CASIS light disconnect - gauge removal question

[VroomGrrl]

Hi yall, it's meeeeeeeeee! Still enjoying my 88 911 more and more every time I get to drive her.

In my SHUT UP AND DRIVE post earlier this week I talked about learning to drive my G50 transmission. The test drive with my mechanic really showed me what I've been missing! So in learning my transmission, I have to say that the "idiot light" for the shifter drives me crazier than ever. Formal name CASIS light (computer assisted shift...something).

I've found a couple of threads which talk about ways of disconnecting this light, which I have to do before I take a hammer to my tach. The light comes on way early, and I spend a lot of time in 4th gear with that light telling me to shift up when 5th gear makes no sense under the circumstances.

ANYWAY I'm such a noob to wrenching, remember my door switch replacement! The photos of how to get the switch out were exactly what I needed to get in there and get the job done. By the way, my first Pelican parts order containing new switches came last week and I successfully got the switches changed out and all is well there (thanks!).

So my question here is, I have the info on what to do once I get the gauge out, how to remove the bulb or disconnect the black wire or whatever - but I have no clue how to get the gauge out of the dash. Does it just slip out? Do I grab my handy putty knife again and slip it under the edge? Just grab the edge and give it a pull?

Oh wise ones, Grasshopper is missing some crucial preliminary info here! Help, please.

For anyone reading this who wants to know where the disconnect threads are, I found many, but these had the details in pretty short form:

Red arrow light in tachometer?

and

Accidental CASIS repair

[slodave]

Use the putty knife and slip it between the rubber ring on the outside of the gauge and the instrument panel and work the gauge out slowly. They are held in via friction, nothing more.

[Wil Ferch]

Or...drive by putting your foot into it.

The CASIS upshift light tells you when to shift for best economy when driving like a grandmother...but it also acts as an upshift light for max performance when your boot is really into it. Try it...you'll see the light comes on at a different point on the RPM scale when you drive it like you stole it.

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by Wil Ferch

Or...drive by putting your foot into it.

The CASIS upshift light tells you when to shift for best economy when driving like a grandmother...but it also acts as an upshift light for max performance when your boot is really into it. Try it...you'll see the light comes on at a different point on the RPM scale when you drive it like you stole it.

My understanding from reading the other threads on this is that if I disconnect the one black wire, the granny-shift function will be disabled while it will still come on if I hit the rev limiter limit. Which is what I am assuming you mean about the light coming on if I really put my foot in it.

I love that "drive it like you stole it" !!

[dshepp806]

I learned to ignore mine.....

Be gentle when working with the gauges..

Best,

Doyle

[slodave]

BTW, I ignore mine as well. I don't even notice it at night.

[GH85Carrera]

If it really bothers you the less than a penny, quick and simple cure is a piece of black electrical tape. Just cover the light with tape. Drive the car and forget about it. After a few months remove the tape and you will not even notice the light anymore.

[rfloz]

I found a miniature crowbar at Home Depot, about 6" long. I applied some of the inevitable duct tape to the end that turns 90 degrees from the main stem of the tool and inserted it behind the gauge* surround. A gentle pry here and there around the face and out popped the gauge.

Be careful of the rubber ring around the gauge, that's what holds it in place, so don't tear it.


* - Note for fellow pedants - Spell Check thinks it's "gage". I was taught "gauge" and Mr. Webster agrees.

[cubby911T]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

If it really bothers you the less than a penny, quick and simple cure is a piece of black electrical tape. Just cover the light with tape. Drive the car and forget about it. After a few months remove the tape and you will not even notice the light anymore.

+1 This was also my fix when I had the '89 Carrera. Guaranteed success vs. possibly causing collateral problems. I just left my tape on.....after a while you forget the tape is even there. Save your stress for bigger problems!!

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by cubby911T

+1 This was also my fix when I had the '89 Carrera. Guaranteed success vs. possibly causing collateral problems. I just left my tape on.....after a while you forget the tape is even there. Save your stress for bigger problems!!

Gonna give this a try tonight when I'm out and about. I do like this idea better than digging around in the back of my gauges. Thanks, guys

[old man neri]

If you do end up removing your gauge, change out the light bulbs while you are there, it should make things a little brighter.

[VroomGrrl]

Originally Posted by old man neri

If you do end up removing your gauge, change out the light bulbs while you are there, it should make things a little brighter.

You are psychic! I never mentioned my concern about the dismal lighting of my gauges at night. But it's something I'd like to improve if possible, so I'll try new bulbs at some point. Black tape over the idiot shift light is doing fine for now.

In fact, I just got back from a little warm-up drive and added my first bit of oil since picking the car up 2000 miles ago. Must replace that shot deck-lid hinge - I'm using a broken broomstick as a prop right now.

So I'll put off digging around in the gauges until I have some replacement bulbs to put in. Time to go looking for replacement bulb info!

[ChrisBennet]

I use a broomstick to push the gauge out from behind or take out an adjacent gauge and reach, through the hole and push the tach out from behind.
Remove the black wire to disable the CASIS light.
-Chris

[Pazuzu]

Try all of the gauges, often one will come out easier than the others. Once one is out, it's easy to stick your hand back there and shove the other ones out. I've found on my SC that I need to remove the steering wheel and the plastic trim around the steering column to get the larger tach out of the dash.

as for lighting, replacing them is always a good idea, and about $10. Or, go with LED bulbs and spend about $30. The LEDs should be much brighter, but cannot be dimmed. There are extensive arguments here whether LEDs is the way to go, but I'm a devoted convert once I did all of my gauges. I'm away from my notes right now, but someone will give you the part numbers from www.superbrightleds.com . 8 whites, 1 green, 2 amber and 2 red will cost you about $2 each after shipping. No tools required

[Don Plumley]

Chris has the ticket. I could push out one of the left two gauges through the trunk with my skinny arms. Then reach through and push out the tach. If you disconnect the casis light by removing the black wire, IIRC the max shift light still functioned.

Another ways is to use a strap wrench or piece of two-wire extension cord around the outside lip of the gauge to begin rotating it. Be very careful if you pry from the front as it is easy to dent/score the dash face.

[sempaipaul]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

Try all of the gauges, often one will come out easier than the others. Once one is out, it's easy to stick your hand back there and shove the other ones out. I've found on my SC that I need to remove the steering wheel and the plastic trim around the steering column to get the larger tach out of the dash.

as for lighting, replacing them is always a good idea, and about $10. Or, go with LED bulbs and spend about $30. The LEDs should be much brighter, but cannot be dimmed. There are extensive arguments here whether LEDs is the way to go, but I'm a devoted convert once I did all of my gauges. I'm away from my notes right now, but someone will give you the part numbers from www.superbrightleds.com . 8 whites, 1 green, 2 amber and 2 red will cost you about $2 each after shipping. No tools required

ok, so I am replacing my lights behind the dash today with LED's from superbringtleds.com.

I bought the 8 whites now what is the 1 green, 2 amber and 2 red for i didnt order these

-Paul

[richde]

Originally Posted by sempaipaul

ok, so I am replacing my lights behind the dash today with LED's from superbringtleds.com.

I bought the 8 whites now what is the 1 green, 2 amber and 2 red for i didnt order these

-Paul

Various idiot lights in the gauges.