Now that my dash is out to fix my heater, what else should I get done before puting it back in?

John

 

depends, what have you done to the car?

 

If your front carpet is crappy, now would be a good time to replace it!

 

interior heater hoses.
make sure your heater valve is working OK

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

This would be a good time to replace all the minibulbs in your dash and gauge cluster, if you care about having them all work. Having to take the dash back apart to replace one of those is a nuisance.

 

could also get rid of some unwanted wiring. like some of the stereo wiring that u don't care for.

 

new windshield

 

+1. And clean the copper bulb contacts with a pink eraser while you're at it.

 

Can all the lights in gauge cluster be checked/replaced without taking the dash out ?

My 79 needs brighter gauge cluster lights. The rheostat works, there's just not a lot of bright light being emitted from gauge cluster.

 

I am changing the heater valve, the carpet is ok, but the dash lights copper contacts will be cleaned and bad heater control lights replaced.

Dose anyone know of a good product to replace the old foam that seals the ductwork?

 

i would also replace the grommet for the wiring going to the wiper motor.

 

If you have arms like a spider monkey, you might manage it. I've found pulling the cluster easier. Some of them are really a PITA to even touch, even with the lower vent duct out.

 

are the guage bulbs all pretty standard ?

 

yeah but they rarely go bad. if you have faulty bulbs replace them while the cluster is out. otherwise, leave them be. the original Koito brand bulbs are excellent quality and rarely take a puke. and besides, the cluster is easy to remove to change a burnt bulb should one go bad.

 

I've rarely had dash bulbs go bad, but I have seen ones with a lot of hours on the clock get dim due to internal plate-up of the bulb.



Both these bulbs still work, but the one on the right doesn't put out much light anymore. Tungsten that has boiled off the filament over decades of use has plated the inside of the glass, making it almost like a mirror inside.



Be warned when buying replacements; I got some once from the local AutoZone, the cheap green-card-blister-pack ones, which were correct by the part number but on which the glass base was too large. They didn't fit in the bulb holders properly.

Take two holders with you (large for illumination and small for the idiot lights) when you shop and test-fit the ones you buy.

 

Glen, are those Toshiba brand bulbs??!! all that i've seen have been Koito!

 

Yep, they were the original bulbs in my 80 when I bought it in '89, and I've also a full set of them from the '79 IP that's currently in it. Unsure which bulbs are in my spare 79 panel, but I will check for you later today.

 

How do you pull the cluster to check / replace the bulbs ? Does Steering Wheel need to be removed or can steering wheel be left in place ? (although it may be PITA to work around)

 

Steering wheel should be removed or there are 2 bolts you can take out to drop the column down. Once you have removed the cluster surround, unplugged the wire 4 harnesses and the speedo, you have to twist the cluster at an odd angle have the left side of the cluster emerge first.

The 2 main round harnesses are the hardest to unplug. There is a tab near the middle of the plug that needs to be pushed towards the center of the plug. To get to the speedo, go underneath the car and push as much of the cable up as you can to gain more room to unplug it. It has a tab that you squeeze and pull. Tilt the top of the cluster down to unplug everything.