The instrument panel installed on VAZ cars of the ninth family is made of high-tech energy-absorbing plastic 3 millimeters thick. It is worth noting that at the moment there are several VAZ “torpedoes”. After the mid-90s, the “nine” was produced on the assembly line, on which the high instrument panel of the VAZ-2109 was installed. Up to this point it was low. Oddly enough, the last panel made much less noise than the one that was installed after it. But today is not about that. In this article we will tell you how to tune the instrument panel of a VAZ-2109 and how it is dismantled.
Finalizing the backlight
The best option for tuning this element of the interior would be to refine the instrument information scales, namely, replace the standard backlight with a diode one. Owners of newer VAZs are lucky - in them the light is located from inside the panel. The old “nines” were illuminated from the outside, which created a certain ascetic effect. And she didn’t look very sporty. Changing its location from external to internal is quite possible. To do this, you will need a light-transmitting pad, wires and electrical tape.
How is the backlight of the VAZ-2109 instrument panel modified? To begin with, we will need to remove the socket from the car, after first turning off the power to the car’s on-board network and unscrewing the fasteners of the linings. We will talk about this in detail in the section “How to remove the instrument panel of a VAZ-2109 low and high.” In order for the light from the diodes to fall on the pad from the inside, it is necessary to make several cutouts on its surface. This can be done using a soldering iron or a hot knife.
Installing a torpedo from another car
A significant modification can be called the installation of a torpedo, which is intended for another car. Such work is carried out extremely rarely, as it is difficult to perform. Its features include:
- The panel must be selected according to the width of the cabin, otherwise it will not become simple even after modification. At the same time, attention is also paid to the height. For example, SUVs have a higher dashboard, which will not fit into the car in question. Most often they choose torpedoes from foreign cars that were produced in the last millennium. This is due to the fact that they can be found at an affordable price when disassembled, and modifications may be insignificant.
- All elements of the front part will have to be redistributed. Particular problems arise with the location of the stove and steering column. If these elements do not significantly coincide in location, then significant changes must be made to the design of the torpedo.
- In any case, you will have to create new seats and fasteners on the body, since it is more difficult to change the torpedo. This moment determines the need for precise marking, as well as welding, creating holes, and so on.
- Many problems arise if the panel does not fit the width of the body. It is quite difficult to shorten a torpedo qualitatively, but it is still possible. After this, you will have to use additional decorative elements to close the seams.
Working with LED Parts
After making the holes, you can move on to the lighting itself. It will be located like on foreign cars, that is, from the inside. In specialized services, such a service costs several thousand rubles, so in order to save money, we will do it ourselves.
As we noted earlier, our lighting will be made on the basis of a regular LED strip. We cut it into several uniform pieces. As a result, we should have several tracks with 3 diodes on each. For uniform illumination, we make a reflector from foil. For the tachometer and speedometer we need 3 pieces of tape. For the remaining elements (scale of fuel level, coolant temperature, etc.) one piece is enough.
Features of the Europanel
Since 1996, Europanels began to be installed on the VAZ 2109. They have a trapezoid shape with strongly rounded corners, are ergonomic and, as a result, attractive. As in the “high” panel, most of the dashboard is occupied by the tachometer and speedometer, all other instruments - warning lights, indicators - are located around them. Trip counters have been replaced with electronic indicators.
Europanel VAZ 2109
note
We are not in a hurry to throw away the standard suspension, since it will illuminate the arrows of the instrument scales. But it can also be modernized. To do this, you need to glue an LED strip in place of the lamps. Many car enthusiasts note its very bright glow, so we add additional tint film to the diodes. If you don’t have one, you can use a black marker - the result will be the same. In this case, the standard light filter remains in place, and the backlight shade will be soft and uniform with a white-blue color.
Installation of a multimedia system and other elements
With the spread of touch screens, they have become quite often used in the production of multimedia systems that are installed in cars. Of course, you can purchase a GPS navigator that will be mounted on top of the panel. But still, this design option is impractical, as it takes up a lot of free space and impairs visibility.
