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[terry paget]

 2006 Astra 1.6H petrol manual hatchback
Instrument illumination on this 13 year old car is dim. I wish to replace the bulbs. I have done similar jobs on many Omegas, easy and satisfying jobs. It seems similar on the Astra, but I have failed to remove the lower column shroud screw. The Upper section screws are crossheads, same as the Omega. The lower one is not. I have spent half an hour on my back trying to see what the head is, but without success. It looks like a female torx, or could be an internal hexagon. Please advise.

[Doctor Gollum]

Much the same thing given how tight it won't be find summat that fits and undo it 

[Nick W]

Much the same thing given how tight it won't be find summat that fits and undo it 

A torch and a mirror will help.
Small Torx is likeliest.
Halfords sell Torx screwdriver sets that are useful sizes for trim work, and a lot more reasonably priced than the Snap-on ones I indulged in.
The separate bits are often too big to reach sunken screws, but an extensive set of those is well worth having too.

[andyc]

The bulbs are normally to bright to use at night and have to be turned down. Have you checked the dimmer is working correctly before stripping out.

Andy

[Nick W]

The bulbs are normally to bright to use at night and have to be turned down. Have you checked the dimmer is working correctly before stripping out.

Andy

I'm glad it's not just me that thinks that way; I turn the panel dimmer down the first time I switch on the lights and never touch it again. I once replaced the dash bulbs on a Capri, and hated them so much I put the old ones back!

[Doctor Gollum]

The dimmer on the MK2 Grandad was more of an on/off device

[terry paget]

Thanks for all the advice. I found a box of screwdriver bits I have had for years, and a CR-V T20 engaged in the screw, and easily removed it.

[terry paget]

The bulbs are normally to bright to use at night and have to be turned down. Have you checked the dimmer is working correctly before stripping out.

Andy

On all the Omegas I have ever owned the instrument illumination is dimmed from full intensity when I turn on the sidelights, and can be further dimmed to taste with a dimmer. In daylight, especially in my PFL estate with the Phillips CCRT 700 audio system, the instruments and the information panel are too dimly lit to read half the while, even with new bulbs fitted.

Instrumemt bulbs are illuminated all the time the engine is running. After 10 years the bulbs are much dimmed by a black deposit on the inside.

[terry paget]

Gentlemen, you were right and I was wrong. Having removed the instrument panel, I find it is a sealed unit and, as Haynes says, no dismantling is possible. I don't know what the bulbs are, but there is no way I can replace them.  Now I must put it all back again.

[dave the builder]

SMD LEDs in some places on the astra G PCB  , I've not removed a binnacle from an astra H to look
have you tried the dimmer button above the headlamp level control 

[terry paget]

SMD LEDs in some places on the astra G PCB  , I've not removed a binnacle from an astra H to look
have you tried the dimmer button above the headlamp level control 

Car no longer here, but I am pretty sure instrument illumination is full power with exterior lights off,  dimmed with sidelights on and can be further dimmed with the dimmer. On the Omegas, bulbs were tungsten filament, and dimmed with age. On the Astra they may well be LEDs, anyway are not changeable. Removing the instrument panel is trickier too.