ZAMMM Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 My speedo gauge light is out and the po put a dash cap on the car. Is there a way to change the bulb without removing the whole dash now? I can move the gauge once I remove the screw but due to the dash cap it will not pull out. Thanks in advanced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78 LS2 Z Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Ran into the same problem, but for me I was replacing the dash cap anyway. I don't think there is another way of getting this out since it must be taken out the same way it was put in (through the front). That's also why I have been particularly careful in getting all of my wiring (Autometer conversion) complete and wired for tach and speedo prior to installing the dash cap. For me, the dash cap will certainly be one of the last items I install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZAMMM Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Ran into the same problem, but for me I was replacing the dash cap anyway. I don't think there is another way of getting this out since it must be taken out the same way it was put in (through the front). That's also why I have been particularly careful in getting all of my wiring (Autometer conversion) complete and wired for tach and speedo prior to installing the dash cap. For me, the dash cap will certainly be one of the last items I install. Bummer.... I do plan on down the road doing the autometer gauges. Till then I guess im stuck with a light out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Find a thin piece of flexible plastic (coffee can or margarine lid), cut it in to strips about 2" wide and use them as ramps to get the gauge edge past the lip of the dash cap. Lubricate things with some soapy water and you might be able to get them out. Once the edge of the gauge is past the lip it will slide out pretty easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xShodaimex Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Find a thin piece of flexible plastic (coffee can or margarine lid), cut it in to strips about 2" wide and use them as ramps to get the gauge edge past the lip of the dash cap. Lubricate things with some soapy water and you might be able to get them out. Once the edge of the gauge is past the lip it will slide out pretty easily. I am in the process of wiring my 260z temp gauge to the l28et and also ran into this problem. Im going to try the plastic on the lips of the cap. When I try it I'll let you guys know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afbrian13 Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 Im lucky as my cap is held on with velcro. I did forget about the screw under the dash besides the one you can see when I went to change my tach. Theres 2 screws-don't forget the bottom one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xnke Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 The wedges/sleds trick doesn't work well...at least I've never gotten it to work. You can move things around enough behind the dash to be able to pull the gauges from the back if you remove the steering wheel. It's still a terrible pain in the butt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 (edited) I think that I've also used a piece of duct tape. It worked better if I recall (I took the cap off eventually, it was a poor installation anyway). Tear a piece lengthwise for easier handling and put it over the lip that catches. Don't press it on to the dash vinyl too hard or it might peel some chunks off when you remove it. Edit - if I had a cap on now and had to try again, I'd probably just use a few pieces of paper, rolled in to a cone. Thin, with a good balance of rigidity and flexibility. Plus you can stack them up to make them stiffer. Just brainstorming... Edited April 2, 2012 by NewZed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidnightRider Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 If you end up taking out the dash it might be worth while to restore it and ditch the dash cap, that's what I'm in the process of doing right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
z240 Posted April 3, 2012 Share Posted April 3, 2012 The only thing thin enough that I was able to find that worked when faced with this problem was a set of large flat feeler gauges that go down to 0.003 or so. Then you have enough to place all around the gauge but still thin enough not to block it. A bit of heat to soften the cap helps a bit too. No matter what you do, its just a royal PITA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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