How to install gauges...

[Bri94GS]

I wasn't really sure which forum to post this in, so i thought i'd post it here, and the mods could decide. I just noticed that a lot of people were selling their SRD gauges lately because they're "too hard to install". Here's how i did it, and it took me about 15-20 mins, all my needles work fine, and i didn't break anything...here we go...<P>----------------<BR>What you'll need: Phillips screwdrivers, 2 spoons, patience, and a tiny phillips screwdriver. Please read these directions a few times before beginning.<P>P.S. If you want to change the color of the bulbs behind the gauges, this is a good time to do it since you'll have the cluster out already. I used blue bulbs behind my white gauges, and it looks pretty nice. Also, if you wanted to paint the black peice that goes around the gauges, this would be a good time to do it too...here ya go, good luck...if any1 has any questions, feel free to e-mail me...TwistedMentalz00@aol.com<P>1. Take off the 2 screws that are on top of the gauges (under the little curve on the dash).<P>2. Use a screwdriver to gently pry off the part that u just unscrewed. It should come off pretty easily..but take your time, and try not to break the clips. <P>3. Unscrew the latch that u pull to pop open your hood. It's a bolt, and once it's unscrewed, the whole lever will pull right out of the plastic piece.<P>4. Remove the screws that hold in the plastic peice below the dash...the peice that your left knee would touch. Pull that peice down to expose the screws holding in the main dash peice. There's also a screw on each side of your radio....these are kinda tricky to get at, but take your time, move some things around, and you'll find them. I'd recommend a magnetic screwdriver, or else you might drop the screws behind the molding. <P>5. There's a clip under your heat controls that I don't understand, but if you slide it up and down a few times, it will come out. Just feel around the remainder of the dash peice, and remove all the screws holding it in.<P>6. Pull of the dash peice as far as you can, and disconnect the wires that attach to the buttons (i believe there was 3 or 4 of them). You don't need to cut anything, they unplug right out of the socket, and pop back in very easily. The main dash peice that covers the instrument cluster should come right off now...<P>7. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the instrument cluster in place. It has the same types of plugs behind it as the dash peice did. I believe this had 4 or 5 plugs behind it. Lower your steering wheel, and pull the cluster out. It's easiest to do the rest on a kitchen table or somewhere flat.<P>8. REMEMBER WHERE ALL YOUR NEEDLE POSITIONS ARE!! It's easiest if you either have a full tank, or empty tank of gas. Remember what your car usually idles at, and where your temp. gauge usually goes to when your car is on. You can worry about the speedometer later.<P>9. Pull off the clear plastic peice that covers the cluster. It pops off pretty easily. Grab 2 spoons to pull the needles off with. I found that the needle pullers that SRD sent me scratched my stock gauges pretty bad. Use 2 spoons for each needles....You need to apply some pressure to make them pop off, but not too much. If the metal rod comes off with the needle, that is fine. <P>10. The black part that goes around the gauges is pretty hard to get off...i remember some screws and clips, but it's pretty easy to figure out if you just take your time and look it over. After that, you can remove the gauges. They are pretty much self explanatory after you get the other stuff off. Take the black gauges off, and replace them with the white ones. <P>11. Put the black peice back around them to hold them in place. The little plastic covers to the right and left side of the cluster (seatbelt, ebrake, etc) can also be put back in now. DONT PUT THE CLEAR PEICE OR THE NEEDLES BACK IN YET.<P>12. Put the cluster back in your car the way it is now....plug the plugs back in, and start the car. Let it run for a few to warm up, and then set your needles back to where they belong. The temp gauge should be a little below half way, your gas should be set to wherever it was before, and your RPM gauge should also be the same. One you think you got them in, shut the car off, and make sure that they all go down when you shut it off. If you don't like the positioning, move them around until you're satisfied. Now for the speedometer. <P>13. Grab a freind to ride in your passenger seat and some1 else with a car that you can follow. Have them drive 30 mph, and have your freind set your needle to 30 mph while you're going to same speed as them. Check a few other speeds to make sure it's accurate. After you're satisfied with all the needle placements, put the plastic clear cover back on, plug everything back in, and screw everything back on. That's it!!<p>[ September 23, 2001: Message edited by: Bri94GS ]

[white fish]

maybe you could mark down what rpm (on flat ground) your at at what speed before you start eg 3000 rpm at 60kph in 2nd grear or something like that<P>ps Im getting a girl at work to make my for me it will be white face with blue backlite<BR>any suggestions on how to swich the colour of everything else eg heating cluster?

[Bri94GS]

The heating cluster would be expensive as hell to change the color of...you'd need custom buttons made, and probably some other sort of custom electrical stuff done as well.