Need Help with Dash Cluster Removal

[318idol]

Hello, Gary in Portland.  I've been attempting to remove the dash cluster in order to repair the erratic speedo.  But it's been a disaster.  I've used your tips and the Bentley book and can't get it out.  I have managed to break one of the Y-tabs on the top., scratch and break the plastic glass.  It's a joke.  There's in NO WAY to get the cluster past the top of the steering column plastic cover.  And I can see no way to remove that cover without taking out the ignition switch to free up the cover -- and the books don't tell you how to do that.

How do you do it?   I've taken clusters out of many cars, but nothing this tight.  Since I've trashed the cluster, I'll have to get another one, but I can't even get this one out, let alone get another one in.

At what point do you unplug the harnesses, after you pull the cluster out of the opening?

Call me on my call phone or give me a number to call you.  This is so freakin' bizarre.  I've never seen anything like it.  And all the DIYs make it seem so easy.

Thanks for the help.  Gary
503-516-1468 mobile

[ak96ss]

1) Disconnect the battery.

2) Open the little tabbed window under the middle of the steering column and disconnect the orange connector in there. You did wait 10 minutes or so since disconnecting the battery, right? Don't want that airbag going off...

3) Remove the airbag. Two torx-bit bolts on the backside of the wheel.

4) Remove the steering wheel. IIRC, it's a 21mm nut, but this is purely from memory, YMMV.

5) Remove the two screws that were behind the wheel, and the one that comes up in the bottom middle of the steering column, and pull off the lower trim piece.

6) Remove the trim piece between the column and the cluster - two knurled nuts on the backside, you have to reach up in there from behind to do it. You should probably have already removed the knee bolster to get to them.

7) Remove the upper trim piece from the column, it is a bear. You do not need to remove the ignition switch, but you'll need to really jockey that thing around to get it off. I ended up busting a little locating tab on the upper trim piece to do it, but you may be lucky. It is easier if you remove the connector for the ignition switch - it's a large, dark red connector on the left side of the column as you face it, with two release tabs. I used a small flat-bladed screwdriver to press them down and release the connector.

Now you can pull the cluster out.

Despite a lot of people saying it was possible, I have never been able to remove the cluster without taking the steering wheel off. You are right, it is very tight in there, particularly around that upper trim piece.

If you hadn't already broken the plastic cover, I would tell you to lay a towel over the column so you don't scratch it, but...:rolleyes:

[RED IS 91]

I've removed my cluster 5 or 6 times without removing the steering wheel .
The trick that I used was :
when you've got all the screws out and are ready to remove the cluster ,tilt the top towards you slightly then lift the bottom and slide it towards the front of the car .The cluster should then be laying towards its face .Unlug the wires which are color coded .You should be able to turn the cluster slightly and remove it .I believe I took the end that's towards the passenger side of the car out first and carefully removed it .It's tight.Remember to lay a towel on the column to prevent scratches.
The first time I did it I also broke the clips , but when I put it back together it held fine without these clips.I have since replaced that cluster with one with both tabs and have installed it successfully .
I know it can be done because I've done it and so haven't alot of other people .
It will definately try your patience.Do not force anything.
good luck

[318idol]

I managed to get the cluster out.  Getting the wheel off was simple.  The problem is the illusion that the cluster will just pull straight out.  No siree.  One DIY casually mentioned tipping the top of the cluster down.  You sorta fold it flat down from the top.  This gives access to the plugs and the cluster slides right out.

Now, what do I do with the small broken corners of the plastic cover?  Can you swap just the clear cover betzel from another housing?  OR do you need an entire cluster housing?

As for those super fragile Y winged brackets, aerospace epoxy...

Thanks for all the help.  Gary

[ak96ss]

If you can find a replacement clear bezel, you could swap it out, but I haven't seen one available separately in a long while.