I noticed my light was out on my temp guage when I was doing the SD boat parade so I tapped it a couple times and the light came on. Then a few minutes later it went out again so I tapped it a couple more times and it popped out of the back of the panel. Barely tapped it and it turns out the bracket was ready to break.
The gauge is Volvo branded, but it is made by VDO. Volvo just private labeled them.
Since I'm clueless on anything mechanical like this what did I do? I called Mike of course. Mike mentioned I should be able to switch the light out and I was baffled how until I saw the module with prongs sticking out a little after I unplugged it and popped it out and saw the light in there. That problem was extremely easy to fix. Went down to SD Marine exchange and they had the exact same lights in stock. Now I have some extras and it's a 30 second fix if it happens again.
Now to the bigger problem I have figured out, but don't know where to get the piece I need.
The gauges are mounted into the instrument panel from the back side of the instrument panel.
There is a black circular plastic piece that goes into the front of the instrument panel where the gauge then from the back is pushed into and then twists and snaps into the plastic piece. This holds the gauge in place, but still needs to be secured from the back.
Then there is a metal ring that fits around and into the circular black piece from the back. You actually have to put this on before you put the gauge in.
Then there is the metal bracket with the screw holes that mounts in the back and it gets screwed into the metal ring.
The bracket pulls against the plastic bracket and reinforces and holds the gauge.
My problem is the black circular plastic piece is broken and the gauge no longer snaps in so when I screw the bracket from the back to hold the gauge in place it pulls the gauge out.
I need to buy a new black circular plastic piece that is part of the instrument panel! I have no idea where to get one!
Anyone know how/where I can buy this black plastic piece? I should have taken a pic of my Instrument panel, but I'm hoping everyone knows what I mean.