removing switch panel

[trxmad]

ok so ive pretty much got it off the only problem i have is removing the dimmer switch wiring and the cigarette lighter i cant figure out how they detach.. any help would be appreciated

[Rake]

I've pulled the U12 dash off so many times it's not funny

Dimmer switch, I don't know about the high-low one as mine is variable, but mine just has one small awkward clip. Small screwdriver, push it in and twist to help lever it out and your free.

Cigg socket, just yank the plugs off. There are diffrent sockets in diffrent pinnies, but yeah, just pull them off.

Out of curiosity, what are you pulling the dash apart for?

[trxmad]

well i am gunna have a crack at some custom guages but i still cant ge tthe cigg connections off.
got the dimmer one off thanks to the screw driver..

also the jerk i bought the car off super glued the stereo in

[Rake]

If you need a hand with it sometime I've got nothing to do A fair way from newi though.

The Cigg Positive just slides on, the earth just slides on, the light had the little plug thing. Should just come off!

[trxmad]

so its the actual wires or on of the plastic bits attached?

[Rake]

Huh?

Just grab the plastic insulaty stuff and pull!

[trxmad]

alright i shall do that now... im still scared my lighter will not work at the end of this, not that i se it for anything in particular

[Rake]

It'll be fine. Just look at it and examine how it works.

[Pringles]

lol mine dosn't forgot to reconnect when putting ALL of the interia back in, from dash to golve box to kick gardes but there atleast black not brown now

basicly yeah jsut yank, theres not really that much that can break with it

[trxmad]

yeh i just had a good look at it and it looks like those bastards have been soldered in

i figure that i have gotten the thing out of the way enough to access everything anyway

[Rake]

To get to the gauges:

- Remove the Switch Panel .. two screws above head unit, two beind ashtray handle, one to hte left of the steering wheel, two to the right. Unplug everything and take out
- Take off the steering column top cover. This helps with the next step. Theres around 6 screws which you have to get from underneath.
- Remove the Airvents part. Three screws below the centre airvents (Note the middle one is longer than all the others), 5 along the top underside, and maybe some more around the steering wheel and all. I use a small flathead screwdriver, just near the right driver airvent, I wedge it between the two parts of the dash and lever it a bit until it kindof 'pops' out, then I remove. Unplug the clock if you've got one.
- Unscrew the guage cluster, theres two on the bottom corners and two on the top above the speedo, sortof.
- Unplug the three plugs from instument cluster, and voila. One of the clips on the middle black plug can be a little awkward with with the clicky thing, so again, small flathead should help. Once unplugged, pull it out
- The clear plastic and black circle plastic stuff just clips on, I think its easiest to unclip the bottom then the top. Pull off.

To take the guages off:

- Pop off needles, either with fingers or the flathead underneath and rotate it to lever them.
- Undo the small black screws to lift off the black face.
- Voila! Mod away!

It gets a little more complex if you want to do the needles though Also remember to mask off areas on the guages that you don't want to change, eg, Indicator arrows if you want to leave them green, Tacho redline, etc.

[trxmad]

i was so close to having everything done ready to scan and i notice the little knob things that sit at the bottom of fuel oil and temp gauges... do these come off??

[Rake]

Yep just grab them and pull them off. There are little holes which they fit tightly into, just push them back in when your putting everything back together. Don't loose them though!

[trxmad]

cool thanks