mk3 gauge cluster removal walkthru

[The Grizz]

The light I am referring to is in my VR6 on the far left dash. Left of the headlight switch is an ABS chip w/ light, which I disconnected and removed to move on with the project - I replaced the bulbs that light the speedo.
After assembling everything and firing the car up the ABS light on the switch lights up. Never has before.

[etsd311]

did you replace the ABS bulb too?
if yes, maybe the old bulb was blown?

[ShoFIZZLE]

Sweet. Now I can finally work on mine. I was scared I was going to break something.

[deletedo1m]

Nothing to be afraid of, it is pretty simple to get the cluster out on these cars.

[ShoFIZZLE]

Once I figured it out, piece of cake. Also there was a guy that did a LED upgrade for lighting up the cluster better. He did a lot of drilling and soldering.....not I.

It took me two LED lights, stripped the wire, wrapped said wires around their respective polarities on the metal strip, feed the lights far enough into the sockets that held the original bulbs, and viola! Brighter cluster with only 2 LED lights! These lights also came with their own resistors, so no worries. Now, I just need to find some paint for the needles.

[etsd311]

http://www.testors.com/category/136648/Acrylic_Paints


i just sharpied mine black and it looks great over white-faced gauges.

[ShoFIZZLE]

Thats cool, but doesn't sharpie ink fade after a while?

[etsd311]

going on two years and they still look the same.

[ShoFIZZLE]

Sweet!

[GuitarMan813]

Hey so I followed your walkthrough, what a help that was thanks! So now my cluster is on my table and I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with it. The guy I bought it from (97 GTi Vr6) said that the cluster went out so he bought one from a friend and installed it, but soon after it started to fail also. The speedo/odometer don't work, the tacho does every now and then, usually not to the point where when it does I call it a lucky day... So my question is, does anyone know how to test a cluster to see if it's a bad cluster or if I might just have a computer problem...which would be awesome... Thanks!

[etsd311]

glad this walkthru is still of service to everyone!

for the intermittent tach, i would look at the CPS (crankshaft position sensor) which sends the RPM signal. GAP speed sensor

and

for the speedo, i would look at the Transmission Speedometer sending unit. GAP tranny speed sensor

if the gauge cluster is good, both sensors are replaced with known good units, and the problem still exists, i would suspect the whole wiring harness.

hope this helps and god speed!

[gehr]

http://www.testors.com/category/136648/Acrylic_Paints


i just sharpied mine black and it looks great over white-faced gauges.

That does look good!

[fukdapo9]

good write up

[golf-ridin]

subscribed for future use. thanks man

[asin007]

[golf-ridin]

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!

Is this the stock gauges?

[etsd311]

yep!

[saiyan7702]

nice diy, im doing this tomorrow to replace check engine bulb.

[BGG]

Do you need to buy a new cluster to get the gauges white or is there a way of doing it yourself.

good write up btw

[VTECeateR]

I have a pesky airbag light that I was thinking of removing. Can I just take the bulb out?

[Evin's mk3 wolfsburg]

thanks for the help going to redo my gauge cluster lights soon

[Mac010]

Great write-up. I have a bulb burned out in the top right corner. VW dealer wanted close to $150 to replace it. Now, if I can get access to a garage (apartment life sucks sometimes) I may attempt this.

[etsd311]

you can totally do this wherever you live!
i personally did this while sitting in my car listening to the radio in my carport.

apartment life can also rule!

[deletedo1m]

Great write-up. I have a bulb burned out in the top right corner. VW dealer wanted close to $150 to replace it. Now, if I can get access to a garage (apartment life sucks sometimes) I may attempt this.

Yea there is no need for a garage. If you can sit in your car you can take the cluster out don't be afraid to try it. Crazy that the dealer wants $150 for something that really only takes a few minutes.

[rudygetz]

Yea there is no need for a garage. If you can sit in your car you can take the cluster out don't be afraid to try it. Crazy that the dealer wants $150 for something that really only takes a few minutes.

watching this

[sleepin gti]

good write up,

[vwjon21]

i just replaced my cluster plug everything right, and when i turned the car on the back lights of the cluster doesnt work does that mean i left something disconnected or is that i have to change the blub???

[Si Trav]

can someone tell me what size LED light bulbs are in the cluster I want to swap out my awful green ones for some blue ones

[Si Trav]

subscribed by the way

[The Golf Lover]

A lot of DIYs for cluster needless and lights but the only one I could find for actual removal of the luster

thanks very much

[deletedo1m]

[R.Bugan]

do the rpm gauge and the speedo run off the same sensor?

[etsd311]

no, there are two separate sensors...

speed sensor
http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volks...smission/194/1

rpm sensor
http://www.germanautoparts.com/Volks...ectrical/182/2

[flotsam]

Fabulous, i was looking for this. I have a car I only have a few days to get through inspection. The air bag light is on and i replaced the part but don't have what i need to reset it yet. So i may just remove it to get through inspection.

[etsd311]

unfortunately, that won't work if they scan the car.
obd2 will report the fault and you will still fail the inspection.

your best bet is to try to find someone or a shop who has a diagnostic scanner and can clear the fault code for you.

good luck to you though. i always hated smog tests in los angeles, but now that i live in washington, no inspections!