Greetings all: I need to remove the instument cluster on my 550. Some over stimulated under educated previous owner twisted off the clock tail. I guess reading the manual to find out that it is a push adjustment was too difficult. Regardless, I have been studying the parts diagram that is located on the Ricambi site. Based on what I am seeing it appears that there are 2 allen head screws that can be accessed from the front switch panel. Part number 50 of the diagram (table 124) looks like some kind of positioning post. If this is true, then it appears that the instument cluster can be removed without removing the entire dash. Comments? Thanks in advance. Mark
O.K. Guys I am still working on getting the instrument cluster removed. I found four fasteners: 2 on either side of the steering wheel and 2 allen head screws behind the bank of switches. So, my questions are as follows: Do I need to remove the 3 center vents? Am I missing any fasteners? The diagrams are not clear in the parts manual. I am also trying to get the steering wheel cover off for recovering. It appears that I need to remove two fasteners on the back side of the steering wheel and presumeably the steering whell cover is attached to the airbag. Once again not clear in the diagram. Thanks in advance. Mark
HI Mark, as far as I'm aware you are correct in thinking the dash binnacle is purely held on with the two bolts under the switch gear, and the two under the steering colum leather flap. At the back of the binnacle I believe it rests on vertical pins (for want of a better description), but these are not fastened, merely need to carefully lift up to release the binnacle from these as they merely act as locators etc. Vents, not 100% myself, have been told a couple of times where various fasteners were, as above, but never got round to taking mine out yet. If you do need to remove the vents then I think it is a case of doing so carefully, as the retaining clips are fragile I think. Possibly someone that has done this could jump in here to confirm if this does need doing or not. I suspect there will be some form of union between the vents and the supply pipes that will need disconnection to free the binnacle. Drivers airbag, be careful on this one, I think fine to remove and screws are as you suggest, but make sure you turn the battery isolator off first....could hurt a bit otherwise! Watched mine being taken out and it was very straightforward, as is the passenger airbag, but battery cut off for sure...and I would paranoid test things are truly dead and no-one has done something odd wiring wise at some point. Hope this helps, and if you find out re the vents and you can post the info that would be grand Jon
OK: I conquered the instrument cluster removal. My car is a 98, for the record. The instrument cluster is held on by 4 slip bolt connections: Two on either side of the steering column and 2 allen head fasteners behind the bank of switches. However, there is also a nasty little through bolt near the steering column perpendicular to the others. The tough part is that you also need to extract the 3 hvac vents that are below the clock, fuel etc. binnacle. Once you have liberated all of the above the cluster will break loose. There are also 3 friction style locating pins on the windshield side of the cluster that will pop off. You can disconnect all of the wiring at the molex connectors and the hopefully it will all go back together as Ferrari intended it to. Cheers Mark
Any chance you can photograph these attachments and post or as you put it back together? I would like to do the saem to get my cover releathered. Thanks
Hi Bill: I will take photos, indeed. I am a bit of a computer luddite, so it will be an effort to post the photos, but hey, if I can service a V12 engine, I should be able to post photos. In the event of a gumption trap I will seek help. Mark
O.K. The first 2 photos show the attachment points for the dash at the bottom. It is hard to see the perpendicular one at the back of the instument cluster. The vents seat themselves into the rubber gasket, which is a pretty stout mechanical connection. The next pair of photos shows the dash mounts and the vent openings. The molex connectors are located below the dash. Hope this helps Mark Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thanks Mark, those are great! I see you also removed the switch panel below the vents and the HVAC control panel. Did they both just pull out, or are they retained in some manner from behind?
Hi Bill: I removed the switch panel and hvac controls for other reasons. You can gently pull the switches out of the panel and then separate them from their respective molex conector. The panel will remain with 7 voids that are separated from their adjacent switch by a very thin plastic mullion. It is not necessaryt to remove the switch plate. You can access the allen head screws through the voids where the switches would normally go. Just be careful pulling the switches out. Mark
I know from refinishing many of those 550 parts that the 7 switch trim piece has like 6 bolts attached to the back side. The screws would have to be removed for it to pull out. I have been told the HVAC panel pulls out, nothing holding it in there.
Ok Thank you, that makes sense. One of the end switches on mine comes out with a pull, and the surround as well, telling me the surround is broken at that awitch, but I believe I can repair it easily as the break is almost invisible. I will follow your approach and lift the switches out carefully, label the connectors and then likely refinish the switches and repair the surround. Just have to wait for warmer weather. As for the HVAC a bit more straightforward. Thank you gentlemen! Bill
