Hi All,

I've got my dash pod out to replace the failed odometer gear and while I have the entire cluster out I got to thinking that these instruments are going on 25 years old and maybe I should replace all the instruments with new ones. I know if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I also know if it's old and easy to replace, why wouldn't you. So I thought I'd float it out for some friendly advice.

Thanks, Keith
'84 stock getting TLC and nip&tuck

 

The bezel and lighting upgrade from Jager is a really nice update. A friend of mine did it to his 84 Euro, and if I were doing what you mention above, I'd also do this upgrade WYAIT.

www.jageng.com

 

If I were you, I would clean all the connections thoroughly, and solder the rivets. -->Info on the rivets.

 

Change at least the main illumination bulbs and the most used warning/indicators: turn signals, high beam, gear selection, stop light warning.

Alan

 

Keith,

When replacing the odometer gear clean the rods on the two odometers with some bronze wool. These are steel rods and will cause friction in the working of the odometer eventually leading to failure. I apply a bit of Kano light instrument oil to keep them from corroding again and to reduce the friction. Yes, the old odometer gears rot, but the mechanism should turn freely as well.

The connectons going to the gauges is what generally gets messed up. Inspect the connections on the circuit board. If they are dull then they need some cleaning. Brasso with a Q-Tip or a small paint brush can be used to clean them up. However, if you see the corrosion creaping down long the traces under the insulation then the circuit board should be replaced. 928 International has them for most years.

The connections on the board once clean can be rinsed with Alcohol and coated with a little dielectric grease to keep them nice for the foreseeable future - next 20 years. The biggest cause of failure for the gauges is a loose or bad connection with the circuit board. The gauges themselves are pretty robust.

Take a look at all of the light bulbs in the cluster. Some are soldered in or are part of the socket. I had a case where one bulb was burnt, buy still drawing excess current. I caused damage to the area around the bulb because of heat. I replaced it, but the extra draw was probably causing other unknown problems. I found the replacement bulbs at a local electronics supply house.

If you want to get fancy there are people who sell replacement gauge faces. Some of these can be customized to color and even have your name on the gauge??? Definitly replace the illumination bulbs with some better arrangement. There is a guy on eBay selling replacement LED bulbs for very little money. While you are there clean the rheostat for the dash lights and make sure it is linear. DeOxIt is good for that.

When you put the pod back on be sure the spacers are on both sides of the instrument cluster. If one is missing it is easy to tighten the bolt through the pod surface. Also check the routing of the cables. The can be pinched by the installation. I find it easier to install the pod with the steering wheel and switch stock off. Or you can do it the factory way and remove the windshield.

Good Luck

Dan the Pod Guy

 

Alan - would you change them even if they weren't burned out? I'm pulling the pod next weekend for various R&R. I have a spare instr cluster that I just got from another 86. All bulbs on the spare tested fine. Should I switch those into my cluster?

 

Yes - they have a finite lifetime & yours have been in for over 20 year now.. They will all tend to go at a similar time.... For all the ones that get a lot of uses it makes sense to do it now. But most particularly for the dash illumination.

Besides part of the aging is that they will get dimmer due to deposits on the inside of the glass - automotive clear bulbs usually look smoky or slightly blackened (same reason why old 110v household bulbs look grey not white when you replace them) .

Alan

 

Thanks for all the advice. It's interesting that no one recommended gauge replacement. Evidently not a durability concern eh? I also noted after my initial post that the clear plastic cover on the instrument cluster has some significant scratches. Can the plastic be polished to remove the scratches or is there a replacement plastic cover?

Keith

 

The gauges seem to be fine - bulbs, plastic light guides for the bulbs and the connections are what seems to need work. Bulbs are relatively cheap and easy to change. The light guides are not sperately available (so pretty much have to licve with it), connections can be cleaned while you have it out...

Changing the gauges is likely to create other issues (damage to the delicate flex circuit board) and what would you swap them with anyway? 20 year old replacements? I don't know where you'd source pin compatible new ones...

Alan