Tools Needed:
27 mm socket and ratchet wrench with 6-inch extension bar
Medium size flat head screwdriver
Medium size Phillips head screwdriver
5 mm Allen wrench or socket
7 mm socket and ratchet wrench
Small jeweler's flat head screwdrivers
Needle nose pliers
Torque wrench that will fit 27 mm socket and 6-inch extension bar

1) Centering - First, center the wheels and steering wheel and make sure the steering wheel spokes are horizontal. You can also mark the alignment by making an easily removable mark (wax pencil) on the steering wheel and the switch housing for easier alignment during reassembly (Fig 1).

2) Disconnect the Battery Cables - Disconnect the battery cables and remove the battery to prevent short circuits and battery drain.

3) Remove Horn Pad - With one hand on either side of the top of the horn pad gently pull towards the rear of the car (Fig. 2). The pad should pop off and the positive horn wire might also detach (Fig. 3) revealing the inner steering wheel shaft and the steering column bolt (Fig. 4).

4) Remove Steering Column Nut and Washer - Using a 27mm socket, wrench and extension bar and while firmly bracing the steering wheel, turn the steering column nut counterclockwise (Fig. 5) to remove the nut and lock washer (Fig. 6).

5) Remove Steering Wheel - pull steering wheel straight back towards the rear of the car (Fig. 7).

6) Remove the Five (5) Pod Switch Knobs and Ignition Switch Ring - Remove the 5 circular pod switch knobs on the left side (Fig. 8) and right side (Fig. 9) of the pod by gripping firmly and pulling straight towards the rear of the car (Fig. 10). This will reveal the circular switches and bulbs (Figs. 11 and 12). With a flat head screwdriver pry out the rubber ring around the ignition key switch. (Fig. 13)

7) Remove, Label and Disconnect Pod Switches - Using the medium sized flat head screwdriver gently pry the top and bottom plastic tabs on each pod switch (Fig. 14). It may help to use a pair of needle nose pliers to gently pull outwards on the center while doing so (Fig. 15) but be very careful. Pull the switch and attached harness through the pod hole (Fig. 16) and disconnect (Fig. 17). Be sure to label each harness with each pod hole and then push the harnesses back through into the pod.

8) Remove Under Pod Cover - Going upside down under the driver's side dash, remove the two Phillips head screws, one on the left side (Fig. 18) and one on the right side (Fig. 19) of the steering column attaching the long plastic cover under the pod and remove the cover (Fig. 20).

9) Remove Turn Signal/Wiper Switch Cluster Bottom Cover - Remove this cover by unscrewing the Phillips head screw (Fig 21), the left side hex bolt (Fig. 22) and right side hex bolt (Fig. 23) using a 7mm socket and wrench, and then gently pulling the cover down (Fig. 24).

10) Remove the Turn Signal/Wiper Switch Assembly - Loosen (but not completely) the hex bolt that tightens the metal ring clamp around the steering column (Fig. 25). Using a size 5 Allen wrench key or socket remove the two bolts that hold the pod to the steering column assembly: the shorter right side bolt (Figs. 26 and 27) and the longer left side bolt (Fig. 28 and 29). Disconnect the two odd-shaped white plug and wire harnesses from the cluster (Fig. 30) and then disconnect the cylindrical-shaped wire harness (Fig. 31). Shift the pod upwards slightly and remove the turn signal/wiper switch assembly (Fig. 32).

11) Disconnect Wires to Pod - Label and disconnect the wires to the right side rheostat wheel (intermittent wipers) (Fig. 33), the black button for the high intensity wash fluid (Fig. 34) and the left side rheostat wheel (instrument lighting intensity) (Fig. 35).

12) Disconnect the Three (3) Circuit Board Connectors - Pull the pod slightly towards the rear of the car and locate on the back of pod the three long, flat circuit board connectors (Fig. 36). These are removed by turning the 2 black plastic levers on each connector 90 degrees (Fig. 37) and then gently pulling the connectors off (Fig. 38).

13) Pod Removal - Gently lift the pod up and towards the rear of the car to remove. After it is out (Fig. 39) place it on a large flat surface to remove the instrument gauge panel.

14) Reinstallation - Just reverse the above steps and make sure you torque the steering column nut to 36 Ft-lbs. with an appropriate torque wrench.

1) Remove Instrument Cluster from Pod - Using a Phillips head screwdriver remove the 9 perimeter mounting screws that hold the white plastic instrument cluster housing to the pod housing (Fig. 40). Gently remove the instrument cluster from the pod, being careful not to bend any needles (Fig. 41).

2) Remove Speedometer/Odometer - Using a flat head screwdriver remove the 4 screws that hold the speedometer/odometer to the back of the instrument housing (Fig. 42). Pull upwards on the speedometer gauge (the brown circuit board may come loose but that is ok) (Fig. 43) and remove the speedometer/odometer assembly (Fig. 44).

3) Remove Speedometer Needle - Note position of speedometer needle at zero and then with two fingers gently pull straight up on the black circular base of the speedometer needle. It will resist at first but will come off with just hand pressure (Fig. 45).

4) Remove Speedometer/Odometer Face Plate - With a small jeweler's flat head screwdriver unscrew the two small black screws from the face of the speedometer/odometer (Fig. 46) and pull the faceplate off (Fig. 47).

5) Disassemble Speedometer/Odometer Housing - Using a flat head screwdriver unscrew the 4 screws that hold the two halves of the speedometer/odometer housing together (Fig. 48) and separate the two halves (Fig. 49).

6) Gear Removal - You will be replacing the amber colored gear (Fig. 50) and it may be in pieces. Holding the upper half of the speedometer/odometer assembly, using a very small screwdriver or the end of a paperclip push the silver axle rod out of the wide white gear (Fig. 51), remove the wide white gear and the 2 "e" clips that hold the black and amber colored gears (Fig. 52). (Note: Be very careful with these "e"clips - they are springs and may fly off if not careful. I suggest taking them off with the whole assembly in a large clear plastic bag just in case one gets away.) Then remove the black gear (Fig. 53) followed by the amber gear (Fig. 54). Clean any remaining pieces of the amber gear from the other gears and mechanism.

7) Gear Replacement and Reassembly - Place a small amount of grease on the gear axles and then place the new replacement gear in place of the amber gear (Fig. 55) followed by the black gear, then the wide white gear, and the "e" clips, etc (Fig 56). However, when reassembling, make sure you place the trip counter reset cylinder into its solenoid tube (Fig. 57) and assembly continues as the reverse of disassembly.

Notes: Click HERE to purchase a new odometer gear. Please read carefully and if you have any questions about which gear you need for your make/model please email support@rennbay.com .Tech Tips: 944 owners do not need to remove the steering wheel to replace the odometer gear. The gauge pod will slide out between it and the passenger side dash.