Gauge Cluster Swap and Dash Removal Questions
 

Hey Guys,

I'm trying to find information on how to swap the gauge cluster. I blew all the gauges except the speedometer in mine and I just bought a replacement from the classifieds here on the forum, so I'm going to have to figure out how to do the swap.

Also, I might need to take the entire dash out for some electrical harness troubleshooting and other misc things (soundproofing along the firewall, front floor and carpet stuff) so I was wondering how to do it.

Has anyone seen any good threads or info on either of these?

Jon

Kinda wondering about this myself. I have an 84 that has a badly cracked dash installed, and came with a perfect replacement of the same color.
Since I have the spare dash assembly, it would be a bit easier to see where some of the "hidden" mounting bolts are located, but doesn't really explain some of the finer details....

there are some good threads . I think I saved one on another computer I have at home . I'll try and remember to look tonight for it

SA to SA guage cluster swap is easy enough... if careful, you can do it without having to pull the steering wheel, but you def. want to take the steering surround off (couple philips screws). 4 screws in the dash bezel, whch is also on steel snaps. 4 screws in the guage cluster (2 top, two bottom) Two connectors on the back, plus hte speedo cable, which you can usually reach from under the dash before you start.

Pulling the dash top's much more involved. As I recall, it requires removing all the side and bottom trim bits, glove box, instrument cluster & the radio surround, but not the center console skin. It's been a while since I did one. Mostly 10mm crown nuts on studs integral to the dash top. Some philips screws, including under the snap caps below the windshield. Pretty sure I pulled the a-pillar covers too. Not sure ifthe wheel had to come off, but it would probably make it easier. I think it took me about an hour to strip the one I got out of a junkyard 7.

Jon,

For the S3 cluster swap, it isn't too bad, but messed me up the first time. The main thing is you have to reach up behind the dash and disconnect the wires and the speedo cable. I forgot to remove the speedo cable the 1st time around and it appeared that the cluster couldn't fit through the opening. BTW: you have to break your arm in about 3 places to reach up behind there. :D The are a couple screws on the bezel and then a couple more holding the cluster in. All of those are easy to see/remove. Once everything is loose, tilt the cluster and slide it out. I find the hardest part is putting the speedo cable back in (and the wire connectors on the back).

Another option is to disconnect the speedo at the tranny and the you'll only have to mess with the wiring connectors.

For the dash, I've been there a couple times. Don't have a write-up, but I think there was one on rotorhead.ca. The trick is finding all the screws/bolts. There are a couple tricky ones under the defrost vents where you need one of those bent screwdrivers to get to.

Edit: Kent's question from newbieville:

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...hlight=cluster

Lovely.. I can just picture it now. Another thing that you need a 3" tall japanese engineer to properly remove. If only I had one of those I could just let loose behind the dash to undo that cable for me, lol.

So basically, I'm trying to remove all the electrical and the speedo cable blind before pulling the console out, assuming I get the screws out and the bezel off?

Wish me luck on that one guys. Nobody ever said working on a 7 would be easy!

How do the connections come out? Do they just pull out, or is it a twist-and-pull kind of thing?

Jon

The electricals are round plugs, that go over a circle of pins on the back of the cluster; they just pull striaght out, and they are keyed so when you put them back in, they will only go easily one way. Left and right of center, between the guage locations.

The speedo cable has a mechanical catch on it, like a little lever. You press down on the rear (cable) part of the latch, and it unlatches from a ring on the back of the speedo, then pulls straight out. Directly off the center rear of the speedo.

Oh, I forgot; there are two philips screws that go into the bottom of the cluster, at the rear. About under the centers of the outside guage circles

There was a thread recently about which cars had rev-limiter buzzers; I think a few people posted shots of the back of the cluster. Lot easier to do it by feel once you've seen what you are feeling for.

^ his car is an S3, so it doesn't have those two screws you are talking about. All the screws are up front.

Jon: Here is the how-to from Manntis' site (wish this existed when I pulled my dash :) )..

http://www.rotorhead.ca/topic.php?fl...=dashremoval_1
http://www.rotorhead.ca/topic.php?fl...=dashremoval_2

If you can find a wiring diagram of the back of the cluster, it makes removing the cluster a lot easier. You really don't need much more than a phillips head and some small hands... If you're only swapping out the cluster, it should only take an hour or even less... depending if you can fit your hands under the dash... :)

You sure you didn't just blow the "meter" fuse?

Can you post a picture of the cracked dash? I have NEVER seen an North American 84/85 dash that has a crack in it.

It doesn't have a crack, it has many of them. The cover is so bad, it actually stands up touching the inside of the windshield....
My camera quit, so I don't have any pics.

Here's a couple pics of the car, taken by the guy I got it from (free). If you look real close, you can see part of the peeling dash top, the rest is blocked by the air cleaner. 2nd pic is just a gratuitous under hood shot....

If it's in the fuse box under the dash then yes I'm sure. I've been over every fuse in that box twice to make sure I didn't miss anything. It really seems like they're dead. I know my oil pressure gauge and/or sender was dead already, then the first time I blew my alt it took out my fuel, temp and voltage gauges, then the second time I blew my alt it took out the tach too. All that's left is the speedo.

I guess we'll find out for sure once I swap the gauge cluster!

If there's a fuse elsewhere, I'd love to know about it!

Jon