Cluster removal

[Hudo's 1st 02]

I’ve search for the past 30 minutes and can not find a previous article. Can anyone send me a link or pics of how to remove the instrument cluster?

[halboyles]

Here is an excellent article posted, I believe, on the tii registry.  Though it is explicitly about rehabbing the gauges, it contains instructions on removing the cluster itself.

Dash Gauges Rehab.docx

[John_in_VA]

Remove the boards under the steering column (if still present), reach up behind the cluster & unscrew the speedo cable fastener, remove the two (originally) round knurled fasteners (don't lose the washers!), push the cluster towards the steering wheel, disconnect wiring.

[zambo]

Hudo

 

I did this when I refurbed the cluster in late October. It really is as easy as  John describes above. You'll have it out in no time. Just make sure you keep all your fasteners for the under steering wheel boards/pads in some order, because at least in my case they weren't all interchangeable so you will need to recall which screw went where.

[adawil2002]

In time you'll be able to remove the cluster with your eyes closed in under 2 minutes.

[Hudo's 1st 02]

1 hour ago, halboyles said:

Here is an excellent article posted, I believe, on the tii registry.  Though it is explicitly about rehabbing the gauges, it contains instructions on removing the cluster itself.

Dash Gauges Rehab.docx

This is awesome, thanks for the info!!!

[VWJake]

3 hours ago, John_in_VA said:

Remove the boards under the steering column (if still present), reach up behind the cluster & unscrew the speedo cable fastener, remove the two (originally) round knurled fasteners (don't lose the washers!), push the cluster towards the steering wheel, disconnect wiring.

 Aren’t they also a pair of screws in the “hood” to remove... or am i thinking of a mid80s VW?

[adawil2002]

3 minutes ago, VWJake said:

 Aren’t they also a pair of screws in the “hood” to remove... or am i thinking of a mid80s VW?

 

Nothing under the hood to remove old BMWs.

[Mike Self]

1 hour ago, VWJake said:

 Aren’t they also a pair of screws in the “hood” to remove... or am i thinking of a mid80s VW?

The early cars (68 and 69 for sure, possibly early 70s) had two screws that held the top section  of the plastic instrument housing to the underside of the binnacle's top.  After a couple of years the factory must have realized they weren't necessary and dropped 'em, so later cars don't have those screws.

 

mike

[VWJake]

6 hours ago, mike said:

The early cars (68 and 69 for sure, possibly early 70s) had two screws that held the top section  of the plastic instrument housing to the underside of the binnacle's top.  After a couple of years the factory must have realized they weren't necessary and dropped 'em, so later cars don't have those screws.

 

mike

 I was hoping I wasn’t losing my mind already. ?

[worzella]

Hi Hudo -

 

Not sure this exact topic is covered in this manual below, but if you have access to a printer or old laptop to keep in the shop, download all of these PDF files and read, read read.... This doc is on the FAQ under the Technical Articles -> History and reference sections. Also worth downloading the original User's Manual.

 

 

[AustrianVespaGuy]

On 12/30/2018 at 7:13 PM, adawil2002 said:

In time you'll be able to remove the cluster with your eyes closed in under 2 minutes.

Actually without the dash pads it's more like 30 seconds.  Maybe as much as a minute if you have a toddler trying to help you with it.  It's comical how often I've had my cluster out.  Each time I think "this is probably the last time for awhile. . ." Yeah, never is!

 

On 12/30/2018 at 6:44 PM, John_in_VA said:

(don't lose the washers!)

Curious what the original washers look like/help with? In the 3 2002s I've owned I've never seen a washer behind the knurled nuts, so want to know more about what I'm missing out on!

[adawil2002]

9 minutes ago, AustrianVespaGuy said:

Actually without the dash pads it's more like 30 seconds.  Maybe as much as a minute if you have a toddler trying to help you with it.  It's comical how often I've had my cluster out.  Each time I think "this is probably the last time for awhile. . ." Yeah, never is!

 

Curious what the original washers look like/help with? In the 3 2002s I've owned I've never seen a washer behind the knurled nuts, so want to know more about what I'm missing out on!

 

A black plastic washer on both posts before the knurled nut. 

[John_in_VA]

14 minutes ago, AustrianVespaGuy said:

Curious what the original washers look like/help with? In the 3 2002s I've owned I've never seen a washer behind the knurled nuts, so want to know more about what I'm missing out on!

 

Black rubber washers with a small hole the size of the threaded shaft.

[AustrianVespaGuy]

Cool, thanks guys, will try and replace those with something similar sometime to see if it somehow makes life better!