mk3 gauge cluster removal walkthru

[etsd311]

while i was in the process of removing my mk3 gauge cluster, i figured i'd make a simple walkthru with pics in case someone didn't know how to.

you'll need a flat-head and phillips-head screwdriver.
enjoy!

gauge cluster before removal

step 1
pop off outer plastic cover next to headlight switch

step 2
stick your finger in here and press retractable button to remove headlight switch

where the button is located on switch

step 3
remove screw hidden behind headlight switch

step 4
pop off plastic cover (if you have heated seats, remove outer cover first to remove switch)

step 5
remove screw hidden behind cover (or switch)

step 6
the plastic bezel is held in by the 2 screws you just removed and clips up top

step 7
once bezel is out, remove one screw on each side of gauge cluster

step 8
cluster sits on 2 rubber grommets at the bottom. wiggle it to an angle to get it out. unplug the 2 connectors at the back of the cluster (3 if you have ABS)

step 9
wiggle some more and you're free!

hope this helps someone!

[VeeduubMKIII]

Thank you very much!!!!! this is exactly what I was posting and looking for. probably saved me hours of frustration and headaches ...............LOL

[etsd311]

ahahaha, no problemo.
that's what i made it for!

[RHS13]

omg you have no idea how much this helped!

[etsd311]

[warrenW]

[jmj5150]

Great walkthrough. Do you know how to remove the plastic lens cover without cracking it? I want to paint the bezel. Thanks

[etsd311]

yes!
you'll need a star tool.
you can get a multi-piece star tool at your local auto zone/kragens for about $10.

once you remove all gold star screws on the back, you can then separate the plastic lens from the bezel.

[Eros]

awesome, thanks alot for the post, I've been meaning to swap gauges from my parts car into my CL, now I knwo how to do it

[etsd311]

glad to hear it.

[KKTM]

lol i JUST did this today, I had a few troubles finding a few screws but made it...to bad I didnt join yesterday.

Anyway i painted the needles metalic blue.

Cheers

[etsd311]

hahahaha!
awh, well, good job, none the less!

[4ePikanini]

FREE BUMP

I just want to express how eird it feels to always see my dash in reverse on the vortex. hahahaha cus mines a right hand drive. Maybe i should post mine and have you guys experience it. hehehe

[etsd311]

[kosolowski1]

any idea if it would be possible to hook up a cluster from a 2.0l (with a tach) in a 1.8l (normally has an analog clock)

[cac777]

Many thanks for the walkthrough, it is very much appreciated!
My girlfirend's cluster keeps blowing fuses so I'm looking at replacing it. It's an automatic (I've been told the part number is different to a manual) and the actual part number from her car is 1H0.919.912.E. I've located another one but the part number of that one is 1H0.919.912.N. Is anyone able to please tell me if it will fit, and what the E and N actually denote?

Many thanks guys!

Craig

[cac777]

I've posted this as a new question in the hope more people will see it!

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4390042

Cheers,

Craig

[mike_14]

just a quick bump.

Does anybody know exactly how i can access the green transparency paper that makes the gauges light up green? im switching it to red.

i just want clarification before i take apart the whole thing lol

[etsd311]

mike, sorry for the late reply, but hope this helps anyways.

the diffuser that makes your gauges light up green is located at the top of the gauge cluster.
use the walkthru to remove your cluster and you'll see its location at the top.

i remove the green diffuser out of all my dubs.
even with just the regular light shining through, it comes off as yellow/orange.

[wedoubleyou]

got it all off thanks so much for this diy. just now having trouble with wires... how exactly do they come off, cuz i dont see clips on the sides

[The Grizz]

great walkthrough, appreciate it very much.

one question though
Once the cluster is pulled i it easy to replace the bulbs that project on to the gauges?
I was rocking one crappy green light, now theyre both burnt.......

Thanks again

[deletedo1m]

yea. they are at the top very easy to find. spin out the bad one and spin in some good ones.

[etsd311]

deletedo1m is correct.
the bulbs that shine on your gauges are located at the very top of the cluster.
they only take a quarter-turn to pop them out and reverse to put them back in.

and like i've posted before, if you remove the green diffuser (plastic strip between light bulbs and your gauges) your gauges will shine yellow/orange.

i'm also experimenting with red plastic to give it an almost, "evil", feel.

[kg'svwmk3]

Awesome post! thanks a lot about to swap out cluster.

[mAyZa b 3 a t s]

Great write up. Did this a while back and ripped out the diffuser then wired in a blue LED strip. Came out great until the cluster stopped working right. There's no need to go overboard with plastic or anything though if you're just looking to change the color of the cluster lighting. NGP Racing makes those little OSRAM bulbs for out gauges in different colors. Just rip out the diffuser and twist 'em in. I'm ordering a pair as soon as i get a new cluster out of a junker. Link http://www.ngpracing.com/store...d=996

[jskramz]

so the green will just rip right out once you get the cluster out ? or is there a way to do it without messing stuff up my cluster is really dim and bothers me that i cant get it any brighter

[J-Smooth]

Would you know by any chance what type and size of LED's to replace the old bulbs with i want to change mine to red but i keep ending up with the wrong size and im starting to get frustrated

[etsd311]

sorry for the late reply!
instead of swapping out the bulbs (i haven't found any direct led replacements either), try changing the diffuser colour.

a friend of mine has done it to his cluster and the red that shines through matches the mk3.5 cabrio lighting perfectly.

try a place like this for colour sheets you might need. http://www.modernplastics.com/....html

spoilers up!

[etsd311]

ttt in case someone needs this.

[DOHC91GLI]

So I have the cluster out... but how do I get the white cover off of the green strip so I can replace it? I'm also looking to gain access to the needles and possibly replacing the clear plastic because mine is scratched.

[etsd311]

the white piece is held on by some black plastic mesh.
if you're very careful, you can use a small screwdriver and pry at it until it gives.

access to the needles is very simple.
just undo the goldish (if i remember correctly) screws on the back of the cluster.
once removed, the cluster should separate easily.

[mAyZa b 3 a t s]

Quote, originally posted by etsd311 »

(i haven't found any direct led replacements either)

NGP Racing sells them. So does SuperBrightLEDs.com. They're relatively cheap from both and they work great I just used them to do my cluster. I changed the top lighting as well as the LCD color and polarization. It looks great. I'll try and post pics later

[etsd311]

nice!
thanks for the heads up.
i'll def be looking into that.

[The Grizz]

So, uh.....
ABS light is on immediately after changing bulbs and plugging in switches. I didnt disconnect power. What happened?

[etsd311]

do you know if your ABS bulb was blown before you replaced it?