Date:         Mon, 15 Oct 2001 20:53:45 -0300
Reply-To:     Malcolm Stebbins <MSTEBBIN@MSVU1.MSVU.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Stebbins <MSTEBBIN@MSVU1.MSVU.CA>
Organization: Mount Saint Vincent University
Subject:      Re: Odometer stopped
Comments: To: Joseph McNiff <Joseph_P._McNiff@FFIC.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <OF94AC4507.13D1A45F-ON88256AE6.007D7D2A@mailconnect.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

It is not difficult and I have done the repair myself several
times.  What happened on mine was NOT a broken gear
but rather the spindle (around which the gears rotate) had
come out at one end and the gears were just not
meshing.

Disconnect the battery (I never do, but everyone else
should :-)  )

take the cover off the instrument panel

Disconnect the wire to the brake fluid sensor

unscrew the 4 screws at each corner of the instrument
panel. Be VERY careful when replacing these screws
and the plastic may crack!

Disconnect the speedo (mine just slides out)

take out the switches (squeeze the tabs)

disconnect the wiring harness going to the panel (you will
loose the clock time).

Now you will see 4 screws holding the speedo in, again
be careful with these and you may break the plastic
(especially on re-installation) remove these 4 screws

Now the speedo should just come off.  Be care not to
damage the elect. ribbon.  Now you can SEE what the
problem is.  If you stick something in the end of the
speedo and turn it, you will see the gears (trying) to turn.

Be CAREFULL as these things are fragile.

With mine, I slipped the spindle back in and superglued
on a tab (plastic bread holder thingy) to keep the spindle
from coming out again.

If nothing else, doing the work yourself will acquaint
you with your van and save you the labour cost of
someone else doing it.

M2CW.   Malcolm


On 15 Oct 2001, at 15:56, Joseph McNiff wrote:

> Hi all,
> My Odometer stopped working, also trip counter at the same
> time. My mechanic says its $200. He says they take it out of
> the dash and take it to someone esle to fix one of the gears
> that is broke inside. My question is how hard is it to take
> out the instrument cluster from the dash. And has anyone
> been able to fix this themselves.
>
> Thanks in advance
> Peace and love
> joseph
> 86 Westy