Cleaning Inside Gauge Cluster
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 117
Likes: 3
From: College Station Texas
Cleaning Inside Gauge Cluster
I just realized that there is a film on the inside of the plastic covering the gauge cluster. It looks like armor all or something was sprayed on the inside by the previous owner and left to dry, so it is very annoying. I can't see anything on the actual gauges themselves, just on the inside of the plastic cover. My question is how hard would it be to remove it and get the cover off of the gauge cluster to clean it? It's not all a sealed unit is it?
I found some threads about installing gauge bezels so I assume it's possible but I didn't see any howtos.
I found some threads about installing gauge bezels so I assume it's possible but I didn't see any howtos.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,041
Likes: 4
From: Rockford Illinois
I just realized that there is a film on the inside of the plastic covering the gauge cluster. It looks like armor all or something was sprayed on the inside by the previous owner and left to dry, so it is very annoying. I can't see anything on the actual gauges themselves, just on the inside of the plastic cover. My question is how hard would it be to remove it and get the cover off of the gauge cluster to clean it? It's not all a sealed unit is it?
I found some threads about installing gauge bezels so I assume it's possible but I didn't see any howtos.
I found some threads about installing gauge bezels so I assume it's possible but I didn't see any howtos.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
Do a search on gauge Bezels, or go to vetteesentials.com and their how-to section has info. http://www.vetteessentials.com/instr...zel_howto.html
Its kind of involved, but nothing really tricky or any special knowledge/skill needed.
The big issue is how to clean it, almost anything will leave a residue that will attract dust.
Its kind of involved, but nothing really tricky or any special knowledge/skill needed.
The big issue is how to clean it, almost anything will leave a residue that will attract dust.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 156
From: Navarre FL
http://www.spdkilz.com/techtipleddic.html
Here is a pretty good write up on getting it out of the dash. Once its out its not too difficult to remove the plastic cover to clean. It will be obvious, it just clips into place over the unit. Mine got dusty like crazy on the inside, so while I had it out to do the LED coversion I decided to seal it up. I took a really small dia. vac hose (I think it was 1/4, maybe 3/8 smallest they had at pepboys) and split it down the middle. I used that to line around the gauge cluster so it was sanwiched between the cluster and the clear cover. The hope is that this will seal out the dust. Ive ony had it this way for about 3 weeks or s and so far so good. Well see how it looks after I store the car for a few months.
Here is a pretty good write up on getting it out of the dash. Once its out its not too difficult to remove the plastic cover to clean. It will be obvious, it just clips into place over the unit. Mine got dusty like crazy on the inside, so while I had it out to do the LED coversion I decided to seal it up. I took a really small dia. vac hose (I think it was 1/4, maybe 3/8 smallest they had at pepboys) and split it down the middle. I used that to line around the gauge cluster so it was sanwiched between the cluster and the clear cover. The hope is that this will seal out the dust. Ive ony had it this way for about 3 weeks or s and so far so good. Well see how it looks after I store the car for a few months.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,820
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Just remember this warning from the Service Manual:
Instrument Cluster Service Precautions
Notice
Whenever the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is removed from the vehicle, DO NOT set the IPC on its face for more than 15 minutes or damage to the fluid filled air core gages may result.
Bill
Instrument Cluster Service Precautions
Notice
Whenever the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) is removed from the vehicle, DO NOT set the IPC on its face for more than 15 minutes or damage to the fluid filled air core gages may result.
Bill
