MK 4 gauge cluster removal

When I look on the 'net, I see a lot of how-tos that say (more or less)

"pull the lower plastic cover thing off, unscrew the two Torx screws, pull the gauges out a bit, unplug the cables, and it comes free."

Now, that seemed way way too easy, so I looked in the Bentley manual, which says (exaggerated for effect) "remove the wheels and lower suspension linkages, remove the transmission and engine, remove the driver's seat, radio, carpet, and climate control stuff. Then remove the entire dash board, then unscrew those two Torx screws mentioned above and wiggle the gauge cluster down and out, &c."


Does the little trim piece between the gauges and steering column really just pop out? How easy is it to break it? Once it's out, does the gauge cluster really come out with only two screws and some wiggling?

In the time it took to type that post, you probably could have had the cluster out. It is that easy.

Pop the lower trim cover off, remove 2 Torx screws, slide the cluster forward and up, reach around and unplug the two plugs.

oilhammer said:

In the time it took to type that post, you probably could have had the cluster out. It is that easy.

Pop the lower trim cover off, remove 2 Torx screws, slide the cluster forward and up, reach around and unplug the two plugs.

Click to expand...

Ha! Excellent. Thanks!

I've read a lot of Honda and Suzuki motorcycle service manuals. Sometimes the "right" way is really really the right way for reasons that aren't obvious to all the people who do it the wrong way. Sometimes it's just the "right" way because there's a dealer getting paid to do it that way.

I'm glad this is the latter.

I got a picture how to coming on how to remove a MK4 gauge cluster. I have a neat little trick too.

I will do the write it up tonight if I get time.

Removing the trim piece is "easy", but you will think you're going to break it. Just pull straight out, and pull hard. After I got it out the first time, I've never bothered to push it all the way back in on reassembly.

Here are some photo how-to's:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1921113
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?2898256 (Jump to step 12)

turbocharged798 said:

I got a picture how to coming on how to remove a MK4 gauge cluster. I have a neat little trick too.

I will do the write it up tonight if I get time.

Click to expand...

What's the neat little trick, turbocharged? I'm thinking of pulling my cluster tonight to put in some rings.

You think you will break that trim piece and you might too, that's what happened to me but nothing a dab of super glue couldn't cure. Also remember to move the steering wheel as far back and down as it can go. As for the rest it's really easy, remove those two screws as said then you can pull one side round to get to one plug and manoeuvre the cluster a bit to get to the other plug.

What is it held on by? Some plastic and metal clips like other trim? Where exactly do you pull?

Just grab it and pull it straight back, it has a couple of tabs with bumps at the back.