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Example #1
Example #2
OK, Due to the insane amounts of PM's I have been getting asking me how I did this I guess I will create a short how to. Unfortunatly I'm doing this after the fact so I don't have any pictures during the process to illustrate.
I had a spare guage cluster that I used for this project as I was going into it kinda blind and I didn't want to butcher my stock cluster if I messed something up, I suggest you have a backup as well.
Supplies Needed
-Spare guage cluster (optional)
-Coloured theater gels (available from most music stores or e-bay)
-butter knife, or small flat head screw driver
-Nail polish remover or something of the like
-clear packing tape or something similar
-philips screwdriver for dissasembly
-Goo gone (optional)
1. First things first, remove the bezel that surrounds the cluster by unscrewing the (3 I think it is) screws along the top of the plastic. You will have to remove the trim that goes around the steering column and the trim around the bottom of the steering column just to make it easier on yourself. I also removed my steering wheel as it was a PITA to get the cluster out with it still attached to the hub, but if you don't have to all the power to ya.
2. Once all the trim peices are removed your left staring at your cluster, now there should be probably 5 or 6 bolts that hold this in (I can't remember exactly) unscrew all of these and you should be able to wiggle it around.
3. Pull out the cluster slightly so that you can get your hand behind it and on the right feel for the wiring harness that plugs into it. IIRC it just slides in, so just gently pull it out. Now swing the right side of the cluster off to the left and look in so you can see the other harness and unplug it as well. I put it in this order becuase this worked the best for me, as I found the wires on the left much shorter than the ones on the right.
4. Go ahead and slide the cluster out, (this is where it helps if you have already removed your wheel) and remove the black plastic trim ring around it. It just clips in so flip the cluster over and you will see the black tabs, just push each one in and it should release.
5. Remove the plastic shield that goes over top of it and you should now be left with the guages with nothing protecting them.
6. Here comes the tricky part, the needles on this cluster are NOT removable....people say they are but I spent the better part of an hour trying to take them off without success. Use a knife, or a small screwdriver ( I used a - what looked to be icing speader or something) and just gently lift up on the black plastic guage face. These come off in 3 sections, so start at your left and just work your way right, be carefull when prying on the face as you don't want to snap a needle. Once the face is free from the assembly lift up on the side that the needles are not on and slide it over the black plastic piece that the needles attach to. (This is when its handy to have a spare cluster, becuase I just snapped all the needles and pulled it straight up) Now aim both needles the same way and slide the guage face that way being carefull not to put too much stress on the needles. Repear 2x for the other two parts.
7. Alright so the hardest part is out of the way, now your looking at the back of the guage face. Before you start your going to need some nail polish remover, or something of the like and a cloth or papertowel. Apply the nailpolish remover and rub off the green colouring wherever you want to change the colour.
8. After your done removing the colouring I suggest you now take the time to widen the holes on the guages so that the guage face slips over the needle base better. To do this I just suggest using a dremel tool, but becarefull not to apply to much pressure as you don't want to widen the holes too much.
9. Now you need to cut out your theater gels to the correct size and attach them somehow to the back of the guage face. I just used clear packing tape as light is not distorted and you can see through it. Just wrap the tape around the edge of guage face, you'll see an edge of the tape when you look at it from the front, but once the trim pieces are put back on and its assembled you won't see it anymore.
10. Your almost ready to put everything back together, but before you do your going to need to remove any left over adhesive from the clear plastic light tunnels that was previously holding on the gauge face (Goo gone works wonders for this). You want to get ALL of this off as you don't want it pushing against the guage face and interrupting the movement of the needles.
11. Once that is all off, your ready to put the guage face back on. Just slip the needles through first and push down on the guage face so that its not pressing on the needles and slip it over. It should align itself pretty much automatically as the face is tabbed to fit.
12. Re-assemble everything in the opposite manner you took it apart, plug your wires in, and your all set.
Enjoy your new different coloured guages!
This is at your own risk, I'm not responsible if you destroy your guage cluster or car in any way shape or form.
