Instrument cluster removal

[Snapperseb]

Hi all,

 

Apologies if this has been covered... I did try a search and came up blank.

I'd like to remove the instrument cluster in my Scout to try and quieten the creaks and rattles coming from that area.

As I understand it, this is what I need to do:

 

1. Ignition off

2. Pull out and lower steering wheel as far as it'll go

3. Remove the trim from above the steering wheel / just below the instrument cluster (instructions say, rather unhelpfully, 'take hold' of it and 'unclip it from the catches', without saying how or what direction to pull in)

4. Remove the two torx screws at the bottom of the cluster

5. Unclip at the top (again, how?) and remove. Harness will also need unclipping.

 

As with all things trim-related, I'm just looking for a bit of guidance on where clips are, what direction to pull / push in and so on. Anyone who's actually tackled this before, if you have any handy hints I'm all ears!

 

Oh, and I'll be doing the centre dash speaker grill next. Same deal, really. I know it's clipped, just looking for insight from anyone who's been there and done that successfully.

 

Thanks in advance.

[PetrolDave]

Be aware that when you remove the instrument cluster it is VERY likely that the ABS will lose its coding, so take a full diagnostic scan (e.g. OBD11 or VCDS) BEFORE and be prepared to have to recode and redo the basic settings on the ABS afterwards.

 

"My ABS has lost its coding after I removed the instrument cluster..." is one of the most common requests for help on the Ross-Tech forum.

Edited 30 October, 2021 by PetrolDave

[Snapperseb]

49 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Be aware that when you remove the instrument cluster it is VERY likely that the ABS will lose its coding, so take a full diagnostic scan (e.g. OBD11 or VCDS) BEFORE and be prepared to have to recode and redo the basic settings on the ABS afterwards.

 

"My ABS has lost its coding after I removed the instrument cluster..." is one of the most common requests for help on the Ross-Tech forum.

Ah, bugger. Too late 🤦🏻‍♂️

I'll have to come back to that.

[Snapperseb]

Right, it's back in. No apparent ABS issues (haven't done a scan yet, though I've been for a test drive and all seems well). 

 

Just as important, creaks and rattles appear to have gone

 

I'm going to put up a few pics and notes shortly, in case anyone else wants / needs to remove their cluster.

[Snapperseb]

Right then. Here's how to remove your instrument cluster (at your own risk - I'm not an expert and pretty much just figured things out as I went along).

 

1. Ignition off

2. Pull out and lower steering wheel as far as it'll go

3. It's at this point that you need to remove the trim at the top of the steering column, and at the base of the cluster

 

They're attached with a piece of flexible fabric which allows the steering wheel to be adjusted. Start by lifting the trim at both sides just behind the steering wheel. It should pop free, and then it will pivot upwards from the locators marked in green in the picture. Give it a gentle pull towards you and it'll be free.

 

The smaller trim piece below the cluster is attached at the point marked in red (one on each side). It pulls straight back towards you. I found I needed a trim removal tool to do this part, but if you're confident enough you can probably just use your fingers.

[Snapperseb]

4. The two bolts recessed at the bottom of the cluster need to be removed. They're T20 and they were tighter than I expected. I also found the recess made access a little tricky, and I had to have a rummage to find a tool that'd fit - my go-to ratchet set was too bulky to get in there.

5. Drop at least one of the bolts in the footwell and swear while you try to find it...

6. Just me? Oh. In that case, pivot the bottom of the cluster towards  you and, with a bit of fiddling around, the two clips that hold it in place at the top should come free. An old credit card or similar might help if you get stuck - I used a narrow trim removal tool. 

 

The picture shows where those two top clips locate, right at the back of the instrument cluster recess.

 

[Snapperseb]

And here's the two clips at the top of the cluster. They literally just sit in those holes - nothing more complicated than that.

 

[Snapperseb]

7. Finally, remove the wiring harness.

 

The biggest problem I had with this is the access is poor, because there's very little slack in the harness and, even with small hands, you need to do everything by feel. Looking at the cluster from the front it's at the lower left rear. Just to the right of the pink clip in the picture you can see a small black nubbin - you need to press this and then rotate the clip to the right (as shown in the picture) to release the harness. It's easier than it sounds... the hardest bit is not being able to see any of it.

[Snapperseb]

Installation is the reverse of removal, obviously.

 

But first, I wanted to de-creak the cluster surround. I released it by carefully undoing the clips holding it in place (most of them, at least - there were two I couldn't figure out, so I left them and settled for being able to pull the surround mostly free of the cluster, rather than all the way). To start with I tried putting tape on the surround where I thought it was meeting the cluster (example shown in orange). But that didn't seem to do anything, so I had a closer look and realised that most of the creaking was at the locating lugs near the clips. So I released it all again, and wrapped tape around the part of the cluster where the lugs meet it. It creates a snug fit and all but eliminates creaking between the two surfaces.

 

The result appears to be a noticeable quieter dashboard