Taking Instrument Panels off to Replace Fuel Gauge Vibrator

[Djesteees]

Hey Everyone,
I have had issues with my fuel gauge since getting my '73 3 years ago. Three sending units later, I'm replacing the vibrator. At this point, I have 2 issues.

For starters, I am trying to remove the whole odometer panel to get the vibrator off. I removed the steering wheel to be able to work on everything more freely. I then tried to pull the panel but it seems that I must be doing something wrong. I have had to jam the panel in and out in order to remove the vibrator and that just does not seem right.The vibrator is almost completely obstructing the panel from coming out like trying to fit an oversized, curved peg into a small rectangular space. The only thing I can think of is having to remove the entire steering column and that just seems unneccesary. It's like its not meant to be worked on and that just confuses me.

The second issue I'm coming across is that when I do eventually ram the panel out and replace the vibrator, it works properly when out of the odometer casing, yet when I screw it in and ram it back into place, the needle seems to be getting stuck at the half full mark on the inside of the plastic odometer dial.

Can anyone help alleviate my madness and confusion?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[74 Thing]

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=443059&highlight=vibrator

Mount it upside down and use a jumper wire as in the photo in this link.

[Ron Domeck]

Center panel , take out the 2 bolts that hold the column to the dash. it will drop down a little to get the speedo panel out.