Dashboard Dials On A Mk11 Removal

[Justice]

I did do a search but could not find anything on removing the dials on a Mk11,

 

The story is my engine management light is on and getting on my nerves I put Vagcom on and other than a problem with the air con there are no issues, anyway I thought I would just take the bulb out on the dash but unlike the Mk1 there are no screws on the outer rim to undo and little short of taking the whole damn dash apart I dont know how to get at the dials.

 

Any help would be great

Cheers.

[chrispb123456]

I did do a search but could not find anything on removing the dials on a Mk11,

 

The story is my engine management light is on and getting on my nerves I put Vagcom on and other than a problem with the air con there are no issues, anyway I thought I would just take the bulb out on the dash but unlike the Mk1 there are no screws on the outer rim to undo and little short of taking the whole damn dash apart I dont know how to get at the dials.

 

Any help would be great

Cheers.

is it possible you have a 2.3 engine thats not covered by VAG-COM dont think them bulbs are take outable

[Mirez]

Yup, they are surface mount LED's so unless you are handy with a soldering iron then you cant take them out, the engine management lights not used on the diesel though so sounds like you do have a petrol?

[Justice]

Your right it is a 2.3 and yes it is Petrol.

How do I get the unit out

Thanks.

[mk2vr6]

the lights on because you have a problem! just removeing the light wont make it go away! best to find out whats up before you go down the route of removeing it

[mikej]

Use the OBDII to reset the engine light or if your ever over the seven bridge i will do it for you and tell you why it came on in the first place ! Vagcom for your airbag light.... :rolleyes:

[Justice]

Still no answer to my original question then, does anyone know the best way to take the dials out thanks.

[chrispb123456]

Still no answer to my original question then, does anyone know the best way to take the dials out thanks.

These are the instructions from TIS manual.

1. Remove steering wheel

2. Detach the steering column upper shroud from the lower from the steering column lower shroud

3. Remove the steering column upper shroud

4. Remove the steering column lower shroud

5. Remove the instrument cluster retaining screws

6. Detach the insrument cluster

Release retaining clip

7. Disconnect the electrical connectors and remove the instrument cluster

Press the locking tangs

Release the locking arms

 

 

[Justice]

That's the jobbie Thanks Chris,

[mikej]

:) What do you want to do ????? reset the engine management light thats getting on your nerves or take your clocks out just for the sake of it. Just reset it, NOTwith vagcom because it's a ford engine not a vdub!

The easiest way to take your clocks out is not to remove the wheel as there is no need , it's been covered on here many times try searching for it. :)

[Mirez]

Yup this kind of bodge really scares me. If this was the brake warning light would you be so eager to "just remove the bulb"?

 

The ecu has got a fault with something, who knows if it gets another it'll be able to keep the engine running? Nice thought if you are cruising down hill at the time with no power steering and heavily reduced brakes (and possibly a car full of kids).

 

Warning lights arn't there because the manufacturer thought it would a laugh to fit one, it's their to warn you something needs attention.

[Justice]

My original post said I knew it was an air con fault to which I am not prepared to spend money on to get fixed so if I reset it (which I have before) it will just come on a day or so later, Also just because you disconnect a bulb does not mean that the system fails to operate it just means that I would not know of the fault until it failed completely , there are many cars that were made in 2000 the same year as mine that did not have engine management lights fitted I wonder if those people should drive them. at the end of the day it an old banger that gets me to and from work.

Thanks for the guys who helped and :D to the ones who didn't.

 

Just a thought the deisel don't use this light

Edited May 6, 2010 by Justice

[mikej]

:D I am now wandering how your aircon fault brought the engine management light on, what was the fault code stored ??? Edited May 6, 2010 by mikej

[Mirez]

:D I am now wandering how your aircon fault brought the engine management light on, what was the fault code stored ???

 

Well it would be a first I think since:

 

The A/C has its own fault code memory.

That memory isn't linked to either the engine ECU or the clusters warning light on the 2.3

None of the A/C sensors can talk to the ford ECU

None of the A/C sensors are linked to any OBD fault code

Aside from the drive belt the A/C system isn't interacting with the engine in anyway.

 

But post the code up... I could be wrong :D

 

I've never once said if you remove the lamp the system will fail to operate, however IF you remove the lamp you won't know if/when you get ANOTHER engine fault code and the COMBINATION of the existing code, coupled with the new one, could easily stop an engine running, especially since I compleatly doubt your current fault code has anything to do with the A/C system. Its sort of irrelevant anyway because as I stated its a surface mount LED so needs to be de-soldered from the board if you want to remove it - I'll also warn you that some of those LED's are monitored by the clusters controller which sounds the buzzer if they fail (or are removed) but I'm not sure if the management light is one of those monitored.

 

The diesel uses the glowplug light instead of the management light, it still functions in the same way alerting the driver to the more significant ECU faults. :D

[Justice]

It looks like I will have to do a test again then as I was sure it was the A/C, I did do a test using a ford diagnostic tool and wrote down the codes but for the life of me can not find it.

and now I only have Vagcom which as mentioned will not find a fault.

Thanks for your input

[Nomolos]

If you have climate control that display should flash, I am in the middle of sorting my air con now but can

[Justice]

I did a test today and I was wrong about the air con, well not wrong as there is a fault but not the reason for the engine light as that showed up as throttle cable position incorrect.

[Mirez]

Cool ;)

 

Could well be a build up of dust in the throttle position sensor. Think there is a fairly detailed post about removal, cleaning and rebuilding somewhere on here.

[Justice]

Any chance of a link Mirez I can't find it,