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It isn't that difficult...  1 Saabers Like This Post!
Posted by Larry West [Email]  (#1140)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Larry West) on Fri, 2 Dec 2011 06:42:31
In Reply to: gage panel bulb replacement, garyh, Thu, 1 Dec 2011 17:32:05 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
...but it can be tedious, to take the whole dash apart. Unlike the 9000, where you had the "hatch" at the top of the dash to work through (which isn't as convenient as you'd think...), the only work access comes from removing the fascia.
You will need:
a set of radio tools
a T-25, T-20, and maybe a T-15 TORX screwdrivers
a small flat-blade screwdriver
a w-i-d-e putty knife or auto trim removal tools
SMALL Phillips or JIS screwdrivers
Also at this time, you may want to:
Swap the fascia for something you like better (different wood, "metal" look, Carbon Fiber look, same in better condition, etc.
Replace the cupholder if yours has broken.
Any other bulbs that may be bad
Start by pulling the radio with the tools. Set it aside. Next, pull out the cage that the radio lives is. Use the radio tools or the flat screwdriver to pull in the sides of the radio cage a bit, that loosens it, and it should slide right out (there should be no tabs bent over to keep the radio cage in place, but sometimes, if the car has been worked on before, there may be). Remove the antenna connection, and the multi-plug from the cage and set the cage aside.
If you have an automatic: Put the key in the ignition, put your foot on the brake, turn the key (do NOT start the car), and move the shift lever back to "N". Turn the ignition OFF.
DO NOT TOUCH THE KEY FROM HERE ON! LEAVE IT OFF! Do not touch the key again until the ACC and SID are re-connected.
If you have a manual: move the shift lever to a rearward position.
Pop out the ACC panel and SID by pushing from behind through the radio space. Disconnect the harness from each and set the units aside. There's a latch at one end of the connector, and the connector swings away, pivoting on the opposite end of the connector from the latch. Set the ACC & SID aside.
Reach in from behind, and CAREFULLY push the hazard switch out and disconnect the cable. Do the same with and TCS/ESP or OnStar switches in the openings to the door side of the radio stack.
Open the driver door, if it's not already, and pull the fuse panel cover. Push out the headlight switch by accessing through the fuse panel area. disconnect the headlight switch and set it aside. This is one of the connectors that for some reason confuses a lot of people. It's simple. The red/maroon part is a latch and slides sideways relative to the wires. Unlatch it by carefully using a small flat screwdriver under the wide red bit on one end. The latch also helps in pulling the connector on, so it doesn't come all the way out, but comes out more, as you pull the connector back. So pull on the wires and the red bit alternately, and it'll all come apart really easily.
Push out any switches (fog lights, etc.) on the door side of the steering wheel and disconnect them and set them aside.
Drop the steering wheel to the lowest position with the adjuster, and pull it all the way back.
Next is the trim around the steering wheel. One screw up from the bottom, and one on either side of the steering wheel. You'll have to turn the wheel about 90 degrees either side to access them. Remove the two halves of the trim.
Remove the wiper and turn stalks by pinching the latches on the top & bottom & sliding out from the wheel to the side. You can either disconnect the wires, or leave them dangling. I usually just let them dangle.
Now, you have several screws to remove, all hidden around the stuff you removed from the fascia. Using the T-25, remove three screws around the ACC opening: left, right & bottom, one from the SID opening (top toward middle of car, and two from the headlight switch opening (bottom and door side).
At this point, the only thing holding the fascia in is four friction clips. These live either side of the cluster, and either side of the steering wheel. The closer you can get your hands in there, the better. Just pull back, and they will all release.
Carefully remove the fascia over the steering wheel - Mind the cupholder!
To get at the instruments, it's a little easier if you loosen the leather/Naugahyde gaiter behind the steering wheel. Four screws , and you can get it out of the way of the cluster.
The cluster is held in with four screws, and there are two connectors on the back of the cluster.
Now, you have to get at the bulbs. You'll remove several screws (small Phillips/JIS screws) on the back of the cluster. Then pushing in a couple latches, pop the back cover off. Now, you have to remove the PC board in the back of the cluster. First, there are three ribbon connectors. DO NOT just pull on them. There's a latch mechanism that must be released first on each. It's like a collar around the ribbon. ON the daughter card, pull out the collars, then the ribbons should come out VERY easily. There's also one connector that goes to the odometer module. That just pulls off. Remove the three or four screws and set the card aside.
Now you can see all the little black bulb holders. Note that there is one gray holder: that is for the alternator, and has a different bulb than the rest. Don't touch it!
If your car is early enough, you can actually swap around some bulbs. My 1999 had a fully populated cluster, and there were a LOT of bulbs that I could swap into where the burned out ones were. Places to look for spares: SHIFT UP (if you have an automatic trans), "=)(=" (something to do with headlights that's not used in US cars) "ACS" (Automatic Clutch System, aka "Sensonic" that was never installed on production cars). There are others, but the details escape me at the moment.
Installation is the reverse, of course!
Be careful with the ribbon connectors. They should easily go all the way into those connections and bottom out straight, then press the collar back down around them. Also mind the cupholder when putting the fascia back on!
There are a lot of steps, but none are terribly difficult, and most anyone who is handy can have it all done in under two hours.
Saab dash fascia accessory instructions online
_______________________________________ Current: 2002 9-5 Aero Kombi Cosmic Blue 2000 9-5 SE sedan, Imola Red 1990 900S Rose Quartz, Auto Past: 1999 9-5 LPT Combi 1999 9-5 LPT sedan 2002 9-5 Arc 1990 900 5-speed 1986 900 turbo Convertible 1991 9000 turbo 1980 99 GLi 1986 900 turbo 1986 900 S 1991 900 turbo 1984 900 turbo 1976 99 GL
, Fri, 2 Dec 2011 06:52:29, Mon, 5 Dec 2011 05:41:52, Fri, 2 Dec 2011 06:42:31 <-- Viewing This Message
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