If desired, you can implement a multimedia system into the torpedo. For this:
1. Select a multimedia system. 2. Find out its exact dimensions. 3. We mark the area on the dashboard. 4. We cut out the plastic. 5. Install the multimedia system. 6. Connect the system. 7. We carry out decoration.
In the same way, you can install control units for additional functions, for example, self-installed fog lights or interior lighting. In order to significantly simplify the work, you can buy a disassembled control panel from another car, also mark the location on the dashboard and cut out a place to install the panel.
In general, we can say that it is possible to modify a factory torpedo almost beyond recognition.
We disassemble the instrument panel of the VAZ-2109 (low panel)
According to the instructions, in order to completely disassemble the socket, we need to do a lot of manipulations. In this case, the work is performed in a certain order. First, 3 heater control knobs are dismantled, then the fan switch device and the fixing screws of the center console trim. Next, the block with wires is disconnected from the rear PTF switch, one cord from the emergency light switch and two from the heated rear window. Afterwards, the block is removed from the external lighting switch and the cigarette lighter illumination.
Next, unscrew the 4 mounting screws of the heater control panel and 2 bolts from the instrument panel visor. Then the spring clips are compressed and the instrument cluster housing is removed from the panel. The speedometer cable is also removed. Next, remove the white block from the instrument cluster and the econometric fitting hose. The mileage reset cable is disconnected from the speedometer. Then the red block with wires is removed.
At the next stage, the nut securing the headlight hydraulic corrector, the steering column switches and the steering wheel itself are disassembled. After installing the ignition key in position “1”, the anti-theft device is removed, and then the block with wires from the ignition switch is removed.
How to further remove the instrument panel of the VAZ-2109? After this, the steering column pipe is removed along with the ignition. To remove the handle from the rod, you need to pull the “choke” towards you. Next, remove the bolts securing the damper rods and the elements themselves that hold the shield with dials on the right and left sides. That's it, at this stage the instrument panel of the VAZ-2109 (low) has been successfully removed! Installation of all elements is carried out in the same way as removal, in reverse order.
Possible dashboard problems and how to fix them
With prolonged use of vehicles, parts included in various systems gradually wear out, which can lead to serious problems. A car enthusiast can find and eliminate the cause of a malfunction independently if he has certain knowledge and skills. Let's consider the problems associated with the instrument panel of the VAZ 2109.
Malfunction | Cause | Remedy |
The coolant temperature and fuel level sensors do not work. | Fuel level and temperature sensors are damaged. Wire tips are oxidized or damaged. | Replace sensors. Check the condition of the wires. |
When the tank is full, the fuel level sensor needle returns to zero. | The float stop is not installed correctly. | Adjust the limiter. |
The fuel level sensor needle jumps | Insufficient contact of the sensor resistor with the current collector. Break or damage to the sensor (resistor) winding. | Bend the resistor leads. Replace sensor. |
The fuel reserve warning light is constantly on. | Shorting the wires to ground. The flexible sensor tire touches the fuel pipe. | Eliminate short circuit. Bend the tire. |
The control lamp does not light up. | The light bulb is out of order. The lamp socket contacts are not pressed sufficiently against the board. The contacts have oxidized. The sensor has failed. Wires are oxidized or damaged. | Replace the light bulb. Bend the cartridge contacts or replace it. Clean contacts. Replace the sensor, ring it and check for functionality. Repair damage or clean wires. |
The speedometer does not work. | The speedometer drive nuts are not tightened. Drive shaft break. The speedometer mechanism is faulty. | Tighten the nuts. Replace shaft. Replace the speedometer or instrument panel. |
The flexible speedometer drive shaft is noisy. | The shaft shell is deformed. | Replace shaft. |
Malfunctions of the VAZ 2109 instrument panel are rare and can be solved quite simply. In addition, if desired, you can always replace the car's dashboard.
So, where do the work begin?
Removing the high instrument panel begins with removing the decorative steering wheel trim. Next, you need to unscrew the steering wheel mounting nut so that its front part is flush with the end of the column shaft. But you should not remove the nut right away. The steering wheel on the “nine” sits very tightly on the splines, and with sudden movements it can jump off the mounts and cause serious injury.
