can anyone help me out real quick i got a ?

I have all the nuts removed, the 2 10mm nuts off, and it the guage cluster is loose but it wont come out...i cant find the speedo sending unit either, can any1 help me out? i wanted to take it out cause i got white face guages i wanna put in.

THanks,
Nick

 

I don't know why it's hung up in the dash, you should loosen the steering column bolts under the dash and lower it a little, that will give you more clearance to get it out.

If that doesn't help you might try taking off the dash pad and looking to see if anything is stuck on the back.

 

The speedometer is holding it in place. You need to pull the cluster forward as far as possible, take a long flat blade screwdriver an push the locking clip on the back of the speedometer forward while pulling on the cluster at the same time. It may make it easier if you first remove the steering wheel, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Hope that Helps

 

ringo is correct. For removing the cluster itself, dropping the steering column a bit is helpful as is pulling the steering wheel down to its lowest postion. While you have the cluster out, consider repairing the odometer if it's broken:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...-fix-pics.html

JamesC

 

Should i disconnect the battery first? sorry that might sound stuiped but i'm new at working on cars and im not in the mood to get electricuted haha

 

Always a good idea.

JamesC

 

it helps alot if you have real skinny hands, so you can feel around back there, it's intristing trying to find the clip W/ just a screwdriver.....having a kid W/ skinny hands really helps in this situation

 

Ya my skinny self was able to get my finger on the clip and press it forward then pull the cluster out.

Grab a flashlight too it helps.

 

So glad I have an electronic speedo

 

Practice makes perfect. I've removed my instrument cluster so many times, I can locate and pop the speedo cable clip in a matter of seconds while half asleep these days! I've found it's easier to do with your fingers instead of a screwdriver since you can feel what you're doing. The first time was kind of a PITA, now it's a breeze to do. I have to disagree on the "thank G o d I've got an electric speedo" comment. I've seen so many 90-92 instrument clusters go screwy, it's not even funny.

 

just use a larger hammer

 

Yea I used a massive 1.5 foot flathead screwdriver.The thing is so big it wasn't useful for anything untill I needed it to get that clip off. Now that horrid christmas present from 2002 has use.

 

the clip isnt hard to find and i didnt disconnect my battery and im fine. If you get under there with a flashlight and a screw driver over 10 inches you can get it in no time. all you have to do is find the cable and follow it back to the cluster. The real trouble for me came in not taking the steering wheel off i played with the stupid cluster for 20 minutes then decided i wasnt going to fight with an inanimate object anymore and started to pull the lights out and gave it one more shot and it came right out. i dont know what the issue was but if you dont take the steering wheel off you need to find the magic angle to get the damn thing out. (just take the wheel off)

 

I've never removed the steering wheel to pull the instrument cluster. It's much easier to remove the underdash panel and undo the two 13 mm nuts that hold the steering column up. Once you undo those, you can drop the column down plenty far enough to pull the cluster right out. I hate pulling steering wheels and don't see the point unless you're tearing into the steering column for something.

 

The IROC steering wheel is easy to remove. Just remove the torx screws on the hub and it's off.
the RS wheels will need a puller though.

 

Yeah, you got a point there. In fact, now that I think about it, I've got a Grant wheel on there now so I could do it that way too. I'm just used to dropping the steering column down. Habit I guess.

 

IIRC, I was forced to use a puller to remove the wheel on my IROC. At any rate, like Pat, I've always dropped the column a bit, then adjusted the wheel angle. Whatever works.

JamesC

 

If you remove the dash pad, is it easier to remove the speedo cable? I just tried to remove my cluster (85 Z28) and it doesnt move nearly far forward enough to get a single finger underneath it, let alone my entire hand.

 

Not sure if removing the dashpad would gain you any more access or not. Never had to do that on mine. Usually once you undo the two 10mm nuts that hold the cluster in, just carefully and firmly pull the cluster back towards you. There's usually enough slack in the speedo cable to where you can pull it back a few inches or so to be able to reach the clip.

 

yeah i think you missed the part where I cant even get a finger behind the guage cluster. Do i have to remove the underdash cover to get at all this stuff? or is that just to lower the steering column?

 

Yeah you have to remove the underdash stuff so you can lower the steering column. There's the hard plastic piece right underneath the column that's held in by four bolts, then there's the flexible plastic cover that has the fuse panel door in it. Once you get those out of the way, just undo the two 13mm nuts that hold the column up. Once you get the column lowered and undo the two 10mm nuts that secure the gauge cluster, you'll be able to pull it out far enough to reach behind and unclip the speedo cable. You cant hardly pull the cluster out at all with the column up in place.