Should this work for needles?

WIALERO · 07-01-2013, 10:03 PM

Found these steps on some truck forum and thought I'd see if jawa or anyone else that did there guage cluster needles done this? Mine since I did the sweep mod when I shut the car off gas and temp go to halfway and then sit till I start it and my mph is already screwed up and all so should I try this?

Take the dash apart to the point where you get the cluster face off the gauges. You don't need to unplug the gauge cluster itself
Pop off any of the needles you want to fix
As an example, the speedo needle, push it back on at the 50 mph mark
Now with your fingers on the center circle of the needle, turn it left slowly against the resistance that it has
Keep turning till it goes to zero
Thats it!
If any of the other needles need to be adjusted, its exactly the same procedure - pop off, put back on higher than where they are supposed to be and then slowly turn back against the resistance to where they should be.

Truth · 07-03-2013, 01:57 AM

It's worth a shot

sleepyalero · 07-03-2013, 02:20 AM

Fisdad let his car warm up with stock needles, and made sure he had gas remembered, popped plate off, needle off needle back on, and done.

jawa · 07-03-2013, 10:38 AM

better yet take a close up photo of the cars stock guages when its on so you know exactally where to put the new ones

fisdad · 07-03-2013, 09:42 PM

Ok... Don't make this hard....

Google what your motor should idle at or get an OBD II scanner to read your rpms.

Let your car idle for 20 minutes or until the fans kick on to be warm.

Fill gas tank to max.

Remove face from gauges so that needles are exposed.

Remove needles with car not running. (Pull straight out)

Start car with full tank and a warm engine.

Place temp needle just above center line and push it on. It should drop back down to center... If not, pull and reposition higher until it lands on center on its own and stays there. Turn key off then back on to verify smooth operation and proper position of the needle.

Next do the fuel gauge. Stock, mine always went about 1/10 of a tank above the full line. That's where I placed it. You don't have to be perfect here. The idiot light for the gauge works as it should regardless of if the needle isn't perfect.

Tach is next, with car running, do as you did for the temp gauge until the needle rests at proper idle speed. Use and obd II scanner to read your actual rpms from the computer if you have one available.

Speedo last. Download a free speedometer app on your phone. I recommend the basic and free one. Also use your gps reading if you have one. Put the needle on 0 and push very lightly. Compare your speed from your dash and app as you drive. Keep pulling the needle off and repositioning it as needed WHILE STOPPED. To get better readings. When your app and dash follow from a steady 10, 25, 40 mph consistently... You're good to go. I've had my speedo verified by my app, GPS and a police officers radar gun. It's spot on. It usually only takes me a couple of tries to get it right after pulling the needles.