gauge light swap

[greenguy101]

Originally Posted by markmatley

I'm wondering how you pried apart the backing for the gauge cluster? I couldn't pry apart the backing to see if I could reach the led's. Did you have to just pull the needles?

I had a buddy of mine do it and it was over a year ago so you will have to forgive my memory loss but I am pretty sure it was just clipped together. And yes, just pry the needles off. Make sure you take a pic of the needle placement before you pry them off. This will be a reference photo for when you put the needles back on.

[markmatley]

Originally Posted by greenguy101

I had a buddy of mine do it and it was over a year ago so you will have to forgive my memory loss but I am pretty sure it was just clipped together. And yes, just pry the needles off. Make sure you take a pic of the needle placement before you pry them off. This will be a reference photo for when you put the needles back on.

Thanks! I tried to pry apart the backing after taking every clip off. I guess I have to go balls to the wall and pry the needles off.

[ALbadboy]

Originally Posted by markmatley

Thanks! I tried to pry apart the backing after taking every clip off. I guess I have to go balls to the wall and pry the needles off.

If you haven't taken the needles off yet, WAIT! The refrence photo is a good idea, but better yet, get some blue painters tape, turn the needle to it's stopping position, next lay a piece of tape down under the tip of the needle, then mark the position with a sharpie, lastly pry the needle off. The blue tape will leave no residue and you will have a more precise mark to go off of than a photo.

Source: I work as an Automotive Electronics Specialist and remanufacture a lot of gauges..

[markmatley]

Originally Posted by ALbadboy

If you haven't taken the needles off yet, WAIT! The refrence photo is a good idea, but better yet, get some blue painters tape, turn the needle to it's stopping position, next lay a piece of tape down under the tip of the needle, then mark the position with a sharpie, lastly pry the needle off. The blue tape will leave no residue and you will have a more precise mark to go off of than a photo.

Source: I work as an Automotive Electronics Specialist and remanufacture a lot of gauges..

Yup this has already been done. I'm testing out the fuel gauge needle and how realistically it measures fuel level so I've got a bunch of little tape marks everywhere. Thanks again!

[Blackrsx]

Just completed the HVAC lights to red.
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...t=8336&page=5/

Planning on trying the gauges next. Going to make it all red. Will try and take pics and post steps as much as I can.

[Acree]

I'll just leave this right here.

[Pwolf]

mmmmmmm that looks so good.

I did my traction control panel a few weekends ago but the blue leds I got aren't very bright.



Thinking I'm just going to do all white LEDs with blue film.

[Blackrsx]

I just did mine to red. Here is a quick DIY I wrote up.

[ALbadboy]

Originally Posted by Blackrsx

Hi Acree, is there data that is stored in each gauge cluster? Is there anything I need to look out for before installing a different gauge cluster in?

Your mileage is stored in your cluster. So if you put another one in the mileage won't be correct. Besides that our cars don't have automatic seats or steering wheel radio controls, etc. so everything will be plug n play.

[Blackrsx]

Originally Posted by ALbadboy

Your mileage is stored in your cluster. So if you put another one in the mileage won't be correct. Besides that our cars don't have automatic seats or steering wheel radio controls, etc. so everything will be plug n play.

Is there a way to get the new cluster to "sync" to what my mileage is now?

[ALbadboy]

Originally Posted by Blackrsx

Is there a way to get the new cluster to "sync" to what my mileage is now?

The only way to do that is to either do a chip transplant and swap it over which I highly recommend you leave that to someone with experience. Or get the Steelership to program it for you which will cost a lot. I'd do the transplant, but I've never analyzed our Instrument clusters before so I'd need to take a look at the circuit board. Honestly it would probably be a whole lot easier just to do the LEDs on the original Instrument cluster.

[Blackrsx]

Originally Posted by ALbadboy

The only way to do that is to either do a chip transplant and swap it over which I highly recommend you leave that to someone with experience. Or get the Steelership to program it for you which will cost a lot. I'd do the transplant, but I've never analyzed our Instrument clusters before so I'd need to take a look at the circuit board. Honestly it would probably be a whole lot easier just to do the LEDs on the original Instrument cluster.

Yup. I think I'll end up doing that. Can I still plug this other cluster in to test if I like the new LEDs without it affecting anything? Thanks for the info.

[ALbadboy]

Originally Posted by Blackrsx

Yup. I think I'll end up doing that. Can I still plug this other cluster in to test if I like the new LEDs without it affecting anything? Thanks for the info.

That's a good idea. And yes of course, go right ahead. No problem man!

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by ALbadboy

The only way to do that is to either do a chip transplant and swap it over which I highly recommend you leave that to someone with experience. Or get the Steelership to program it for you which will cost a lot. I'd do the transplant, but I've never analyzed our Instrument clusters before so I'd need to take a look at the circuit board. Honestly it would probably be a whole lot easier just to do the LEDs on the original Instrument cluster.

It's the most inexpensive solution, but also the riskiest.

The best way is probably to let a custom automotive shop handle it. That way the work is warrantied, so if they futz something up during the swap, it's on them to fix it or replace the cluster and make sure it is properly reprogrammed, without charging you for more than the originally requested work.