How To Remove 03-07 GM Gauge Cluster Lens And How Not To.

Рет қаралды 3,288

3 жыл бұрын

In this video I show you my trick to taking the lens off without damaging anything. This method protects your lens, inlay, VFD and circuit board. I know this a long winded answer to a simple question but I am tired of seeing broken VFDs. This video is not aimed at picking on his business at all. I know I have seen others do this before his video is just the most recent.

Пікірлер: 30

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

Hope you like this video! I am in the middle of installing the new VFD now... These are never fun! BTW GM Gauge Repair has video doing about the same way I do.

@wirenut9062 2 ай бұрын

I used your method to change a broken lense. Worked perfectly

@P_RO_ 3 жыл бұрын

I don't do cluster repairs (yet) but I learned to match tools to the job, so plastic body or lens uses plastic tools and metal screws use a metal screwdriver. And you only bring out the big hammer when the little one doesn't work. I spent a bit of time working with a friend who was a factiory-trained BMW mechanic. He's hand me the service manual and explained how they showed the job was to be done, then he closed the book and said "And this is how every BMW mechanic in the world does it" which was always faster, easier, and just as effective as the "right" way. Do what works best was the lesson there and it still applies today.

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

I feel like factory repair books are set up to sell you special tools or parts to do the job. That way they can get "their cut" .

@autumnjeserich2689 Жыл бұрын

First one of these I did I broke the tabs on the bottom now I cringe when I see those tabs with stretch marks. Thank you for all you informative content I've learned so much from you

@brentnearhood8874 3 жыл бұрын

good information for those of us who don't do this for a living

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I really just want to help people avoid the hassle of replacing a VFD. I just finished installing the new VFD on this board from the video. It took me about 40 minutes to do. Some of that time is due to recording the video of it but still not a short repair.

@jeffescortlx 3 жыл бұрын

Let's also not forget that removing the len's from the bottom first increases the chances of the trip button plunger breaking the top of the button off. I've been thinking of making a video like this for a while. Pet peeve of mine too.

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

When I finished the video I was shocked I managed to make a 20 min video about the lens lol. After I uploaded Marvin(a viewer) reminded me of an even worse video done but blue driver. They damage the inlay taking the lens off in it. They also came up from the bottom

@LuuTune-ups Жыл бұрын

Does it reset when u take it off? Like the data it has with mileage and oil life?

@wirenut9062 2 ай бұрын

No.. that is all in the computer

@garyg4139 3 жыл бұрын

I have been told going with a red LED with the factory gauge face results in a dim and off colored light effect even at full brightness. Is this true?

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

Red with the factory is slightly dimmer. you can't get away with red led cubes but the SMD3 leds are so bright they it's not obvious unless you mix colors. Just like white leds come out light blue on factory inlay. You can buy clear scale inlays for that or wet sand the back.

@user-dq6pz8fl5l 11 ай бұрын

Helpful video but 20 min when it should have been a 3-4 minute video.

@mike7958 3 жыл бұрын

I have no idea why he is using any tool at all. Your bare hands is all that is necessary.

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah when I get a bunch of them or my hand is tired I will use one of the plastic trim tools. but other than that I try to avoid using anything metal. sometimes it is the first thing I grab though. 95% no tool at all.

@mike7958 3 жыл бұрын

@@FixedUntilBrokenExcusable. 99-02, I might possibly use a pry tool. 03-06, no pry tool at all. 07-13, most likely no pry tool, but maybe depending on the lens??

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

You ever pull clusters? I hate pulling the 07-14 out of the trucks/suv. That cheap plastic just wants to fall apart.

@mike7958 3 жыл бұрын

@@FixedUntilBroken Almost everything I do is a local repair that requires removal. And yes, 07-14 dashes are always cracked. Just looking at them wrong and a new crack forms. I always use hand tools for removal on those models. Absolutely no power tools on those models since they arrive with cracks even before removal.

@FixedUntilBroken 3 жыл бұрын

@@mike7958 I normally won't even pull this model. If it has torx I will put them but I won't bother philips head ones because those screws get stuck. I just have them look before bringing it.