charging light

[roy g]

I've just spent a whole afternoon scrabbling behind my S3 dashboard trying to remove the charging lightbulb from it's holder but all to no avail. I can reach the blessed thing but despite the bible's comment to the contrary I am finding it bloody difficult nay impossible to remove the darn thing. I even tried to remove the rev counter to facilitate access but couldn't remove the outer glass cover from the dash to enable it to be withdrawn. Any tips gratefully received.

[kev bonnar]

the rev counter and speedo are fixed from the back of the panel and so u cant get them out from the front.the panel would have to be removed,ive just taken mine out to have it covered,a bit tricky.try and find the smallest 10mm ring spanner u can as access,as u know, is very tight.i think with the bulbs its more a case of how small ur hands are (or not!)you could try removing the wiper and indicator switches.getting access to these bits seems to be more about how far you can bend bits of your body.found myself lying upside down,legs a kimbo many times trying to get the panel out!! good luck.
just had a quick look at the bulb.its a plastic carrier with what looks like a bulb holder inserted into it. the holder is held in with two plastic lugs.looks like they would have to be pushed in before the holder would come out.hpoe this helps.

>> Edited by kev bonnar on Thursday 30th May 19:10

[rzrz]

Loosen and remove the 2 bolds that attach the steering column to the frame. The steering column will fall down and access to bulb holders easy.

[roy g]

thanks for your tips guys. Kev,I did release the revcounter retaining bracket from behind the dash - are you saying that the front of the dash has to be removed as well to facilitate removal?

[kev bonnar]

sorry for the delay,my hard drive bit the dust as i was about to reply!! the rev counter is fixed to the back of the dash panel with another metal plate.the ] shaped retaining bracket holds the rev counter to that plate. you might get to the four bolts holding it to the panel with the steering column dropped.the hole in the dash panel on mine was about 2mm smaller than the tacho. so this plate has to be removed from the panel b4 the tacho can be released forwards out of the hole in the netal plate itsef. its a matter of space and how small and flexible your fingers are i think.if you cant get it like this it looks like a panel out job.

[roy g]

Thanks kev,now I know why I keep putting off these jobs.Think I'll wait till I get back from Le Mans.