question when taking off gauge cluster

D

dzolcali

NAXJA Forum User
Location
crank town
I am removing my gauge cluster, I've searched around and found some very helpful tuitorials...but, my problem is that I cannot get the plastic dash trim out. It's getting stuck on the steering wheel. I went to take it off, and realized it's got some sorta star tip, torque screws in there. I don't have any tools that will fit this in my tool box. I went to lowes and home depot and couldn't locate any that would work there as well..
has anyone else had this problem? How did you remedy it?

thanks for any help
oh yeah first post :)
 
dzolcali said:
I am removing my gauge cluster, I've searched around and found some very helpful tuitorials...but, my problem is that I cannot get the plastic dash trim out. It's getting stuck on the steering wheel. I went to take it off, and realized it's got some sorta star tip, torque screws in there. I don't have any tools that will fit this in my tool box. I went to lowes and home depot and couldn't locate any that would work there as well..
has anyone else had this problem? How did you remedy it?

thanks for any help
oh yeah first post :)
Click to expand...

Yeah - "first post" shows...

First of all, you'll want to get a set of Torx screwdrivers (six-pointed star - looks like the Jews' "Star of David") or a set of bits and a bit holder. You'll find those little nuisances all over... A decent hardware store should have either or both (try Ace or Orchard Supply - whichever is local to you. I didn't check your location... Radio Shack and other electronics houses may also have Torx kits up to a T-27 or T-30, which is most of what you'll need.)

Second - what year? I'm fairly sure you're not RENIX (1987-1990,) becase all of my RENIX rigs use Phillips head screws...

Welcome aboard - but help us help you. Remember, there is no such thing as "useless information" - either we'll need it later, or we just ignore it if we don't need it at all. You're better off posting too much than not enough - for instance, by not posting your year, you'll be unable to get a useful response out of me, and you won't be able to get a "I did that last week!" from someone with the same model. Small detail, but important...

5-90
 
Understandable, I'm a member of countless forums, mainly the reason I searched long before ever posting because thats a typical response from most seasoned forum gurus. I have a 1996 model jeep cherokee...i'm not real familiar with what model/sport etc... it is because I bought it off a kid that off roaded into a tree and got clipped in the back by a van, I have been repairing the wreck in my garage since. He also had a half a gallon+ of mud in the radiator...thats a different story in and of itself.
Anyways, you say torx...sounds like what I'm looking for because the bit holder I have won't fit in that tiny hole on each side of the plastic.

I also had a question about the wiper module...the kid told me the wipers didn't work because of the intermitent control module. I replaced it, however they still do not work. (as in they are stuck in the upright position and make no effort to move whatsoever.)What could this be, I'm about to go to the junkyard tommorow and buy a new wiper motor and stuff, although It could be some other things as well right? Is there a fuse anywhere that I can replace or check, is it possible the switch is screwed up?
 
OK...

Per my 1996 FSM -

There are four bezel screws - two over the instrument cluster, one over the ligher, and one over the light switch. Remove those, and the IP bezel is retained by about a half-dozen snap-fit locations.

The gage cluster proper is retained by four more screws - two on the top long edge, and two on the bottom. Once you get those out, you'll need to disconnect the wiring on the back of the cluster (should be two "harmonica" plugs) and probably the speedo connector. The indicator stack on the left should come out with the IP.

Note that there is a small panel under the steering column, that "finished" the bezel. It just pops loose - a thin tool of some sort under the edge should see to that. I usually end up putting the thing in my toolbox, and forgetting it. You'll also probably need to flex the upper part of the bezel just slightly (and tilt the steering wheel ALL THE WAY DOWN, if you have a tilt column) and it will just pop loose. The bezel will go from just left of the indicator stack to the right side of the radio/climate control stack.

Forgot to ask - why for are you removing the cluster, anyhow?

