MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 3: Disabling the P/S Warning Light)
Jun 24, 2008 Tech (MR2 Spyder)
Related Links
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 1: Try Before You Buy)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 2: The Vented Surge Box)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 3: Disabling the P/S Warning Light)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 4: Summary and Final Install)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Appendix: Alternate Install)
This is part 3 of what has turned into a 4 part series. Removing the power steering from this car makes the steering feel phenomenal and the vented surge box from part 2 keeps the steering reliable, consistent and most importantly, extremely light when going slow. However, once you decide that you love this car without power steering, you are probably going to want to quit staring at the illuminated P/S light in your gauge cluster. To prevent the need to do anything intensive such as jump some wires to mimic a signal, we are going to use a little old trick that involves a small piece of black electric tape, placed on the back side of the cluster face to block the light that illuminates the P/S etching on the cluster face. This turns out to be the simplest way to “disable” this warning light as the gauge cluster circuit board appears to use integrated L.E.D. lights that look pretty well attached to the board, and probably shouldn’t be messed with.
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- First, disconnect the negative lead from the battery to cut all power to the car. You want to do this anytime you are going to unplug electrical plugs. (Note: My battery is relocated to the front.)
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- The dash trim for the gauges snaps into place at this seam. Simply pull the top half of the trim toward the steering wheel and it will separate from the dash.
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- This image shows the top separation. You will now want to place the steering wheel in its lowest position and then pull the bottom half of this trim away from the dash.
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- After lowering the steering column and removing the trim, remove the three screws (highlighted) that hold the cluster in place.
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- Once disconnected, pull the cluster away from the dash and remove the three plugs to the cluster by depressing the tabs on the top of each plug.
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- This is the cluster removed from the car.
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- Remove the 6 screws (highlighted) from the back of the cluster and pull the back cover off.
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- Now remove the clear plastic cover by depressing all of the clear tabs around the front housing.
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- Repeat the previous process on the black tabs to remove the solid trim from the cluster face.
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- The cluster face with the trim removed. Now begin to gently pry the face away from the circuit board. Start at the edges and work your way around.
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- This is what the circuit board looks like once the cluster face is removed.
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- Locate the P/S etching on the cluster face.
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- Flip the cluster face over and place a small piece of eletric (black) tape over the back side of the P/S etching.
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- Reassemble the cluster in the reverse order of removal. Note that you cannot see the black tape that blocks the P/S warning light from illuminating.
Related Links
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 1: Try Before You Buy)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 2: The Vented Surge Box)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 3: Disabling the P/S Warning Light)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Part 4: Summary and Final Install)
- MR2 Spyder Power Steering Removal (Appendix: Alternate Install)