I have spent a hour or more trying to remove the trip odometer reset/dimmer panel on my 92 SC400 so I can remove my cluster to fix a bad speedo, without success. I have watched the U-tube video and looked at the Lextech site and I cannot get the thing to budge. Maybe my hands are just not strong enough, or maybe I am thinking wrong, but it seems than the only way to grab it is by pressing down on the top, which just locks it in place even tighter.

Any hints? Lift up? Press down? Or give up and take it to a speedometer shop? I have toyed with making a flat hook to reach down behind it to pull it out. It looks so easy on U-tube.

Gerry

 

I just use a flat head and pry from the front. You don't have to go very far before you feel the clips unlock. It shouldn't take much pressure.

 

I have pulled mine out with ease. I don't know why yours is giving you fits. It takes little effort. Just grab a hold of it with both hands and pull straight out toward the steering wheel.

 

Still no luck.

Got some special "grip gloves", tried prying from the front, tried moving both sides at once or either side separately, making a flat steel hook to pull from the back, everything I can think of. I can get the plastic to "creak" and bend, but no movement. I hope some crappy repair person did not break the tabs off and "fix" it by gluing it in place.

Gerry

 

vids say more then a thousand words

 

I saw that video and it seemed so easy.

I finally got it out. I used a paint can opener with a wide tip (about 5/16" wide) lifting up and out in the area next to the clock set buttons, pressing against a thin piece of plywood on the leather surround under the panel. It lifted the edge of the panel up a lot (about 1/4") and popped it out. Then moved the to the other side and did the same.

The secret, if there is one, is to lift the front up and out and not to try and slide it straight out. Hopefully it will be a little easier if i have to do it again. May put a little lube in there when installing it.

Thanks for the tips. Ozzzy's was the one that did it.

Gerry

 

I think the problem is that the spring steel clips are covered with a sandpaper-like coating which prevents them from sliding out of the plastic recesses without a LOT of friction. I am thinking about scraping that off before re-installation.

Here is it pretty summer-like now (about 77 degrees when I was working on it). One of the advantages of Arizona (don't talk about August though). I was surprised that the plastic parts survived the disassembly pretty much intact and with minimal scratches. Pretty high quality stuff.

Gerry

 

Glad you got it out. I failed to mention to lower your steering column down and all the way out, before you do this. It helps clear everything.

 

I had my column down and out, and still had a hard time rotating the instrument cluster to pull the connectors off. As long as you leave the key in (but don't need it on) the column will stay put. Hate to think what would have happened if I absent-mindedly removed the key with the cluster on top of the column.

Sent my cluster off to LexTech to get the speedometer fixed yesterday. The local speedo shop had quoted $600 to fix it. It is costing me $120 including shipping both ways and replacing all the backlights.

Gerry