Example #2
OK, Due to the insane amounts of PM's I have been getting asking me how I did this I guess I will create a short how to. Unfortunatly I'm doing this after the fact so I don't have any pictures during the process to illustrate.
I had a spare guage cluster that I used for this project as I was going into it kinda blind and I didn't want to butcher my stock cluster if I messed something up, I suggest you have a backup as well.
Supplies Needed
-Spare guage cluster (optional)
-Coloured theater gels (available from most music stores or e-bay)
-butter knife, or small flat head screw driver
-Nail polish remover or something of the like
-clear packing tape or something similar
-philips screwdriver for dissasembly
-Goo gone (optional)
1. First things first, remove the bezel that surrounds the cluster by unscrewing the (3 I think it is) screws along the top of the plastic. You will have to remove the trim that goes around the steering column and the trim around the bottom of the steering column just to make it easier on yourself. I also removed my steering wheel as it was a PITA to get the cluster out with it still attached to the hub, but if you don't have to all the power to ya.
2. Once all the trim peices are removed your left staring at your cluster, now there should be probably 5 or 6 bolts that hold this in (I can't remember exactly) unscrew all of these and you should be able to wiggle it around.
3. Pull out the cluster slightly so that you can get your hand behind it and on the right feel for the wiring harness that plugs into it. IIRC it just slides in, so just gently pull it out. Now swing the right side of the cluster off to the left and look in so you can see the other harness and unplug it as well. I put it in this order becuase this worked the best for me, as I found the wires on the left much shorter than the ones on the right.
4. Go ahead and slide the cluster out, (this is where it helps if you have already removed your wheel) and remove the black plastic trim ring around it. It just clips in so flip the cluster over and you will see the black tabs, just push each one in and it should release.
5. Remove the plastic shield that goes over top of it and you should now be left with the guages with nothing protecting them.
6. Here comes the tricky part, the needles on this cluster are NOT removable....people say they are but I spent the better part of an hour trying to take them off without success. Use a knife, or a small screwdriver ( I used a - what looked to be icing speader or something) and just gently lift up on the black plastic guage face. These come off in 3 sections, so start at your left and just work your way right, be carefull when prying on the face as you don't want to snap a needle. Once the face is free from the assembly lift up on the side that the needles are not on and slide it over the black plastic piece that the needles attach to. (This is when its handy to have a spare cluster, becuase I just snapped all the needles and pulled it straight up) Now aim both needles the same way and slide the guage face that way being carefull not to put too much stress on the needles. Repear 2x for the other two parts.
7. Alright so the hardest part is out of the way, now your looking at the back of the guage face. Before you start your going to need some nail polish remover, or something of the like and a cloth or papertowel. Apply the nailpolish remover and rub off the green colouring wherever you want to change the colour.
8. After your done removing the colouring I suggest you now take the time to widen the holes on the guages so that the guage face slips over the needle base better. To do this I just suggest using a dremel tool, but becarefull not to apply to much pressure as you don't want to widen the holes too much.
9. Now you need to cut out your theater gels to the correct size and attach them somehow to the back of the guage face. I just used clear packing tape as light is not distorted and you can see through it. Just wrap the tape around the edge of guage face, you'll see an edge of the tape when you look at it from the front, but once the trim pieces are put back on and its assembled you won't see it anymore.
10. Your almost ready to put everything back together, but before you do your going to need to remove any left over adhesive from the clear plastic light tunnels that was previously holding on the gauge face (Goo gone works wonders for this). You want to get ALL of this off as you don't want it pushing against the guage face and interrupting the movement of the needles.
11. Once that is all off, your ready to put the guage face back on. Just slip the needles through first and push down on the guage face so that its not pressing on the needles and slip it over. It should align itself pretty much automatically as the face is tabbed to fit.
12. Re-assemble everything in the opposite manner you took it apart, plug your wires in, and your all set.
Enjoy your new different coloured guages!
This is at your own risk, I'm not responsible if you destroy your guage cluster or car in any way shape or form.
Some people on here just didn't get it. Anyway, here's my writeup. It includes a writeup for the HVAC controls too.
haha
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