SLK/R170: Write-up: How to remove & replace dash/instrument cluster lights
10-15-2011, 12:22 AM
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2001 SLK320
Write-up: How to remove & replace dash/instrument cluster lights
I felt that the current write-ups available were sort of lacking in detail so I took the liberty of following through with my own. Did this on my 2001 SLK320. Feel free to give me any feedback!
First, take the interior fuse panel off using a flat-head.
You'll want to take the side air vent out. This pops off via flat head as well.
undo these two screws you see here.
Underneath the steering wheel and below the telescoping lever, there's a single screw. Take that out.
Once you take that steering wheel cover panel off, you will now see two additional screws to each side of the steering column. er the plastic pieces was already cracked when I took the cover out -___-
Once all the screws have been undone, you can begin to start sliding the lower part of the panel off. Do so carefully as you do not want to break any of the brittle plastic inserts.
Now moving onto the other side, do the same by sliding the lower portion out. Once that has been done, you can carefully and slowly slide the entire lower panel out. Now, it is not necessary to actually take the lower part out, it just needs to slide out so that you can get the top portion of the panel out.
Looking at the cluster faceplate.
Since you can now lower the bottom part of the steering panel out, you can easily slide the top cluster cover faceplate out.
Removing the cluster faceplate.
Cluster without the plate cover.
Once the cluster cover is off, you'll see two screws on top. You know what to do...
Two more on each side on the bottom side of the cluster.
You'll want to pull the cluster out from the side like so.
Be sure to undo this power connector by sliding the guide out. There's also another connector on the other side - Don't forget about it and definitely don't yank the cluster out with the other connector still plugged in!
Cluster is now out and on my lap ready for service.
My now empty dash...
Behind the cluster with all the bulbs exposed.
Everything Re-assembled.
Now everything is illuminated like it should! Happy & safe driving!
First, take the interior fuse panel off using a flat-head.
You'll want to take the side air vent out. This pops off via flat head as well.
undo these two screws you see here.
Underneath the steering wheel and below the telescoping lever, there's a single screw. Take that out.
Once you take that steering wheel cover panel off, you will now see two additional screws to each side of the steering column. er the plastic pieces was already cracked when I took the cover out -___-
Once all the screws have been undone, you can begin to start sliding the lower part of the panel off. Do so carefully as you do not want to break any of the brittle plastic inserts.
Now moving onto the other side, do the same by sliding the lower portion out. Once that has been done, you can carefully and slowly slide the entire lower panel out. Now, it is not necessary to actually take the lower part out, it just needs to slide out so that you can get the top portion of the panel out.
Looking at the cluster faceplate.
Since you can now lower the bottom part of the steering panel out, you can easily slide the top cluster cover faceplate out.
Removing the cluster faceplate.
Cluster without the plate cover.
Once the cluster cover is off, you'll see two screws on top. You know what to do...
Two more on each side on the bottom side of the cluster.
You'll want to pull the cluster out from the side like so.
Be sure to undo this power connector by sliding the guide out. There's also another connector on the other side - Don't forget about it and definitely don't yank the cluster out with the other connector still plugged in!
Cluster is now out and on my lap ready for service.
My now empty dash...
Behind the cluster with all the bulbs exposed.
Everything Re-assembled.
Now everything is illuminated like it should! Happy & safe driving!
