PETC

Okay.

I have the speedo cable disconnected at the transmission.

I have all hardware removed

I have the steering column cover removed

All electrics are still connected because I cannot physically reach them to disconnect them.

The gauge cluster has a few inches of freeplay and I cannot remove it! all I want to do is change a single light bulb... but from where I'm standing it looks like you have to disassemble the entire interior to do it. Am I doing something wrong here? Incredibly frustrating interior to work on... worst I've ever seen, actually.

Thanks for any tips or tricks you guys may have.

placd1

iTrader: (3)

LOL I'm having the same issue. The only bulb working in my cluster is the one behind the speedometer. I've tried removing the cluster but it's a hell of a job. Definitely have to remove the steering wheel and all associated housing bits. I asked around and was informed that there's not much leeway on the cables to allow it to slide out completely before unplugging the connections. Seems like you have to go from under the dash to get access to the connections behind the cluster. Incredibly tight work area and you need small hands. And be very careful while disconnecting anything because 30+ year old plastic connections have a habit of breaking VERY easily.

PETC

Well. In the end getting frustrated and jiggling the cluster while screaming obscenities at some (probably dead now ) tiny Japanese man has apparently brought my dead bulb back to life. Hurray?..!...?

gonzoguy

Nevermind, Op solved his problem.

PETC

It'll need to come out eventually. I'd love to hear what you were going to post.

gonzoguy

Oh boy I get to type it all again.
I don't remember off hand exactly where all the retaining screws were but I was only confirming that you do not need to remove the speedo cable at the transmission end, you do need to remove it at the gauge end by reaching up under the dash. And that you do need to remove the steering wheel to allow enough room to pull it out. Some of the dash trims will need to be removed to get to the screws holding it in. If you don't already have a Haynes manual or fsm I recommend one. They can be found on this forum to download.

PETC

Thank you! I was going to replace my steering box this weekend but I didn't have time and the process looked insanely involved. One of the steps (obviously) was removing the wheel and the writeup I was reading said it needed to be pulled off, but was very fragile and could bend easily unless you fabed a jig to distribute the pullers load. Any truth to that?

gonzoguy

Haven't done it personally yet, only going by what I've read as well. I would be very careful when removing it though, you may be able to lay on the floor and see behind the dash to get a better view. Its a very tight angle to be working though. And since I just did the research cause I'm going to be doing the same thing soon, the bulb you need to change is a 194. There are 5 total for the gauges.

As for the steering box it is a bit confusing, the car has a speed sensing power steering. Go to this website: http://foxed.ca/ to download the fsm.

By steering box what are you referring to, the stearing. Gear at the end of the column that is hooked to the linkage? Or the valve above it that has a bunch of hoses routing out of it.

PETC

No power steering here. However I just realized that the box I bought is off a PS car.... so I suppose ill return it. Unless there's a market for low mileage power steering boxes in the community.

gonzoguy

There are people who still like the stock power steering, you could try putting it in the classified section. Hopefully you didn't pay much for it.

wankel=awesome

<----

Nicholas P.

iTrader: (1)

I've taken out that gauge cluster a 100 times, I never took out the steering wheel, or anything like that. I would disconnect that speedo cable from the rear of the cluster and transmission, unhook connectors with my flexible hands and wedge it through a sweet spot. Worked every time. Always a pita though when wedging it back in. But always got it. I would pull the speed cable back and hook it up, the reason I unhooked it from the transmission was because I didn't want to stretch it when placing back on connectors. Or have it pop off and break because it was half assed.

gonzoguy

Magic fingers.

I just remember the steps from the Haynes manual saying to remove the steering wheel, or it may have been the plastic around the steering column. My memory isn't the best, so I probably shouldn't be giving advise about something I don't remember well.

Whisper

Hate working under the dash. I'm not much bigger than Japanese men, but damn it's still crammed up there and you need all kinds of hand dexterity.