Kluster

[Tool Pants]

[netrophile]

TP.

This is fantastic. It is exactly what I was going to ask you. My next project is to replace my central rev counter with a GT3 derived one.

Looks like it can be done fairly easily. Do I need any special tools to take out the orange pointers?

Thanks

[Tool Pants]

The white dial kit Ray bought had a tool to lift the needles off. Nothing special - just a bent piece of metal.

I should add that my local dealer takes the position that if the cluster is opened then the warranty on the cluster is over.

Edited September 12, 2004 by Tool Pants

[Izzy]

This is great to see how the gauge faces come off. But how do you remove the cluster from the car in the first step? Haven't found any information on how to do that. Thank you

[Stefan]

Do you have a picture of the gauges with the face removed?

(Great pics, BTW)

[Tool Pants]

Naked cluster.

[Stefan]

Awesome. Thanks, TP.

[keoni]

Naked cluster.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What happens to the mileage when you swap out a cluster? Does it know to use the present mileage? Up a few messages someone mentioned that they are replacing their cluster with a GT3 cluster. Just wondering how it affects the replacement.

Keoni

[Tool Pants]

On the 986 the mileage number is stored in the cluster.

[keoni]

On the 986 the mileage number is stored in the cluster.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, that settles that. I mis-read the above post about the GT3 cluster. I thought he was replacing the 986 with a GT3 one. He was only asking about the rev counter. Again thanks and sorry for any confusion.

Keoni986

[bwestfall]

On the 986 the mileage number is stored in the cluster.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Tool pants - help - I removed my cluster - painted the gauge bezels - and re-installed. The bulb for the odometer was loose and fell into the dash - so I got a new one - but the odometer display won't work. The speedo sweeps accurately, the cruise control lights up, and the Odometer does record mileage - if you look at it at the right angle you can see the numbers - but It just wont light up - I have tried 2 different bulbs (12v 1.5 watt - volkswagen - same as porsche's)

Any suggestions

[Tool Pants]

Each of the 3 LCD displays has a light bulb behind it. If you cannot see a display it is usually because the bulb for that display has burned out. But you say you replaced the bulb.

Did you replace the correct bulb. The bulb comes in a plastic holder as a single part, you cannot remove the bulb from the holder. The holder is tan. There are 3 of these on the back of the cluster. 1.5 watts is correct. Is the holder making good electrical contact with the circuit board.

[bwestfall]

Each of the 3 LCD displays has a light bulb behind it.  If you cannot see a display it is usually because the bulb for that display has burned out.  But you say you replaced the bulb.

Did you replace the correct bulb.  The bulb comes in a plastic holder as a single part, you cannot remove the bulb from the holder.  The holder is tan.  There are 3 of these on the back of the cluster. 1.5 watts is correct.  Is the holder making good electrical contact with the circuit board.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

All fixed - thank you - I had put a bulb in an empty spot - no wonder

[leoxster44]

Did any one get back to you about removing the cluster??? The bulb in my odometer has burned out.

This is great to see how the gauge faces come off.  But how do you remove the cluster from the car in the first step?  Haven't found any information on how to do that.  Thank you

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[leoxster44]

Dear ToolPants,

Could you please guide me on to how to remove the cluster in order to change this same exact bulb, or if you have already explained on how to remove it please show me the link on to where it is.

Thanks, Leoxster

Each of the 3 LCD displays has a light bulb behind it.  If you cannot see a display it is usually because the bulb for that display has burned out.  But you say you replaced the bulb.

Did you replace the correct bulb.  The bulb comes in a plastic holder as a single part, you cannot remove the bulb from the holder.  The holder is tan.  There are 3 of these on the back of the cluster. 1.5 watts is correct.  Is the holder making good electrical contact with the circuit board.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[jinijazz]

Let me add one question here.

The klusters are swapable? Can I just replace 1999 kluster with 2002 cluster?

:help:

[Tool Pants]

First, how to remove a cluster is all over the net. You remove a torx screw behind the dummy cell phone grill and behind the hazard button, then pull the cluster off the dash.

Second, a 2001 - 2004 986 cluster will not work on a 1997-2000 986. The cluster changed in 2001 and this new style cluster will not work on the prior year cars - you cannot even plug it in because the connectors are very different.

[brekas]

This is great to see how the gauge faces come off.  But how do you remove the cluster from the car in the first step?  Haven't found any information on how to do that.  Thank you

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

TRY THIS

http://boxsters.addr.com/hacks/cluster.htm

[Tool Pants]

In the link the cluster pod is still connected to the car via the hazard switch wiring harness. Hard to take a cluster apart that way.

That is not the way we do it. We remove the cluster from the car and then work on it on a bench.

[jinijazz]

Take Jeff's advice seriously and remove the harness.

Otherwise you may get some ugly dents.

Here's how;

Firstly, push 2 tabs inward and pull out the white housing.

Secondly remove the harness on the other side.

Save your expensive dashboard with 2 mintes work.

[98Boxster98]

Try this link:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=557&hl=#

It's also on the DVD set, stalk install, for sale in the Special Offer section of this forum!

[swillyclark77]

Hi,

I removed the cluster to replace the halogen bulbs with blue leds. I have replaced the two large ones and five small, including the mileage, speedo, and clock. It looks nice but...

Having put it all back together, the inidcators don't work when I turn the stalk.

I know the bulbs work as when I switch the hazards on nothing happens, until I turn the stalk either way, then the hazards work (and by this I mean the green arrow lights in the cluster, and the actual indicators themselves.

Any ideas?

[Rouser]

Hi,

I removed the cluster to replace the halogen bulbs with blue leds. I have replaced the two large ones and five small, including the mileage, speedo, and clock. It looks nice but...

Having put it all back together, the inidcators don't work when I turn the stalk.

I know the bulbs work as when I switch the hazards on nothing happens, until I turn the stalk either way, then the hazards work (and by this I mean the green arrow lights in the cluster, and the actual indicators themselves.

Any ideas?

Did you replace the indicator bulbs with LED's?