Okay.. Perhaps here's a little instruction.

1. have 2 "L" type hook. Make sure the shorter end of the L is with width of the hole on the cluster.

2. Have both end of the "L" facing outwards. Away from the the cluster. Example: Right side pointing point on "L" facing the radio and the Left side pointing point on "L" facing the door side.

3. Slide all the way in. Make sure you have a long enough tool. When you feel a bump, slightly push in. Then right side of the tool turn right about 90 degrees and left side of the tool turn left about 90 degress. This will have the hook latch on to the plastic on the back.

4. You should feel that it latch on to something and pull.

If it doesn't want to come out, don't force it. I don't think it is stuck, it's just that you have not push the tab in enough and it is not releasing.

 

Thanks for the offer but I am in FL.

 

Followed the exact instructions ...the tools latched on something however it would not come out. I am going to take this sucker out by force...I found a cluster on ebay from a 2001 c320 (mine is a 03 240) with 142 miles more then I have. In case I bust mine up where I cannot fix it, can I put the other one in with no problems? Or will it need reprogramming? This weekend it's ON! I am taking it out by force.

 

Uh.. I recommend to buy some beer and calm down when you are pulling this out. This is a sensative piece of equipment and roughing is not the way to do it.

Okay, if you must i guess you can get a replacement. Do not plug the replacement into the car. I REPEAT DO NOT PLUG THE REPLACEMENT DIRECTLY INTO YOUR CAR. By doing so, you are going to cause all kinds of errors in your car's computer.

What you can do is, take out the components inside the case and swap the new case in which you may have broke if you force out your original one.

If you see my fix on the lcd. You will see that there is a shell for the electronics and by swapping out the case, you should be able to saftely put this back with no issue.

 

Try it one more time. When it's latch on to something, can you see if you can push the tool in and see if it loosen up. I still think the tab is not pushed in far enough for it to release it.

Also, perhaps you can tap the cluster edge a bit. You know, the area where the hard plastic meets the softer dash. Perhaps over time, that part is kinda glued in in which cause it to not fully release.

You can try this, tap the edges first. Then push the tool in. Then for the left side, use your right hand to push the tool in and with your left hand pull the hard plastic cluster to see if it wiggles out. If successful, it should loosen up.

I still prefer you to be gentle than forcing it out.

 

plugging in the replacement wont harm your car, but the cluster wont work properly. It will not show your mileage, it will just be blank. I did it often, when I was testing different lights on a spare cluster.

did you try the "key" on both sides of the cluster? I find it doubtful that it wont work on both sides.

 

really? I thought I heard some horror stories in putting a different cluster into the car without programming. Oh well, I won't do it on mine, but i guess you can try.

 

yea it doesn't harm anything. I did it multiple times and there was never an issue once i put the original back in. I just make sure not to turn remove a cluster when the car is on or when the cluster has any power to it.