VR6 Instrument Clusters

[The_Hawk]

After a few issues with the cluster I have now pulled both the old and new clusters apart.

The old one's Speedo and Tacho had died. Interestingly enough, when pulled apart, the old one would not return to 0 by itself, the new one would. Is it just a different type or is that what they do when they die?

Originally I was going to replace the temp guage and fuel guage between the two, but it turns out the old ones parts are all joined together where the new one is all separate modules. Also my old one didn't have lights for ABS at all in the cluster, they had bulb slots, but the front side was a blank. Seems maybe someone has replace the cluster with an older style one? Did VR6's ever come without ABS?

Here are some pics, notice the new one is all little chips where the old one is capacitors!

OLD:


NEW:


And the fronts:
Notice all the bits are joined on the old one:


New


You will also notice the new one I got is from an auto so has an extra set of lights, luckily the housings were able to be swapped over so I could hide them.

I'm not an expert in pulling these things apart, not really all that hard a task, but it's always fun to tinker anyway.

[The_Hawk]

Some may have noticed in the above picture, but for fun when I put the old one back together I took this photo:

[Soundofav6]

NICe one hawk..
BTW do you have a pic of one of those bulb ? and are they all the same bulb ?
I need to replace 2 of mine I think.

I will also consider spraying my needle red when changing the bulb, are they easily detachable ?

[The_Hawk]

NICe one hawk..
BTW do you have a pic of one of those bulb ? and are they all the same bulb ?
I need to replace 2 of mine I think.

I will also consider spraying my needle red when changing the bulb, are they easily detachable ?

Yes they are all the same bulb for everything EXCEPT the lights that illuminate the down onto the speedo and tacho. They are all the same bulb holder but the orange ones are 1.2W (or something like that, they are in the garage now) the ones that shine down are grey and are 2W.

In my case I am using the orange 1.2W ones since I don't have any 2W ones. They are bright enough so I wouldn't bother pulling it all apart to replace them with the 2W ones instead.


As for the needles, no idea, I didn't try to remove them.

[Soundofav6]

hey hawk could you check which bulb"s" I need to replace.


If you have a chance could you take a photo of the bulb so I can show the guys which type I would need.

[Golf Loon]

The old cluster has mph on the inside which are the earliest ones sold in Australia. The others are later ones.

I have 2 more sets of VR6 clocks if you want to try swopping over gauges.

Looks like you had fun though

[The_Hawk]

There you go:



You want the grey osram 12V 2W bulb, although either will do fine. If your going to change one for the smaller power 1.2W, do both so one it's brighter than the other. On the upside, you can see the speedo

[The_Hawk]

The old cluster has mph on the inside which are the earliest ones sold in Australia. The others are later ones.

I have 2 more sets of VR6 clocks if you want to try swopping over gauges.

Looks like you had fun though

It seems to work right, the older ones seem to move quicker (both up and down) at least for fuel and temp, but otherwise the new ones seem to be the same readings as the old ones.

[Soundofav6]

You want the grey osram 12V 2W bulb, although either will do fine. If your going to change one for the smaller power 1.2W, do both so one it's brighter than the other. On the upside, you can see the speedo

Thanks man .. appreciate your help and tip.

[cOS]

you buy those osram at the dealers or some shop?

mine keeps on dying on me. replaced it so many times now.

[The_Hawk]

Never bought any myself, just moved a couple from the old dead cluster to the new(er) one.

The design of the holder is pretty simple too, I had a bash at attaching a couple of LED globes I have to the holder. One worked perfectly, the other was ordinary... both were a rush job In the the I just swapped them both out so they match and went with the 1.2W's.

The originals are all neatly soldered together, I used glue, given a little more time I'm sure I could knock the LED ones together properly and easily. Maybe a drop of hot glue or somethine just to keep it all tacked together when I'm done.

I'm not sure what they are worth at a dealer, but don't think they would be much, that and they *usually* break so rarely that it shouldn't worry you too much anyway.

Where do you get yours and for how much?

[cOS]

yeah I did exactly the same thing as you, moved some redudant ones across. I have spares from once dismantling a crashed vento.

[VR6golfboy]

hello
im just wondering if that the odometer can be changed when changing the instrument cluster?
thanks
rhys

[bboyskidz]

no it cannot be changed you shifty boy...

oh. and welcome to the forums.

[DubSteve]

Welcome to our forum Rhys, enjoy the stay mate!

To answer your question yes it can, when you change the cluster on the golf 3 you are suject to changing the odometer aswell, just to keep in mind

no it cannot be changed you shifty boy...

oh. and welcome to the forums.

Language dude!