Xantia Instrument Panel Removal

[Zelandeth]

S2 car here, not sure if that makes any odds for this though.

Simple question. How do you go about removing the instrument panel in a Xantia? Can you get it out itself, or does half the car need to come apart?

When my battery died yesterday the rev counter "jumped" and is now stuck all the way around, hopefully this can be sorted by physically resetting it. Obviously I still need to get at it though!

[Mandrake]

I think the usual approach here is to insert a bent paper clip through the side of the reset button hole to flick the needle ? Or just keep rapping your knuckles on the front.

Taking the instrument panel out is quite a bit of work...

[gadgetgricey]

Have changed the binacle and is doable, just time consuming.

As Mandrake says, its normally quicker to use a piece of wire through the trip reset button hole and knock it back. Bit tricky to do, but overall much quicker than the panel out method.
Even aware of people drilling a small pilot hole thought the perspex to locate the "hole" next to the needle to make knocking it back easier, but then you are left with an additional hole.

Cheers

Dave

[Zelandeth]

Wouldn't have thought of the paperclip, good call!

Will give that a shot later. Sounds like this is a known issue then.

Will leave the panel for now then until I inevitability have to do the heater matrix. When that happens there will also be a massive bulb changing party.

[xf1ref]

Yes is a known issue and can solved forever like I did by removing the instrument panel and gluing a small black screw at 8000 rpm.

[sparksie]

Yes is a known issue and can solved forever like I did by removing the instrument panel and gluing a small black screw at 8000 rpm.

Now that's an elegant solution, assuming the panel is out.
Not sure I'd take it out to do that, though...

[Zelandeth]

Sorted with a bit of wire out of the arts and crafts box and two minutes fiddling around with it.

So it can definitely stay put for now!

Thanks for the suggestion.

[PIT]

If you have to remove it later, don't worry, it is easy. I need about half an hour to remove it, change bulbs and put it back in place

[Zelandeth]

What's your procedure for that, Pit?

About half the illumination bulbs in mine are out, so if it's doable in that sort of time I wouldn't mind sorting it.

[PIT]

I'll try to describe it good in English

All screws are T20.
Remove the two screws on the plastic below the steering wheel and then remove the upper plastic.
Open the plastic door to the fuse box. There are two screws in the upper corners. Remove them. Then there is a screw on the right side of the steering wheel, that holds the small rectangular plastic. Remove the screw, and then while pulling down the whole lower plastic around the fuse box, remove the one on the right side of the steering wheel.
Remove the radio. If you are with the original one, the plastic around it, has two screws above the ashtray. After removing them, just pull it out.

Now you should be able to see all screws that hold the whole "thing" with the switches (sorry, don't know it in English) in front of the instrument panel.
There is one on the right end, two behind the steering wheel and two or four behind the radio. I have seen a car which don't have the two that are holding the black plastic that holds the clock and the AC sensor. In this case only the two in the corners behind the radio are present.
After removing all screws, pull the "thing" and you need to disconnect all switches. They all have a latch (not sure for the exact word in this case) on the right side. Pull it out, to release the connector.
After disconnecting all switches and the clock connector, you can twist the plastic with them without disconnecting the temperature sensor, because its connectors are hidden inside. But you should have enough long cables to put the whole think aside.

The instrument panel has 3 screws - two on the bottom edges and one on the top in the middle. Remove them and it is free to get out.
There are two connectors, each with a latch which you have to turn to release it.

I hope it is possible to understand this explanation

And one advice in the end. Change all illumination bulbs! And the ones that are used very often, like for the headlights, if you drive always with headlamps ON.

[c.morewood]

With pictures
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... =3&t=40038" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Zelandeth]

Cheers folks! Sounds like a weekend job.

Anybody know off the top of their heads what types of lamps I need for the panel? Makes sense to get them all in stock before starting.

[PIT]

Anybody know off the top of their heads what types of lamps I need for the panel? Makes sense to get them all in stock before starting.

T5 12V 1.2W

[Hell Razor5543]

Get at least 40 bulbs. The one for the cigarette lighter is the most tricky to do. However, the pair for the heater controls have captive caps, and the cap is very short. I cannot remember the part number.