Instrument Cover won't come off! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nodrogkam · 12-31-2005, 09:39 AM

Hey guys

I've got a Haynes manual and I've been searching around, but I still cant seem to understand HOW to remove the black thing that surrounds the instrument panel, clock etc...

I've got a blown bulb in my Tach and wanna replace it...but that stupid piece is clinging on by the clock and left defroster vent area. Ive yanked, pried, and pretty much everything next to snaping the thing in pieces and it just wont come out. I've unscrewed the two screws on top and i can pop the bottom part out but thats it...

I see the screws im supposed to remove in the back but ive gotta remove this stubborn black instrument surrounding first!

Thanks for any and all assistance!

TRDCamryCL · 12-31-2005, 10:14 AM

Look for one of the DIYs. But there are 2 screws on top of the gauges. Next, there are two clips underneath the flat piece of the bottom.

nodrogkam · 12-31-2005, 10:35 AM

I found 3 DIY's but somehow they all skipped past that step that im stuck at. Yes there are two clips on the flat bottom i got out, and yes i got the two screws on top out. Shouldnt it just pop out? Been yanking, pushing, prying at all angles and areas, but to no avail...

I mean the screws were hard enough to get out...but man this shouldnt be that hard!

97camryman · 12-31-2005, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nodrogkam

I found 3 DIY's but somehow they all skipped past that step that im stuck at. Yes there are two clips on the flat bottom i got out, and yes i got the two screws on top out. Shouldnt it just pop out? Been yanking, pushing, prying at all angles and areas, but to no avail...

I mean the screws were hard enough to get out...but man this shouldnt be that hard!

Two screw on top, then pull DOWN on the middle of the top part, it will bend and you can see two screw bosses on the back that you just unscrewed. Now pull OUT towards you. The trim will pop over the lip and rest on the two raised spots where the screws went thru. Now hold it there and carefully pull OUT towards you on the bottom. If all is correct the bottom will pop out towards you and there are.

nodrogkam · 12-31-2005, 11:07 AM

i tried that yesterday...but i guess i'll try it again today. Perhaps once u gave me this advice it'll work...thats usually how it happens to me! haha

thanks

trypsix · 12-31-2005, 11:14 AM

right around the vent and the clock is double stick foam that's what you're fighting

nodrogkam · 12-31-2005, 02:42 PM

ahhhh...bloody hell! thats some strong sticky foam! but i guess after a few years of heat and what not it got stronger....

thanks...lol i just woke up for the 2nd time today...wow im tired.

Mike Gerber · 12-31-2005, 03:44 PM

I have done this on my 98. There are 2 clips at the outside of those 2 little wings (that's what I call them). That is what is holding the thing in, not foam tape. I had to go ask a tech at a dealership how to get the things out. He took at small slotted screwdriver and wedged it behind those areas and popped it right our for me. I have done it again myself since. I would recommend taping up the screrwdriver with some electrial tape to prevent damaging the soft area around the dash board. I would also recommend using a small hook like tool similiar to a dental pic rather than the screwdriver, if one is available. I think it works better than the screwdriver with less chance of damaging the dashboard area. I would also recommend heating up the interior of the car if it is a cool day out. This will prevent cracking anything. I guess the definition of a cool day differs in San Francisco than it does in Chicago in late December or early January.

Mike

nodrogkam · 12-31-2005, 04:31 PM

well its about 60 degress outside now...the rain stopped pouring for the time being....ah thanks. But i guess i'll have to pry pretty darn hard...since ive tried and its already dented my dash on the side. Of course it grew itself back out in a minute...but i was scared of snaping something.

Anyways thanks.

chesstompowell · 12-31-2005, 07:06 PM

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t100756.html may help.

nodrogkam · 12-31-2005, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesstompowell

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t100756.html may help.

I removed it just fine but lost one of my green covers when my mom called me in to do something....dangit. lol. Perhaps the dealer has some to sell?

thanks chesstompowell...but thats not what i was trying to remove.

trioptimum · 01-01-2006, 09:25 AM

You could just remove the other green covers and make them all white, or paint the bulb green with a permanent marker. The dealer will want to sel you an entie bulb (kinda expensive) - but hey, they want an hours labor to replace any bulbs, so good job figuring out how

. I figure I've saved at least $2k in 2005 doing easy but time consuming stuff myself on my Solara.

nodrogkam · 01-01-2006, 10:58 AM

well i found it on the floor in my room late last night...so im happy about that! I cant imagine them charging me that much for the whole bulb...i mean the bulb itself didnt cost more than $1.5 at kragen...and it was a long life bulb.

but thanks. And yeah, if you just do it yourself on little things you can save up for larger things. Of course thats only if you have the time and spirit.

skewe · 01-01-2006, 11:43 AM

those bulbs are cheap.
i was a sucker and bought one at toyota and paid $3.5 for it. it was 2 for $1.5 at autozone..

nodrogkam · 01-01-2006, 01:02 PM

yep...194 bulbs are cheap. wow autozone is cheap. Are they the sylvanna Long Life bulbs though? I got mine at Kragen 2 for $3.32