Disassembling the instrument panel (VW Golf 1)

Contents: Removal the conductive film ↓ Dismantling the printed circuit…↓ Replacing the printed circuit board…↓ Replacing LEDs ↓ Removal instruments in the Golf…↓ Removal instruments in Golf and…↓ Removal console instruments ↓

Doing the panel yourself is possible without any problems. But when buying parts, you should take into account that there are countless options for printed circuit boards, connectors, devices, etc. If someone wants to install used parts, they should take into account: they must be from a car of the same year of manufacture.

Note: The failure of the device is often caused by the fact that the board or the track on it is damaged. Defects that arise from high temperature are very typical.

Removal the conductive film

Place the instrument panel face down.

Remove the sockets of the instrument lighting device and indicator lamps.

Unscrew the fastening screw of the voltage stabilizer. Read about installation further in this chapter.

If the board is changed, the stabilizer must be pulled out of its contacts.

Loosen the nuts (SW7 and SW5) of the threaded pins of the device.

Place the spacer rings aside and then reinstall them in the same place.

Unscrew the mounting screws of the board, paying attention to the possible insulating washer, which should be laid again in the same place.

Dismantling the printed circuit board in a Golf model produced before July 1980.

Remove the connector from the watch.

Disengage the multi-pin connector holder behind the panel. To do this, use a small screwdriver to slightly move the clamp near the holder on the narrow side.

Carefully remove the board from the plastic clips using a screwdriver.

Replacing the printed circuit board in the "Golf" model produced after August 1980 and in the "Jetta" model

Remove the plug from the board near the clock.

Unscrew the screw near the clock.

Carefully lift the board from the connections to the plate with the diodes. Do not pull the board, place a flat screwdriver under it and move it upwards.

Remove the board completely without bending it.

When installing the board, pay attention to the fact that near the clock the connecting connector lies under the contact eye. Otherwise, the board will be warped.

Replacing LEDs

In the instrument cluster of the Jetta model produced before July 1980, it is not possible to replace an individual LED.

Remove the board.

Raise the middle support.

In the middle of the plate with diodes, carefully lift the black diode holder (picture bottom left).

Left: Using a small screwdriver, lift up the diode holder (2). The temperature indicator (1) is inserted

Right: The elongated LED (3) is visible.

Remove the defective diode and insert a new one.

Do not mix up the connections of the diodes: the negative terminal to the diode is slightly wider. In some versions, the mounting location is stamped on the plate with the diodes.

To replace the LED in the switch indicator, you must first remove it from the white plate with diodes.

Left: Testing a LED with a 9V battery. The straight clamp (2) is connected to the positive terminal; the bent clamp (1) is connected to the minus.

Right: the voltage stabilizer (4) is inserted into the board with its three contacts (5); it is mounted on the cooling plate or housing (3) of the tachometer.

Removal instruments in the Golf model produced before July 1980.

depending on the year of manufacture and equipment options, removal may vary.

Remove the incandescent lamp holders, voltage stabilizer, and board.

Loosen the 4 mounting screws in the tachometer.

Loosen the tachometer housing mounting screws; remove the fuel gauge.

Clock, fuel gauge and temperature gauge. Remove the tachometer.

Loosen both mounting screws located on the outside of the instrument panel housing (these are the screws of the white support plates). Also unscrew the screws connecting the clock and the support plates.

Remove the support plates together with the instruments inside. Be careful not to catch the hands, as they may bend.

Removal instruments in Golf and Jetta models produced after August 1980.

First of all, you need to remove the devices located in the middle.

Remove the board.

To remove the temperature gauge and switches located in the middle, you need to lift the middle support of the instruments.

Remove the complete set of devices from the support.

Remove the speedometer housing.

Disconnect the speedometer shaft mounting screws and pull it out.

If necessary, remove the fuel gauge located on the right.

Remove the watch.

To remove the fuel gauge and temperature gauge located on the right, unscrew the two frame mounting screws.

Remove the corresponding device from the support.