Q45 Instrument Cluster Removal Help

[Chris-H]

Hi;

I have a speedometer problem. The speedometer is full scale and I'm positive it is the converter inside that drives the meter. Likely a broken wire, bad solder joint, or the like. Occasionally, the speedometer will work. Most of the time it is full scale and at speeds of around 40mph comes off the full scale and reads backwards. It reads about 120 at 60mph. I know the pulse into the module is good as I have metered it from the AT control module.

I attempted to remove the black bezel by first taking the two screws out from the top (above the cluster display). I pulled the top of the bezel loose and the three snaps, one to the left and two on the right loose. The top of the black bezel insert is free.

Cannot figure out what is holding the bottom. I looked around the padding for screws or a clue on how the black bezel insert is being held. Haven't figured it out. I thought there maybe more latches (like on top) on the bottom, so I tried to pull... but it is very tight and I don't want to break the bezel or something else.

The goal of this effort is to get to the speedometer electronics. I noticed there is a black box that has wires going out of it into the instrument cluster. Does someone know if the circuits I'm chasing and looking for is in this box? The manual seems to indicate they are on the instrument cluster itself. That being the case, I need to get that cluster out and onto my workbench.

The car will not pass Hawaii safety inspection with a broken speedometer. Can possibly sneak it through if I can make the meter read 0mph. But reading 170mph is a dead giveaway.

Any help would be appreciated. If I can get the bezel out w/o creating more problems, I can fix the problem with the speedometer.Thank you all for your past help with my 1990 q45. I love the car, but I don't know how much longer I can keep it running. It's 21.

Aloha,
Chris

[OwnerCS]

A link to the instrument panel section from the Field Service Manual is below.

See page Page BF12

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/Q45/1994_Q45/bf.pdf

[Chris-H]

Thank You for your quick reply. Looks like I have no choice but to remove everything just to get at the speedometer module. Was hoping I could get lucky and get access without taking the whole thing apart.

Have a Merry Christmas. This project will have to wait until January. Will look closer at the wires going into the speedometer module. If I could disconnect the speedometer power maybe could get by until I have time to fix it. Hawaii has a safety check law, although speedometer doesn't have much to do with car safety, its required for safe driving.

Thanks again,
Chris

[Q451990]

Are you asking how to get the instrument cluster out of the dash, or how to disassemble the cluster once it's out of the dash?

Heath

[Chris-H]

I need to get at the speedometer module. This is part of the instrument cluster. Don't need to mess with any of the gauges. The speedometer mechanicals are ok too. Just need to get at the speedometer electronics. As stated, the meter is reading full scale and when driving at speeds over approximately 45mph it comes off the FS peg and goes backward. I suspect a bad ground on the electronics or a bad solder connection or a cracked solder joint. The reason I suspect this, is occasionally while driving the speedometer will fix itself and read ok. Then it might drop to 0mph. It favors returning to full scale. I have tried rapping on the instrument cluster to see if I could get any mechanical vibration response, but it is not sensitive to jarring. So next step is to physically get at it. I got a trip coming tomorrow so I have not time to work, only time to think and plan my method of troubleshooting and getting at the circuitry responsible for the problem.

I have looked at the data feed from the AT module as I had a problem with it several months back. The pulse train looks good and correctly varies with speed. I know the speedometer gets its speed from this signal that comes through the AT module.
Thanks for your reply.

Have a great Christmas.
Chris

[Q451990]

I'm still not clear if you're asking how to get the instrument cluster out of the dash, or if you're asking how to disassemble the cluster...

If it's getting the cluster out of the dash, here's my breakdown from memory... hopefully it's complete.

Pry up the trim around the shifter (that contains the power window switches) from the rear using a thin screwdriver or narrow putty knife. Pull it rearward and disconnect the switches.

Remove the screws you exposed... two near the center console tray, two under the ash tray.

Remove the ash tray, and then remove the two screws you expose under the top of the ash tray.

The trim that surrounds the radio, climate controls, etc. should come off after unplugging the defroster switch.

Remove the cladding around the steering column. It's held on by 4 (or is it 6?) phillips head screws.

**Remove the cladding above the gas and brake pedals - the one that holds the floor vent, light for the floor, etc. There are a ton of screws and bolts there... keep up with which ones go where. You'll be amazed and somewhat disgusted at the same time by how over-engineered this portion of the car was built.

**Remove the two large bolts that hold the steering column up to dash framework.

Remove the trim panel that holds the cruise control switch, mirror switch, etc. It just prys off.

You'll see several phillips head screws holding the trim panel in place that surrounds the instrument cluster. Remove them, and then you can pop it out exposing the instrument cluster and it's four screws.

** you can skip these steps, leaving the steering column in place, but you'll gouge the bezel that fits around the cluster on a tab that sticks up on the ignition switch.

I hope this helps - good luck!

Heath

[Chris-H]

Heath;

Thank You!
That is what I wanted to know. I do have the manual and the page BF12, but there is a lot of detail. Have a Merry Christmas. I will not have time to post or look at posts until after Jan4. Hopefully, Jan5 I will get into the cluster and fix the speedometer module. Will post what I find.

Aloha,
Chris

[Q451990]

Mele Kalikimaka!