Interior Color Change Tutorial: Gauge Cluster

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 04:17 PM

Gauge Cluster Color Change Tutorial (Without Removing Needles)

What you need:

12 (.2) Lamp Covers
Philips Screwdriver
An extra hand wouldnt hurt

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:43 PM

Procedure:

Drop down steering column to lowest position:

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:43 PM

Unscrew the two philips screws holding the black trim around the gauges(red circled), then pull the surround towards you to release the two clips at the bottom(blue circled):

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:44 PM

Slide out the surround by the side of the steering wheel as shown below:

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:44 PM

There are 3 philips screws to be removed (circled red)

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:45 PM

Pull the cluster towards you, then push the top of it away from you so it's laying on its back, then slide it towards you, if you have a boost gauge, you might need to push the soft rubber surround down to get the cluster out, don't be scared.

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:46 PM

Now remove the three green clips in the back of the cluster, try not to cross them over or mix them up, but they should stay in place well. This step will clear your trip but not your odometer

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:47 PM

With the cluster out, put it on a clean table and remove the clear plastic cover, there should be clips holding it in (8 clips - circled red), then remove the black spacer piece (5 clips - circled blue), slide off the black face cover.

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:47 PM

After these steps are done it should look like the picture below:

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:48 PM

Cut several strips of 100 grit sandpaper into 1x8" strips or so.

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:48 PM

Here's a time when you need to borrow a hand for about an hour. What you are going to do is slip the sandpaper behind the thin gauge face and move it back and forth like two lumberjacks sawing - while the helper is pushing down from the top on spots that need to be sanded. The back of the gauge face is covered with black paint with a thin green film under that, you need to sand through the black paint and the film, you only need to sand under the numbers you want to show up. Check your progress by bending the gauge face and shining a light down the gap, if it lights up white you got rid of the film, if its green you didnt. If anyone has questions just ask, I can't think of a better way to explain it at the moment. There are little black rings under the gauge needles, if they pop up, it makes it easier to slip paper under it, just make sure you push them back down before re-assembly. You know there down if the needles move easily - as if in a liquid. The picture below tries to show these little rings but its hard to show.

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:49 PM

Feel free to gently move the needle pointers out of your way when you are sanding. My best tip is just take your time and be careful! Below are some sanding positions you might want to try:

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:50 PM

Now you need to pull out the bulbs from the back (6 bulbs - circled red) and put new little bulb covers on them, usually 2 on each bulb.

Trunk_Monkey · 01-01-2005, 05:50 PM

Reverse order of install to put your car back together.

Note: This may sometimes take more than one bulb cover to get the desired color, on a side note, I tried blue using the lamp cover method, it came out a little too teal for my taste, the red color spectrum works far better.

Modification of your car involves risks and may void your warranty. I can not be held responsible for the modifications you consciously decide to undertake nor the results of doing so. If you believe anything is incorrect in this post or you have something to add please PM me.

Peaty · 02-27-2007, 07:06 PM

some scans that may help

01-01-2005, 04:17 PM	#1
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Interior Color Change Tutorial: Gauge Cluster (W/O Removing Needles) Gauge Cluster Color Change Tutorial (Without Removing Needles) What you need: 12 (.2) Lamp Covers Philips Screwdriver An extra hand wouldnt hurt Last edited by Trunk_Monkey; 01-01-2005 at 05:53 PM..

01-01-2005, 05:43 PM	#2
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Procedure: Drop down steering column to lowest position:

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01-01-2005, 05:43 PM	#3
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unscrew the two philips screws holding the black trim around the gauges(red circled), then pull the surround towards you to release the two clips at the bottom(blue circled):

01-01-2005, 05:44 PM	#4
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Slide out the surround by the side of the steering wheel as shown below:

01-01-2005, 05:44 PM	#5
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	There are 3 philips screws to be removed (circled red)

01-01-2005, 05:45 PM	#6
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pull the cluster towards you, then push the top of it away from you so it's laying on its back, then slide it towards you, if you have a boost gauge, you might need to push the soft rubber surround down to get the cluster out, don't be scared.

01-01-2005, 05:46 PM	#7
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Now remove the three green clips in the back of the cluster, try not to cross them over or mix them up, but they should stay in place well. This step will clear your trip but not your odometer

01-01-2005, 05:47 PM	#8
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	With the cluster out, put it on a clean table and remove the clear plastic cover, there should be clips holding it in (8 clips - circled red), then remove the black spacer piece (5 clips - circled blue), slide off the black face cover.

01-01-2005, 05:47 PM	#9
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	After these steps are done it should look like the picture below:

01-01-2005, 05:48 PM	#10
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cut several strips of 100 grit sandpaper into 1x8" strips or so.

01-01-2005, 05:48 PM	#11
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Here's a time when you need to borrow a hand for about an hour. What you are going to do is slip the sandpaper behind the thin gauge face and move it back and forth like two lumberjacks sawing - while the helper is pushing down from the top on spots that need to be sanded. The back of the gauge face is covered with black paint with a thin green film under that, you need to sand through the black paint and the film, you only need to sand under the numbers you want to show up. Check your progress by bending the gauge face and shining a light down the gap, if it lights up white you got rid of the film, if its green you didnt. If anyone has questions just ask, I can't think of a better way to explain it at the moment. There are little black rings under the gauge needles, if they pop up, it makes it easier to slip paper under it, just make sure you push them back down before re-assembly. You know there down if the needles move easily - as if in a liquid. The picture below tries to show these little rings but its hard to show.

01-01-2005, 05:49 PM	#12
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Feel free to gently move the needle pointers out of your way when you are sanding. My best tip is just take your time and be careful! Below are some sanding positions you might want to try:

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01-01-2005, 05:50 PM	#13
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Now you need to pull out the bulbs from the back (6 bulbs - circled red) and put new little bulb covers on them, usually 2 on each bulb.

01-01-2005, 05:50 PM	#14
Trunk_Monkey Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW Chicago Suburbs Posts: 33 Threads: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Reverse order of install to put your car back together. Note: This may sometimes take more than one bulb cover to get the desired color, on a side note, I tried blue using the lamp cover method, it came out a little too teal for my taste, the red color spectrum works far better. Modification of your car involves risks and may void your warranty. I can not be held responsible for the modifications you consciously decide to undertake nor the results of doing so. If you believe anything is incorrect in this post or you have something to add please PM me.