Just got a 308 and none of the cluster lights work. How do I get behind the gauges to replace the bulbs? Is it a good idea to replace the guages while I'm in there? If so, where can I get good replacements? Thanks
Remove the 4 lights at the corners of the dash pod. You can slip some floss behind the bezels to facilitate removal. Behind the lights are screws. Remove them and the panel and gauges will come out as a unit. The rest is self-explanatory. You may want to remove the steering wheel to make it a bit easier.
If it's just the lights I'd try fuses first. If you try to replace the gauges with correct ones get ready to search hard and pay a lot!
Thanks. As for the steering wheel - is that just a matter of removing the allen head screws circling the horn cap? I want to replace that anyway. Jdubbya: Wouldn't VDO gauges be compatible?
Yes....the steering wheel is just that simple. Be forwarned, though - the factory threadlocked those screws in. It's unfortunately not, "just a matter of removing the screws..." -- there was a fairly lengthy thread about those screws in this section a few weeks back. Depending on if that wheel's ever been removed or not, you may find that the screws just come right out, or you might find that the screw head (the actual Allen fitting) deforms before the screw will ever let go. In my case, my Craftsman ("Guaranteed for Life", remember) allen wrench sheered off flush with the head of the screw, leaving the remnant in the actual head. I ended up having to search out a left-handed drill bit and a couple other miscellaneous bits to get that bugger out. The moral of the story is, be careful. To add insult to injury, the screws aren't the easiest to find at your local hardware store (strange size). I can find them all day at a place here in the Bay Area, though, so if you get in trouble and need some, let me know and I can pick some up and mail them to you. Best of luck, Aaron
Yes, use a 3mm 'hardened' allen wrench. It may take a little doing if the threads are still locktited. About the gauges; why do you want to change them?
Given that they are 25 years old, I was asking if it might be a good idea to replace them while I have the cluster box out. Maybe 25 year old gauges don't need replacing?? My main objective is to get the gauge lights luminated again. ALl of them are dark at night. I also considered what it might look like to put white face gauges in. Yea, I know it's not original, but I think some aspects of the interior design could use an update. I also might try to find some lower sitting race seats to get a little more headroom in the car The covers on my seats are like new, so this would also let me keep them looking that way.
