Ran into a snag while trying to pull my instrament cluster.

[HFX]

I need to change one of the bulbs on the instrument cluster and was going to fix the connector for the gas gauge so it stops reading the full range in only of a quarter tank on the gauge / keep it from bouncing around sometimes.

However, I ran into this problem while attempting to remove the 7mm screws holding the section that the cluster sits in. The plastic has seemed to have detached from the screws but reenvoleped the head of the screw. Putting the 7mm on there, I can't get it to go far enough down to get a good bite do to the bosing at the end of the socket and the plastic now holding me out. Anyone have an idea of how to solve this problem?

 

[Classicpartsmart]

I'm assuming you tried this but push the housing in and see if that will pop out the screw tops. If worse comes to worse there is the good ole dremmel to drill out the screws if you can't figure out a way.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Use the Dremel to slowly remove plastic around the bolt head until the socket can get on it. It takes a light touch, and a small carbide burr, but you should be able to get it off.

 

[HFX]

I actually managed to get them out. Got a very small awl and pulled vinyl from the top of the screws which allowed me to get a socket enough on them to back them out. Once they got past a point all came out and I was a happy camper.