dimanche 13 avril 2014

Replacing the binnacle on the Dashboard

Firstly I want to state that I am definitely NOT a mechanic !

But on Saturday I undertook to replace the Binnacle on the dashboard of my MGF. It has been rattling like mad for the last two years since I bought the car and has been driving me mad.

So I started at 9.15am slowly following a couple of “how to’s” on how to remove the dashboard. I tried to be as meticulous as possibleand all seemed to be going reasonably well although slow. I finally got to the position of having the dashboard loose and only having the air bag and steering wheel to remove to be able to get the dash out of the car.

I started removing the air bag but managed to “lose” one of the torx bolts that secures it in place. Somehow the bolt came out on the end of the torx screwdriver and managed to down into the open space below the gearstick and disappear from view. This then necessitated about an hours messing about with a small magnet attached to the end of a chop-stick before I successfully located and retrieve the damned bolt.

So then on to the final part - to remove the steering wheel. I found the right size socket, wedged the steering wheel so it would not move and heaved away – nothing it just would not move. I tried a longer lever bar - still nothing. I sprayed WD40 – still nothing. I rang a local garage to see if I was missing something, they assured me I was doing it right I just need to have an extra weetabix for breakfast.

I carried on heaving – still nothing. I rang a mate to see if he could come and give me a hand- he promised to call round later as he was shopping in Sainsbury’s at the time.

So I tried heaving again and low and behold it undid as easy as anything. So now I could lift out the dashboard.

I was expecting to find the three screws that hold the binnacle in place on the underside of the dashboard – WRONG

The 3 screws are hidden within the integral heater ducting. This then meant drilling holes into the heatingduct so I could screw the new binnacle in place. Once you got this far it was fairly easy to fit the replacement binnacle.

Then the simple bit to retrace your steps of course sealing the holes you have drilled in the heating ducting, refitting the dash and all the other bits that had been stripped out.

I walked back in the house at 3.45pm a total of 6.5 hours. Not a job I would want to repeat if I am honest, but once completed, mildly satisfying and it truly does make a huge difference to the rattle as you are driving along.





from the last news http://ift.tt/1klgbCn

via IFTTT

Libellés : ,

0 commentaires:

Enregistrer un commentaire

Abonnement Publier les commentaires [Atom]

<< Accueil