Replace instrument cluster on type 89?

[Tom Nas]

"EBavely" <veetesse at hotmail.com> wrote:

>Now that the 80 is up and driving, I noticed that the odometer had stopped
>before I owned the car (at 204k no less).  Do these suffer the same odo gear
>problems as the earlier models / VW's?

Not that I know of. Being electronic, these instrument panels do suffer the
occasional bad solder joint that's common to older cars, and Audis in
particular. All my type 89s have had intermittent ICs, all 'fixed' by a
thump on top of the dash.

>In any regard, I've lined up another working instrument cluster in a
>junkyard and was just wondering if anyone could tell me how much work it is
>to switch out the speedo/instrument cluster in these cars?  Any BTDT's?
>Just by looking, I'd automatically say that it's not as easy as doing the
>same in the 4k/q cars...

It's easy, I've just liberated a type 89 IC this afternoon...

Undo two Phillips screws under the steering column cover
Take the top cover off
Two screws in the IC are now visible. Undo
Now slide the instrument panel downwards and toward you
Undo the connectors on the back (two without, three with Autocheck) by
pulling the black clip
IC should come out easily now

No need to loosen the steering wheel.

HTH!

Regards, Tom