Instrument cluster removal

[cnskate]

Do the instrument cluster come out from the back or the front? I'm wondering how much stuff I need to take off to replace the cluster. Thanks

[earthworm]

Front

I pull the steering wheel, but this is not necessary.

Its still a good hour of work, with all the panels and switches.

[cnskate]

So that whole front panel has to come out? I wonder if I'll need a stereo puller tool.

[jonnyfgroove]

Check out this link.

[cnskate]

Thanks for the link. Ugh, looks harder than I thought.

[Eric in Lockport, N.Y.]

Not hard, just time consuming.............. been there done that.

[neomagus00]

i have a 9-3, but i don't find it difficult at all to pull this stuff off... just be careful with the AC vents, mine have a tendency to fall off, and they're not easy to put back together.

[turbojohnny]

Originally Posted by neomagus00

just be careful with the AC vents, mine have a tendency to fall off, and they're not easy to put back together.

very true, when i pulled that front cover piece off one of the vents fell out and i spent probably a good 10 minutes putting it back together

[coreyeroc]

Sorry, i cant help you with dash removal.

but related to this - do you guys know if there is a spot where I can shim my dashboard (really slightly). It has a slight rattle at times which drives me nuts, and rather than pulling the entire dash off to find one or two loose mounting screws, i'd like to see if a shim will do. I can hold/push the dash up really lightly and it stops completely. Could I put 1 small shim on each side by the door jamb to alleviate this? Any ideas?

[cnskate]

yep, it was pretty easy, thanks for the encouragement. The .99 cent cluster I scored off of ebay did the job.

[hawkmoon]

Just a note for anyone having problems with guage cluster. I took mine out and found a couple slightly loose screws on the circuit boards. I merely tightened them and re-assembled and that took my guages from rarely ever working to almost always working. I guess a $1 cluster would work better but it may be something to try.

1996 900S
2.3 FI

[john bernard]

Originally Posted by coreyeroc

Sorry, i cant help you with dash removal.

but related to this - do you guys know if there is a spot where I can shim my dashboard (really slightly). It has a slight rattle at times which drives me nuts, and rather than pulling the entire dash off to find one or two loose mounting screws, i'd like to see if a shim will do. I can hold/push the dash up really lightly and it stops completely. Could I put 1 small shim on each side by the door jamb to alleviate this? Any ideas?

In the Tech. Help section on this web site I think there is a guide for dashboard removal (may be listed as instrument cluster removal). Anyhow, this includes a sketch showing the location of each of the dashboard holding screws. My guess is that one or more of these is missing from your dashboard. I think there are something like nine screws. Also, the installation of the dash at the left bottom is a little tricky, It has to be raised a little to go in properly.I had to use a flat blade screwdriver to lever up the bottom left to get it over some obstacle to get it to install.

[hawkmoon]

The diagram you're referring to doesn't show screws for the entire dash, just the piece that surrounds/holds in the radio, sid, gauge cluster, etc. I'm guessing if there's a rattle it would be something missing in the dash piece that spans the width of the car.

Where do you touch or hold to make the rattle stop?

[earthworm]

Originally Posted by coreyeroc

Sorry, i cant help you with dash removal.

but related to this - do you guys know if there is a spot where I can shim my dashboard (really slightly). It has a slight rattle at times which drives me nuts, and rather than pulling the entire dash off to find one or two loose mounting screws, i'd like to see if a shim will do. I can hold/push the dash up really lightly and it stops completely. Could I put 1 small shim on each side by the door jamb to alleviate this? Any ideas?

Small pieces of rubber from an old tube
sections of foam tubing used in concrete and building
a rubber band, NOT good for more than 60 days..
model aircraft fuel line
vacuum line
Great Stuff , use this in the voids and cavities.

[coreyeroc]

thanks for the replies fellas. If I push up slightly on the center on the dash, it stops completely. It just feels a little loose on the back end. I would guess too, that a mounting screw is loose, if not a few. Its not terrible or anything, just one of those things that drives only you crazy..

The vacumm line and foam is a good idea earthworm. I think I'll try that and see what we get.