Hey everyone, at one point I pulled my cluster surround out and and tried to pull the cluster out without scratching the crap out of my steering wheel housing but I couldn't get the cluster out. I don't have a tilt wheel and wondered how you guys did it that don't have tilt wheels?

One thought was to remove the black steering wheel housing from the wheel to allow for more clearance.

Any suggestions? I got a new cluster and want to install it tomorrow!

 

You can remove the steering wheel column cover, but that is also a total PITA without tilt steering. Otherwise, just follow the instructions on the How To article to remove the gauge cluster. Its really not that hard at all. Just be careful.

 

Okay I'll try it tomorrow. I guess I get worried because my interior is that willow green and if I scratch something , it's not like I can run to a junkyard and buy extra pieces.

 

you wont really scratch anything except maybe the top of the steering column cover by the hazard button. Just take your time. It all went together that way, so it will come apart.

I've had my gauge cluster out and it took about 20 mins to get it out. There's something like 25 bolts and screws you have to undo.

 

it is very time consuming just take your time

 

i've had my cluster out several times, try tilting the cluster

 

As SVT01RANGER said try tilting it as needed. It is a little tight, but it will come out. If your concerned about scratching the column, put a soft rag over it. If you need to get more clearance you can drop the column an inch or so by loosening the two nuts on either side of the column support bracket just behind the kick panel.

 

Wrap a towel around the colum and tape it.

Cluster comes out easier if you slide it out to the left and the bottom edge tilted toward you.

If you have an auto unclip the PRNDLL indicator first.

 

Any special way of uncliping the PRNDLL Indicator? Tips?

 

you need to remove the trim on the column, 3 phillips screws on the underside trim panel and use a straight blade screwdriver to remove the ignition switch outer ring.

the PRNDL just unclips at the end of the cable

 

Small flat blade screwdriver.

Their are 2 locking clips on it. They slide in 2 different directions.

 

Okay whew I got it done!!! I was a bit nervous that I would mess it up but it came out perfectly. A tachometer in my truck awesome. I've always had tachs in all of my vehicles and it was weird not to have one.

What I did was wrap my steering column with wide masking tape two layers deep so if there were any plastic to plastic contact it wouldn't marr the surfaces.

Also taking out the PRNDLL indicator was a snap. Just a pulling a bit of the slack from the cable making the cluster lie at a 40 degree angle and a small screwdriver to pop the clips on both ends of the PRNDLL indicator and it popped out. Then I had enough slack in the cable to move it between the dash and the column so I could easily pull the cluster out.

Thanks guys!

 

see, told ya it wasnt that bad!