HowTo: Removing fungus from instrument cluster. | FerrariChat

HowTo: Removing fungus from instrument cluster.

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by wkumari, Sep 1, 2011.

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  1. wkumari

    wkumari Karting

    Jul 15, 2011
    169
    Northern Virginia
    Full Name:
    Warren
    #1 wkumari, Sep 1, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hi all,

    At some stage the instrument cluster on my F430 must have gotten damp (or just too humid), because I noticed some sort of fungus growing behind the protective lens.

    For a while I considered just leaving it (it was kind of pretty!), but eventually I decided I should do something about it...

    View attachment 1

    1: Remove the instrument cluster. View attachment 2
    There are 2 hex bolts holding down the front of the sun shield and 2 clips holding down the rear.
    I ended up removing the steering column shield as well, so I could better reach the 2 screws holding in the bottom of the instrument cluster.

    2: Pull the instrument cluster out.
    There are 4 connectors going into the rear of the cluster. They are all unique, and so you shouldn't need to label them.

    3: Remove the plastic "lens".
    There are a number of small screws around the perimeter of the lens. The plastic around the two lowest ones had cracked off on mine, which is where the humidity may have crept in.

    4: I used a tapered, doubled headed cotton swab, soaked in pure isopropyl alcohol (using pure isopropyl seems to draw water from the fungus and kill it off much better than "rubbing alcohol". Try MG Chemicals if you need some pure.).

    5: I reassembled the cluster (after making sure all the dust and fingerprints were out!), and then "sealed" all around the edges with kapton tape.

    6: I also taped a bit of shop towel over the speaker -- in retrospect I should had put in way more, as the stupid beeping is still too loud. Actually, next time I open it I'm planning on adding a potentiometer to control the volume.

    7: Reassembly is the reverse of the disassembly. The little strip of leather between the bottom of the instrument cluster and top of the steering column didn't really want to stick back down. A small bit of spay adhesive (3M Hi-strength 90 works well) took care of this.
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  2. wang

    wang Formula 3

    Feb 23, 2004
    1,998
    Brunei
    Full Name:
    H. Wang
    #2 wang, Sep 1, 2011
    Nicely done. Thanks for the info :)
     
  3. Richpark

    Richpark Rookie

    Sep 26, 2013
    6
    UK
    #3 Richpark, Sep 27, 2013
    I'd just like to thank Wkumari for this post, I'm guessing you thought you were the only one when you posted this! Well, you weren't - I have exactly the same issue. I'm hoping the Ferrari garage will be able to do this for me.
     
  4. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    Mar 25, 2006
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    Michael O.
    #4 michaelo, Mar 10, 2019
    I am about to start the process mentioned above. Thank you for posting this.
    Did you disconnect the battery before you removed the connectors from the cluster?
     
  5. Il Tifoso

    Il Tifoso Formula 3
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Oct 22, 2013
    1,551
    SF Bay Area, CA
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    Ruben
    #5 Il Tifoso, Mar 10, 2019
    Although I’ve not done this job, disconnecting the batt is prob a very good idea. It usually the first step recommended in most WSMs.

    Ruben
     
  6. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    Michael O.
    #6 michaelo, Mar 11, 2019
    Thank you, Ruben. That is what I will do.
     
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  7. Andrew Burton

    Andrew Burton Rookie

    Aug 29, 2018
    2
    Barrie Ontario Canada
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    Andrew Burton
    #7 Andrew Burton, Mar 28, 2019
    im going to give this a shot as well mine is starting to look like a mess
     
  8. windsock

    windsock Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 29, 2006
    1,070
    #8 windsock, Mar 31, 2019
    Its actually not a fungus, it is a grease the factory used during assembly between the bezel and the gauges. Over time the grease migrates and leaves the trails.
    We did several a week while the cars were under warranty. Easy repair, simply remove the cluster, Disassemble and gently clean off with qtip.
     
  9. Pedro MD

    Pedro MD Rookie

    Sep 22, 2017
    21
    El Paso, TX
    Full Name:
    Pedro
    #9 Pedro MD, May 18, 2020
    Currently attempting this. Having trouble removing steering column covers (shields). I removed 4 screws w/ phillips screwdriver. Still seems difficult to pull apart. Are there more screws or am I missing something?
     
  10. Bob in Texas

    Bob in Texas F1 Rookie

    Apr 23, 2012
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    Just East of Weird
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    Bob
    #10 Bob in Texas, May 19, 2020
    Pedro, check this video
     
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  11. Pedro MD

    Pedro MD Rookie

    Sep 22, 2017
    21
    El Paso, TX
    Full Name:
    Pedro
    #11 Pedro MD, May 19, 2020
    Thanks! There actually was a 5th screw, just had to adjust the steering wheel upwards. Ha.
     

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