Right, I'm abit stuck...to take my instrument panel out the haynes manual says i need two "U-Tools" to do this...so i ring up VW and GSF and some motor factors and they havn't got a clue what a U-Tool is! good start...

Basically I have a set of red bulbs to replace the green, i opted for the different colour due to a bulb going out on my dash so thought i may aswell change them all...So...how do i do it? and if anyone has any U-Tools...can they lend them me or let me buy them off them??

Thanks, Chris

You can either force the sides of the instrument binnacle out and pull the clocks out with a knife if you don't give a shit about your car, or pull out the head unit and headlight switch and undo the clips for them, or make a "U-tool" out of an old coathanger. Some radio pins work as well...

Have a look at the Mark3 Clocks FAQ.

I managed to take mine out without having to remove the steering wheel or use the 'U-tools' which are two actions Haynes tells you to do.

Karl.

Ha yeah i made some U-Tools out of an old coathanger yesterday, but thought it wouldnt really work. Thats a good idea about taking the head unit out and Headlight switch...though there are shed loads of cables behind there...

Right ill just have a crack at it...see what happens lol.

Thanks Karl...seems easy enough...

Do you know if the bulbs are fairly easy to change then once the clocks are out?

Bulbs are all in holders, they just twist out of the back of the clocks etc, bulbs in all the switches are trickier.

Just go steady with all the dash surrounds etc as they are fairly brittle.

Patience is the best tool for this job!!!

Oh....looks like i don't have the best tool for this job then haha.

Rich..come down and do it for me. Thats the best way!

You come down here & do my ball joint, I'll do your bulbs!!!! :biggrin:

Basically I have a set of red bulbs to replace the green,

Then you need to remove the green diffuser from the binical, and fit a clear one to go with your red bulbs, if you dont fit the diffuser then you'll end up with shadows on the dash from the needles/pointers!!

Ah right, where do i get these clear binicals from then?

I could live with shadows to be fair lol. Better than seeing nothing.

Ah right, where do i get these clear binicals from then?

I could live with shadows to be fair lol. Better than seeing nothing.

Its not the binical that clear, its the filter above the clocks between the bulbs and the display, best thing to use if you don't buy a kit with it supplied is to cut a strip of very thin opaque white plastic, similar to an ice cream box or more commanly found take away boxes!! Use your old one as a template!

Basically I have a set of red bulbs to replace the green,

Then you need to remove the green diffuser from the binnacle, and fit a clear one to go with your red bulbs, if you dont fit the diffuser then you'll end up with shadows on the dash from the needles/pointers!!

I used a clear piece of plastic and coloured it in with a red permanent marker pen.

Tried it without the diffuser and it was a bit bright and just didn't look right to me.

Edited 12 August, 200719 yr by buster.g40