355 replies to this topic

[ChrisS1]

I need to take my binnacle off...easy or hard?

[ChrisS1]

Oh and photos please of your new stud installed

[CocoPops]

Yeh come on Jules, we want pics!

[jules_s]

Pics later lol Chris I took some pics of the binnacle removal just for you

[ChrisS1]

Pics later lol

Chris I took some pics of the binnacle removal just for you

I'll swap yours for my cracked binnacle ( i am reluctant to search whether this is common due to expisure to sun or whether its just heavy handedness which has cause it to crack

[JimmyJamJerusalem]

What are the wingnuts for....? Coming along well Jules `

[jules_s]

I'll swap yours for my cracked binnacle ( i am reluctant to search whether this is common due to expisure to sun or whether its just heavy handedness which has cause it to crack

So,

let me get this right...you want to swap your knackered binnacle for my perfect one?

The dash is going JJJ's way as thanks for his towing efforts. If he doesn't want the binnacle it's yours mate (i see he's on here now - the wingnuts replace the captive fixings in the cills mate)

[jules_s]

Binnacle on



Dash on



Like I said, i'm going to have to source some different fixings for the screws. It's beyond my patience level to use the OEM screws as they are fitted upwards at an angle; and a magnetic screw driver just isn't the tool of choice.

Chris I'll post some pics of the Binnacle fixings in another post in a mo...might be easier for the mods to move if needed

[jules_s]

Binnacle removal.

Right then. Despite some nightmare (early granted) vx220.org posts.....as Techie posted

Easy.

Remove the dash.

To do this remove both fascias, the stereo and the light switch cluster.

Then (on mine) remove 4 self tapping screws. One is above the light switch cluster, one directly to the left of the steering column housing, one above the stereo and one to the left of that. I 'think' either mandarin or techie posted some location pics but it's all pretty straight forward TBH

Take the dash off (may require some heavy handedness to get it over the Binnacle)

Look behind the Binnacle and there is a plate....take out these two bolts and the binnacle is off



That's the steering column below....it's pretty obvious where it is

Disconnect the stack feed, takes some patience, trust me it goes back on easier than it comes off!! there is a clip on the top, deploy that and wiiiiiggle the feck out of it



Take these 4 nuts off and take the stack/fake stack out



The small nuts holding the stack to the mounting brackets (obviously)

A word of warning......when re-fitting the stack make sure the screw heads in the pic above are in the circular mount apertures. (tight if the binnacle has been trimmed) if they aren't it the binnacle isn't going back in because the stack sits too far forwards. You might (we did) have to loosen the two captive upward facing bolts (bottom left hand side of the last pic) to move the lower mounting bracket piece forwards in the car.

Also see my post about breaking the starter button. It's almost inevitable if you are trying to take it out IMO.

Re-fitting is the reverse of the above yadda yadda

[techieboy]

Re-fitting is the reverse of the above yadda yadda

But don't bother refitting the screw that holds the dashboard cover above the stereo, if there's ever any chance you'll want to take the dash off again, in the future. Saves a lot of time not having to dick about getting the stereo out again, just to unscrew it.

[nicollow]

Re-fitting is the reverse of the above yadda yadda

But don't bother refitting the screw that holds the dashboard cover above the stereo, if there's ever any chance you'll want to take the dash off again, in the future. Saves a lot of time not having to dick about getting the stereo out again, just to unscrew it.

[jules_s]

^^^^ agreed I doubt i'll refit the one left of the column housing either lol - looks a fcuking mare that one! Current thinking is new tech screws on the outside ones and HD velcro for the rest (if it sits low enough) I can't believe the overhang of the dash over the dials...never noticed that before - or took any notice more like - or i've fitted it wrong even more like

[techieboy]

I think the two outermost screws are definitely the most important and help stop the dash lifting at the corners but I'd be a little uneasy about not having one somewhere in the middle. My dash has been in and out so often over the years, I can do the remove/refit the screws by touch alone now, so no lying across the handbrake trying to squint up into the void.

[jules_s]

Matt, The trouble I have with mine is it's a 'new' dash, it's been trimmed and there is no way any of the holes line up. The p*ss poor miniscule OEM screws just aren't up to cutting their way in...so I'm going to throw some sharp fokkas in there

[techieboy]

Are you sure the locating pins on the leading edge of the dashboard cover have engaged in the corresponding holes at the base of the windscreen? My dash and binnacle are covered in Alcantara and it's always fitted a treat, as long as the dash is "in" properly and the screws just go straight back into the original holes in the metal bracing embedded in the foam of the dash.

[jules_s]

Yep, I'm pretty certain the front lugs of the dash are located in the holes. If the dash went any more forward there would be a massive gap between the binnacle/dash It sits nice and flat and you can feel the underside of the dash sitting nicely on the fixing brackets. I just can't seem to get enough perchase on the screws to get them to tap in...it just too fiddly to find the 'old' holes and who knows the brackets might well be miles out from mine on another car lol

[techieboy]

Ah, donor dash? All bets are off then.

[jules_s]

Ah, donor dash? All bets are off then.

Yes my (obviously) skinny fingered friend

And me (fcuked back) and dad (70) wont be looking upwards from the footwells into those dash holes to fit the screws anytime soon lol

Oh, and get that 'start' button to illuminate?

It seems to me that involves soldering the wires in whilst the button is in the dash

Edit: might be some spade connectors to fit the wires. Might look into that.

Edited by jules_s, 21 April 2012 - 10:05 PM.

[techieboy]

Yes my (obviously) skinny fingered friend

Hmmmmmm. Not sure they qualified at birth, let alone now.

A tiny little bit of BluTack in the head of the screws helped me the first few times. That and one of those flexi magnetic probes to retrieve the dropped screws.

[jules_s]

That and one of those flexi magnetic probes to retrieve the dropped screws.

I dropped the car off for an interior valet at 12:30 today. 2 hours duration, I knew I was going to be walking around for 2 hours.

So whilst walking I'm thinking about the job ahead and I purchased one of those exactly 15 minutes later