Hilton

Awesome post Shocki!

I picked up a replacement digital dash for my '89 yesterday so I can get rid of the original one that has Miles on the speedo (its an import) and go with one that has only km's on it, so the timing couldn't have been better.

Can anyone confirm that this write-up does *not* apply to non-airbag cars with the same digital dash?

I haven't got as far as looking into dash disassembly just yet - have a few other fish to fry first for an emissions test in 2 weeks so its not a priority until then, but I'll be taking plenty of pics when I do it.

Hilton.

PorKen

The Radio Shack bulbs are for the early, soldered in, bulbs:

thread

Here's a list of all the 78-86 (-88 pod) OSRAM bulb #s:

thread

RyanPerrella

The procedure is similiar, but its not the same.

89 has a different pod, but it may attach the same way. For 89, you do have to remove the steering wheel. Also the 90 plus cars have the knee bolster pictured. The earlier cars do not.

928ntslow

Interesting as I have had the pod off 3 times in the last couple of weeks.

First question - how are you possibly able to pull the side console panel down to reveal the 2 13mm head bolts??? The driver seat MUST come out to get to the rear screw...otherwise you cannot just remove the front screw and one plastic kick panel screw to do this.

Second question - Do your wire harnesses have THAT much lead, that you can pull the pod forward like that???

Third question - how are you able to re-install the cluster with the pod on. Unless you want to snap the plastic piece that holds the rubber shaft with washer, you have to insert from below.

I have been inside of these dashes too many times over the years and the only cars I have found it possible to do what you did is the OB's.

I am amazed!!!

Also, I did a change to LED which is wayyyy cheaper, MUCH MUCH better lighting and MUCH more reliable than the original filament bulbs. A write up is coming in a week or two.

obersturm

Hallo Schoki,

sehr schoen gemacht! Respekt!
Wenn ich das mit dem roten Silikonhuetchen richtig verstehe, koennte man ja mit andersfarbigen Huetchen die ganze Beleuchtung in anderen Farben gestalten, oder? Mir waere blau ganz lieb......

Ich wollte meine Ansaugspinne und Ventildeckel auch ueberarbeiten. Hast du dafuer auch so ne tolle Anleitung? Evt. auch mit Teilenummern fuer die benoetigten Dichtungen etc pp?

Dank und Gruss AUStralien

Martin

RyanPerrella

I pulled my pod somewhat by accident honestly. I was trying to loosen something and in no time i had the whole thing moving around i figured, ahh what the hell lets just pull it. Didnt need remove the wheel or anything. The cluster in mine stayed attached to the electrical connections until the pod was removed, then i could get access to the back of it to remove the cluster.

Schocki

Sorry I can't. My car has an airbag. Removal of the airbag wheel is always tricky and you have to disconnect the battery. If your car is without airbag, than take the wheel off, 2 minute deal. The procedure will still safe you time because you can leave the switches in the pod.

Mrmerlin

If your removing the pod always disconnect the battery, once you fry an errant hot wire Lord Lucas will reward you with smoke. Nice writeup and great pictures

Leon Speed

I did my 89 today. I didn't remove the steering wheel - well I tried but the nut was just too tight. The 89 pod is fastened by two hex bolts in the front (just behind the steering weel) and two allen bolts in the back (in the pod corners). When loose you need to clear enough space to free the instruments. I tilted the pod to the right and down. The pod needs to get over the ignition. With a little bit of prying it will work.

I noticed that the bulbs for 'engine check' and 'cats' warning lights are disabled. Same in Schocki's pic. Anyone know why?

Cheers

Schocki

1st
Yes you can by lowering the front portion of the seat (mine are elctric with memory). Take a long enough screwdriver and the screw comes right out.

2nd
The instrument cluster is already disconnected and the wiring on the switches are no problem.

3rd
The rubber part stays on the pod right hand side. The left side comes out with the cluster, I push the rubber pieces with washer back in place before I isntall the cluster and secure them with some elctric tape.

"I have been inside of these dashes too many times over the years and the only cars I have found it possible to do what you did is the OB's. " Schocki's question: What are OB's???

LED's are fine BUT they are not street legal in Germany. If you replace the bulbs with LED's you lose the automatic brightness adjustment feature of the photo sensor. Plus you can't manually DIM the lights anymore.

My interior lights are LED's, the shifter gate back lighting is LED and the "GTS" on the door sills is EL tape.


BTW I have done this on other cars too (all with airbag) with no problem! Rog100 was my first "customer" with a cold solder spot in his oil pressure gauge. Pulled the cluster out of his GTS in a couple of minutes and fixed the oil pressure gauge. Roger can back me up on this!

Emickelsen

WHAT!?!?!?!?!?

Anyway, cool write up thanks. Ironicaly, I was just planning on going outside and tackling this very thing right after this, kooky. Timing is everything.

Do you know if all that applies to an OB? Also, is the car driveable with the pod off? I'm planning on doing some work under the center console as well, and I assume it will take more than one day. Planning on golfing tomorrow ya know.

Tampa 928s

You have done it again I have to tap my dash ever so lightly to make the tack and speedo work more often then not, lights are dim and I love to cause myself pain. Will this work on an 86 or should I just do it the old fashon way ?
This is the last part and only part that has not been removed and was waiting for an excuse this maybe it.

928ntslow

Well, I guess because I have sport seats, it is impossible to get to the rear screw.

OB means "Old Bugger"...British term I guess, but it stuck and everyone uses it.

LEDS do not require the need for dimming. That is the beauty of them. They are not a brighter light, they are a vivid light. I don't know anyone who ever used the dimmer wheel anyway...other than to try to make their already dim filament lights brighter, but to no avail.

Thanks for the info though. I am going to try to work around the issues that I am aware of. I know the cluster harnesses are not long enough...I was referring to the switch harnesses. I don't recall mine being that long, as it was tough to pull them through the holes enough to connect the switches.

31-TL-ZS

Shocki,

Great revision of your write-up now with the pics, they say so much more than words! I would like to look at my oil pressure indicator in detail. What is the correct way to take the instrument panel apart?

Thanks.

Robert, 1994 GTS midnightblue, the Netherlands

Fabio421

I have done the same/similar proceedure with my 84. Its pretty easy to get everything out. Its much trickier to get it all back together but its not too bad.