With sharp blows of the hand, the part is knocked off its fastenings and finally removed. Next, unscrew the 6 bolts of the lower column casing. The last part, together with the ignition switch trim, is pulled out entirely. We do the same with the top casing. After this, the base is removed from the shaft and the two wire blocks from the sound signal are disconnected. Then the cords from the windshield wiper and washer are removed along the chain, as well as the turning and lighting lever.
After pulling out the “choke”, the handle is removed from the rod and the instrument panel consoles are removed. Next, remove the cigarette lighter socket, the ashtray, as well as the fan switch and heater control knobs (here you can try prying them off with a minus screwdriver). After this, the hydraulic corrector, lighting switches and other elements are removed in the same way.
After it comes to the instrument panel and the speedometer cable has been removed, remove the red and white pads from the instrument cluster and on-board control system. Then we disconnect the ignition switch along with the ground, the control lamp for opening the damper and the guide rods. The shield fastening screws themselves are located on both sides of the cladding. After removing them, the instrument panel (VAZ-2109 Samara) will be in a position free from the car.
Instrument cluster and icon designations
1 – knob for resetting the daily mileage. 2 – signaling device for turning on high beam headlights; 3 – signaling device for turning on external lighting; 4, 6 – turn signal indicators; 5 – battery charge indicator; 7 – emergency engine oil pressure indicator; 8 – fuel level indicator in the fuel tank; 9 – “Check engine” indicator; 10 – parking brake activation indicator;
Reasons that can lead to disassembly of a torpedo, high panel
The reasons why the owner of a VAZ 21099 car needs to remove the dashboard can be very different. Among the main motives for carrying out this procedure are the following:
- the need to replace failed panel elements;
- carrying out repair work in the heating system of the internal part of the machine;
- repair of body parts;
- car painting;
- replacing the panel itself with a more modern version.
It is worth noting that the procedure itself is not particularly complicated and therefore even not the most experienced car enthusiast can cope with it. Moreover, today, thanks to the Internet, all its users have the opportunity to receive a hint that will allow them to carry out work with a high degree of efficiency.
Sound insulation and cladding
After the dashboard tuning has been carried out, it’s time to start. So:
- We dismantle all interior elements and standard trim.
- We cover all the necessary surfaces with sheets of vibroplast (how to carry out high-quality sound insulation is described in detail in the article “VAZ 2109 interior sound insulation”).
Note. Typically it takes about 14 pieces of insulating material measuring 0.6 x 0.9 meters.
- After soundproofing, we trim the interior.
- First of all, we change the covering on the ceiling (professionals advise gluing it twice, leaving an interval of 5 minutes).
Note. When upholstering the interior, it is imperative to take into account the color scheme and do not forget to glue the doors, dashboard, area next to the gearbox and other parts of the car.
Photo gallery: tuning the interior of the “nine”
Refinement of the seats allows you to change not only their appearance, but also improve the fit. Installing a dashboard from another car allows you to make the interior more modern. Improved interior lighting provides additional comfort not only for the driver, but also for passengers. Sports seats allow the driver to feel as comfortable as possible when sharpening the car under sports Upgrading a torpedo with your own hands allows you to integrate acoustics or multimedia into it The introduction of additional devices makes the operation of the car more comfortable, giving the driver additional information about the state of important components and systems Illumination of the passenger and driver’s feet adds some zest to the ordinary interior of the “nine” The introduction of LED lighting in the glove compartment is one of the options for tuning the interior. Modern floor mats are also an option for upgrading the interior of the VAZ 2109. A tuned panel together with a sports steering wheel makes the car different from others.
Tuning the interior of a VAZ “nine” is an exciting process. Depending on the wishes and financial capabilities of the owner, the interior can be changed beyond recognition. By replacing the interior finishing materials with modern ones, the car will be pleasant for both the driver and passengers. In addition, the upgrade can be done with your own hands without the use of special tools.
Standard dashboard VAZ 21099
Tuning the interior of a VAZ 21099 with your own hands involves dismantling and installing a Europanel. It should be noted that the high VAZ panel takes longer to remove than the low design of this type. In any case, for such tuning you need the following tools:
- Screwdriver Set;
- nuts and washers;
- current indicator;
- wires.
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