Mr_Rx7_Au

ok, gotta replace my ignition light on the dash cluster. Got most of the things out...except I need to get the speedo cable undone....I cant even get my hand there to undo it, cant see a thing!! any good ways to do it?

Taken off wheel, plastic cover on dash, screws, can budge it a little, but speedo cable is holding it back enough that i cant get to lights...

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Well, if worse comes to worse, you can trace it up from the tranny and try and give it as much slack as possible and just leave it connected. If that doesnt work, you could disconnect it from the tranny and then take out a bunch of slack to give you room.

~T.J.

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

go from under the dash!!!!! you can just barely see it and snake your hand to it. it is white and it is a small clip that holds it to the cluster. DO NOT yank on it!!!! you WILL break the plastic and it will no longer clip onto the cluster.

mckinneyml

Also, if you haven't already, removing the vent duct that runs past the steering column to the drivers side air vent helps a lot.

With this out of the way, some of the bulbs can be replaced without having to remove the instrument cluster.

mckinneyml

BTW getting the speedo cable off is the easy part. Putting it back on is a pain.

If you haven't taken RotorMotorDriver's advice to unhook the cable from the tranny to get enough slack to connect it from the front of the dash...

One thing that I found that helped was while you have the instrument cluster out. Get a straight bladed micro screw driver that is small enough to fit into the socket of the back of the speedometer is large enough so that when you turn the screw driver it spins the socket.

As you probibly know the socket is notched and the speedo cable is keyed to fit into the socket only one way. once you have placed the cluster back into the dash you can use the screw driver to spin the socket if it does not match up with the orientation of the cable.

Where as the cable is farley stiff and is difficult to twist it very much while connected to the tranny.

John64

When you get your hand on the cable turn it counter clockwise and it will pop out. But the vent as earlier discribed must be removed to fit your arm all the way up. The real hard part is aligning it back up when you go to put it bck in. It actually went in easier then getting it out. Good luck.

John

Mr_Rx7_Au

Cheers guys. I actually gave up though

I unhooked it from Tranny, and got enough slack to remove.... yet, for some reason, could only get cluster to slide about 1/4 way out... from the left side...something was still holding it back (speedo cable?) Unhooked air duct, had a look/feel underneath, followed the cable, still couldn't feel the clip....really annoying.... the dash doesnt even look like it'll fit through the whole after you remove the shround and plastic cover! UGHHH! all this for one globe!!!

mazdaverx713b

iTrader: (91)

the dash will fit through the front of the dashboard.

mckinneyml

There are two screws that hold in the rear of the instrument cluster. One on each side of the bottom of the cluster. After removing the air vent, if you haven't done some previously, take a flashlight and look for the screws. Maybe the left one was missing, but sounds like the one on the right is still in there.

Other than that there are just the two round plugs that you need to disconnect but both of those on mine had plenty of slack to pull out the cluster and disconnect them from the front of the dash.

BTW, removal of the steering wheel is not required. It may make is slightly easier but in my case I did just fine without removing it.