5-90
 
My gauge lights went out/were out, and I bought some glow gauges to put in there so I can see what speed i'm going at night.
I know how to remove all the screws I got the main dash panel hanging off the dash, it's just I can't ge tit out until I get that steeringwheel plastic cover off and I don't have the "torx" head screwdrivers I guess....:( arghh really irritated.

made some mentos/diet coke bombs tonite to blow off some steam. yeah yeah
 
dzolcali said:
made some mentos/diet coke bombs tonite to blow off some steam. yeah yeah
Click to expand...

please elaborate on this
 
It's pretty easy, buy a 2 liter of diet coke, and a pack of "white" original mentos. Make a stack of like 4-5 mentos open the diet coke...drop them in, and it will spray a foutain like 10 feet in the air. Was pretty cool...at 2:30 am.

peace
 
fugg! I broke my temperature gauge needle off when installing these damn things. ARghh i'm so pissed now.

is there anyway to swap these out of a junkyard cluster, or do I have to swap the whole cluster to get my temp gauge back?

anyone know of a good way to get a gauge pod with temp gauge on it?
 
Junkyards usually won't sell just the individual pods from the cluster cause then they can't sell the rest. i recently replaced my gauge cluster(upgrade from Dummy Lights to gauges) and had the same issue with getting the dash trim of around the stearing shroud. I was able to muscle it out while bending it to nearly breaking. no stress marks and it went back on no problem.
 
dzolcali said:
It's pretty easy, buy a 2 liter of diet coke, and a pack of "white" original mentos. Make a stack of like 4-5 mentos open the diet coke...drop them in, and it will spray a foutain like 10 feet in the air. Was pretty cool...at 2:30 am.

peace
Click to expand...


Make a bomb out of it!!! Take a 1L bottle of diet coke, pour out half (because diet tastes like ass!!) and on the cap, tape three mentos to the inside, screw the cap on, shake it up and throw it! I think that's way more fun than watching a stream in the air. And if you're lucky, you'll soak the rich assed guys car in sticky soda!
 
So, does the Metos bomb only work with diet soda (which does taste like arse...) or will it work with regular soda as well? I only ask out of interest - the idea of soaking some schmuck's ride in sugary soda, prefereably near a major anthill, has its appeal...

Especially since it holds to my personal rule of "don't damage someone's ride without a damn good reason..." There are many ways to screw with someone's ride without harming anything - except your mark's pride, his free time, and (probably) his wallet... A good vehiclular practical joke does NOT require repairs (although if they're done in the course of figuring out they didn't need to, that's funny...)

5-90
 
5-90 said:
So, does the Metos bomb only work with diet soda (which does taste like arse...) or will it work with regular soda as well? I only ask out of interest - the idea of soaking some schmuck's ride in sugary soda, prefereably near a major anthill, has its appeal...

Especially since it holds to my personal rule of "don't damage someone's ride without a damn good reason..." There are many ways to screw with someone's ride without harming anything - except your mark's pride, his free time, and (probably) his wallet... A good vehiclular practical joke does NOT require repairs (although if they're done in the course of figuring out they didn't need to, that's funny...)

5-90
Click to expand...
i think soda will damage the clearcoat won't it? I rememer hearing that somewhere.
 
any soda works (diet for some reason works best), but make sure you put the cap on quick and tight and shake it well. oh, remember to throw it quick too, it builds pressure fast.
 
I like how yall hijacked my thread to talk about mentos lol...it's cool so I may just not worry abou tthe engine temperature gauge...to be honest doing the gauge cluster is kidna easy but at the same time its a pita because it's so tedious. I would do a write up on it but I got no digi camera.

anyways, will the mentos bomb make like a big explosion pop kinda noise or what? Just curious cause I may do it soon.

peace
 
Ok so the guage is all in and looks fantastic when lit up...but the only problem i'm having now is finding a power source to tap into thats not a constant power, basically I need a pictures, or something to tap the wires that go to the parking lamps. Either that or i'm drilling a hole and running wires through the firewall to the front corner light and splicing that and hooking it up..which is mad ghetto.
 
I would like to put it at the parking light swithc but I can't find the right wire to hook it too....and i have very poor access to the switch after I put the whole fascia back over the gauges and stuff.

let me know if theres an easy fix to this so I don't break anything or mess stuf fup
 
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