Speedo Cluster Replacement

[JT_MONEY_2004]

Ok fellaz, my next project in and ongoing cruisade to rid my car of querks is to replace my speedo cluster. The spedo jumps all over the place.

I just got a used one off EBAY and it came today. I've attached two pics, i'm hoping you guys can tell me how to take out the old Odometer. I've still gotta read how to take apart the dash on the ".ORG". I may try to tackle this this Wknd. Any help is appreciated...Please don't think anything is obvious, cause i've never done anything like this before.

I'm curiuos tho'...In my door jam there is a number written w/ a sharpie, it reads 65,000. I've been told it may be the reading of the odometer last time the cluster was changed, It now now reads 75,000, I'm wondering tho', if this is in fact the 3rd cluster this car has had, what's the reason their going bad? Any ideas?

[Jesda]

The link at Q45.org explains dashboard removal goes to an item in NICO's Infiniti Articles, which currently is down, and I don't remember the steps off hand.

[tangalora]

The link [to the NICO article on Q45 dashboard replacement] is down, and I don't remember the steps off hand.

Huh? Am I doing the NICO search wrong somehow?Where are the old (and excellent) articles on dashboard removal?

In the past I had searched for articles & posts for 90-93 Q45 dashboard removal, finding the best (IMHO) to be the following two paths: - NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > q45 Instrument Cluster - NICO Forums > Nissan/Infiniti Articles > Infiniti Articles > Removing Dash on 90-93 Q45

But, now, 8 months later, I have trouble finding them. is it just me? For example, when I search for "q45 Instrument Cluster" in the title, I draw a blank. Bummer. Those articles were jewels. Anyone know what happened to them (or am I just doing something stooopid when I run the search)?

Other userful posts, were (at that time):- NICO Forums > Nico General > Infiniti General > Help with removing Q's Dash- NICO Forums > Nico General > Infiniti General > HELP!! with bulb replacement- NICO Forums > Nico General > Infiniti General > Odometer and Trip Meter- NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > 93 Q45 transmission/speedometer weirdness- NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > 96 Q45 100K Speedometer Replacement- NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > 1996 Q45 Speed Sensor- NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > Trip Meter Fading Out (90 Q45)

After searches for speedometer, speedo, dashboard, cluster, etc., to help other poor souls, I was able to find the following Q45 cluster-removal tidbits (which I just might archive to PDF for future reference):

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » q45 Instrument Cluster - zerothread?id=41740 (rover3l,4:48 PM 11/7/2003)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » 90 Q45 upper dash facia removal- zerothread?id=28101 (Oldq45, 2:49 PM 7/7/2003)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic »Q45 Speedometer Intermittent (Diagnosis & Repair) - zerothread?id=50463 (tangalora, 3:42 AM 2/2/2004)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » 91 Q45a intermittant speedometer - zerothread?id=81390 (Aboz, 2:05 PM 9/4/2004)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » 96 Q45 100K Speedometer Replacement - zerothread?id=39692 (GuidoInc, 8:48 AM 10/20/2003)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » speedometer does not work - zerothread?id=10783 (slaughtermimms, 9:22 PM 1/15/2003)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » q45 Speed sensor???? - zerothread?id=39621 (shefner, 6:18 PM 10/19/2003)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » Speedo back together- zerothread?id=14983 (nuQ, 8:50 AM 3/2/2003

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » Speedo replacement - zerothread?id=5270 (Rmay, 12:10 PM 10/29/2002)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » Just shoot me - zerothread?id=4980 (DrewQ45, 10:05 AM 10/24/2002)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » Random Dim Mileage Reading on Q45 - zerothread?id=67808 (SFBayQ45, 1:57 PM 6/4/2004)

NICO Forums » Infiniti Online Mechanic » 1990 Q45 instument cluster dead - (p7m13,11:14" TARGET="_blank">zerothread...11:14 PM 9/15/2003)

Does anyone know where we can find this (critical) missing (for me anyway) ARTICLE: - NICO Forums > Nissan/Infiniti Articles > Infiniti Articles > Removing Dash on 90-93 Q45And, (much less important), these related posts:- NICO Forums > Nico General > Infiniti General > Help with removing Q's Dash- NICO Forums > Nico General > Infiniti General > HELP!! with bulb replacement- NICO Forums > Nico General > Infiniti General > Odometer and Trip Meter- NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > 1996 Q45 Speed Sensor- NICO Forums > Online Mechanic > Infiniti Online Mechanic > Trip Meter Fading Out (90 Q45)

[maxnix]

From my archives:

Instrument Cluster Replacement Procedure:

Fully Extend Steering Wheel

Fully Lower Steering Wheel

Place Gear Shifter in "D"

Remove Shifter Cover Plate (gently pry up back of plate located closest to you, and disconnect wire harnesses for power windows from plate) and set aside

Remove two screws at rear of shifter cover plate area

Remove two screws securing metal bar and ashtray assembly

Remove metal bar

Remove ashtray assembly

Remove two screws behind ashtray assembly location

Remove Forward Steering Wheel Housing Cover (closest to you-4 screws), housing is in two pieces upper and lower

Remove Rear Steering Wheel Housing Cover (4 screws, 3 outside and 1 inside lower half)

Gently pull housing (section covering A/C Controller and Car Stereo) away from dashboard (pull in down and out motion)

Disconnect wiring harness connectors

Gently Remove Left lower Dash plate (section around cruise control switch, mirror control, etc)

Disconnect wiring harness connectors

Remove 7 exposed screws from dashboard cover (5 lower, 2 upper)

Pull Outer Dash Housing (pry gently, side to side) and disconnect wiring harness connectors

Remove Outer Dash Housing

Remove 4 screws from Dash Display

Pull Dash Display

Invert Dash Display and remove the two screw in socket and bulb assemblies

Reverse procedure to reassemble

Any chance linked pictures can be life size or smaller?

[JT_MONEY_2004]

Don't you hate spare parts, especially when you know there not spare parts...

Special BIG-UP to Maxnix, using the info the provided me i was able to replace speedo cluster successfully. Step by step it the write up was on the money. I broke a few brittle "snags" but it don't seem to leave anything too loose.

I somehow managed to put everythig back together minus 2 brown screws. I wasn't willing to go back in to find their original local, so, unless something starts rattling back there they'll stay in the screw bin.

THANKS AGAIN FELLAS!!!Now that i can tell how fast i'm really going, DAMNNNN I been lucky so far

[JT_MONEY_2004]

Dang it, I lost my digital readout screen this morning, was working fine since the install. I'm really not looking forward to going back in there. I hope it comes back on over the next few days.

[AlabamaDan]

When you say digital readout, do you mean that little screen in the lower right side? Mine actually is dull on the left side of that screen. Is it backlit or something?

[911/Q45]

2 small bulbs backlite the digital display, shining up the bulb contacts generally brings it back to life.