the screws up? I was confued by the meaning of this sentence. Could you please tell me which way I should turn the bolts, clockwise or anticlockwise?

Thanks,

TLC98

 

[100 TD]

If you read the 4th post, I'm sure you'll work it out!

 

[skopiec]

Got it - the decriptions made more sense after I got in there. This was actually a very easy task.

One suggestion for others that are going to do this - make sure you cover the steering column with something before you pull the IP out - there are some sharp clips on the bottom that scratched mine up a bit....

Thanks again -

 

[MoJ]

Does anyone know if the clear window that protects the gauges can be seperated from the cluster? There appears to be some gunk on the back side of mine that I'd like to clean.

 

[re_guderian]

That must've been a heck of a sneeze...

 

[MoJ]

That must've been a heck of a sneeze...

Guess so. It's more of a cloudy residue of some sort.

 

[BigBlue99]

You can replace the clear plastic. Costs about $35-40 from CDan. I had to replace mine when I switched to LED dash lights and I cracked mine putting it back in. Wear latex gloves when putting it in to avoid smudges which will drive you nuts. I have a slight rattle in my instruments somewhere so I've got to take it all apart and tighten everything I can find and then re-assemble... fun.

 

[bamabrock]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/409313-led-instrument-panel-gauge-cluster.html

 

[MoJ]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/409313-led-instrument-panel-gauge-cluster.html

That's the plan while I'm at it.

 

[MoJ]

You can replace the clear plastic. Costs about $35-40 from CDan. I had to replace mine when I switched to LED dash lights and I cracked mine putting it back in. Wear latex gloves when putting it in to avoid smudges which will drive you nuts. I have a slight rattle in my instruments somewhere so I've got to take it all apart and tighten everything I can find and then re-assemble... fun.

Thanks. Do you recall if it snaps in place or screws? Is there any type of seal or gasket?

 

[BigBlue99]

Three clips (top left, center, top right) that connect it to the black panel and four screws along the bottom that go into the black instrument panel. You have to push the dash plastic around a bit to get it in there which is what lead me to crack the original one.

Good hint for this is to take the plastic steering column cover off. Screws are hidden behind the steering wheel so you need to turn wheel, unscrew, turn wheel, unscrew. Once unscrewed you can pry the top from the bottom pretty easily.

 

[MoJ]

Thanks again Blue.