The Lotus Grand Tourers

My car is 91 with VDO speedo in wooden panel with 4 phillips screws.

I expect to have to remove the speedo. Maybe replace a gear wheel or have it repaired.

My question is how to get the speedo out? - wheel on or off; undo the screws; atime saving tips?

Thanks,
Bill

* Drop the steering wheel to it's lowest position - or remove it completely to make life really easy.
* Undo the 4 screws and pull the wooden trim panel forward carefully. (note that the switch trim is held in place by a couple of these screws).
* Undo the 4 screws revealed which hold the instrument panel in.
* Carefully push the speedo cable back through the grommet from the engine bay to push the instrument panel forward
* You should now be able to tilt the instrument panel to see the back of the speedo and unscrew the cable from it.
* Carefully pull the panel forward until you can reach the multiplug to release it.

Job done. (should only take about 10 minutes if you're being careful)

Refitting is the reverse of removal - pulling the speedo cable back to reseat the panel, and check that you haven't disturbed the grommet (if you have, you'll get water in the footwell and relays).

Servicing the speedo is not readily obvious. It wasn't built to be disassembled. Bending the metal frame off will liekly result in some glass getting chipped and must be opened completely to remove the internals.
Don't mess with the magnetic field in the speedo - trust me!!!
The gears in the odometer aren't much fun to play around with and I believe there is a plug you need to remove to remove /install the plastic one that is likely the one that failed. Or just send it out for repair to a professional. Other can recommend one on the UK. Being in the US, I bought an Espirit Speedo and was back on my way and took 50k miles off the clock.

My speedo failed a few weeks back. I've taken it apart and the reason for failure was the plastic gear that takes the drive for the odometer has worn out and is fouling the metal worm gear on the speedo input shaft.
The VDO sppedo is not too tricky to take apart but the hardest bit is removing the metal bezel without too much damage, you can work your way around it with a scribe or small flat blade which does the job.
Getting the replacement gear is likely to be a problem, its a 10 tooth 7mm dia straight cut 6mm length.
I've a possible replacement on order but taking a few weeks as from China

Thanks guys. I think I'll use a repairer. The only one I can find is at http://www.jdo1.com/speedos.html in Keighley, Yorks and is on holiday till mid August.
I'll report the results later.

BS6600 wrote:Thanks guys. I think I'll use a repairer. The only one I can find is at http://www.jdo1.com/speedos.html in Keighley, Yorks and is on holiday till mid August.
I'll report the results later.

A few of us have used JDO. Usually a very good service. Make a decision on whether you go the extra and have new bezels fitted.

Job done - exactly as instructed above - thanks Angus.
For the next reader - have a 20mm socket handy to loosen the nut holding the speedo in.
Repaired by John at JDO.
While easing/pressing/heaving the panel back in a spacer fell to the floor. Ali, about 1cm dia x .5cm thick. I don't know where it came from - any suggestions?