G_Loc

Whenever I don't drive the lude for a few days the gas and temp gauge take a few minutes to get bright enough to read. I'm thinking that the fluorescent lamp is crapping out.

Am I right? Is it easy to replace?

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petern101

i would assume if you just buy a whole another temp/fuel gauge and drop it in, it isn't going to be a hard thing. its just taking out the dash to get to it.

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natemanas

the hardest part is to find one, and for a decent price..
you can also check the connection to the cluster AND your dimmer switch, b/c that WILL affect your temp/fuel gauge.
depending on your year you might wanna upgrade to the full digital cluster.
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Anyway, in order to access the cluster, get a short philips head screwdriver, unscrew the bezel above the gauge area, then remove the tweeter covers. Next, peel back the rubber surround at the bottom of the gauge area (note, it's attatched to the left side, not the speedo/tach side).
Next remove that separator in the middle. Unscrew the 4 screws holding the front tinted plastic and remove.
Now you'll see 4 more screws holding the temp cluster in. remove those, and pull the cluster forward and tilt down slightly. You'll now have access to the pin connectors (3 i think) and one on the right side. Disconnect all of these and you should be able to easily pull out the cluster.
Replace in reverse order, and make sure you have all screw accounted for otherwise eventually that **** will start to rattle.
Good luck, and I'm not responsible if you mess something up, so be careful with it.


PS: there is more work involved if you're gonna convert from non digital to full digital, so search for it if that's your plan

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I used to be different, Now I'm the same.

vansprinkle

mine was doing the same thing. i bought a new/used gauge cluster and now everything works fine.

ludestarbai

where did you buy your cluster/guages?

I'm looking to buy a set beacuse mine are out completely (not even just dim)

I was hoping i could just go back there and change some bulbs.... but that doesn't seem to be an option.

vansprinkle

I actually bought mine from a guy who was parting his wrecked car out on a local general import forum. His actual cluster was in rough shape, but he assured me the gauges lit up well. So, I took my shell and removed the coolant and gas gauges, then removed his gas and coolant gauges and swapped em. So, I kept my original housing, and only used his actual gauges.

Everything lights up fine now.

Oh, and mine had gotten to the point where I couldn't see anything either. Only at night was I able to tell what the readings were (barely).