Dash/gauge cluster

Post by **nismo_chk** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 5:34 pm

Hey guys.. can someone tell me how to replace the gauge cluster.. im assuming i need to take the dash out to do it.. it someone could give me further instructions that would be great. Thanks!-Britt

Post by **deCksy** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:14 pm

nismo_chk wrote:Hey guys.. can someone tell me how to replace the gauge cluster.. im assuming i need to take the dash out to do it.. it someone could give me further instructions that would be great. Thanks!-Britt

no you dont have to take out the dash... that would be the hard way

you gotta take out the black bezel in front of the dash which is held on by 2bolts from the top and the buttons, you also need to drop the steering column by taking out the bottom part to the dash then there are 2bolts holding the column up.

after the bezel is out the cluster is fully exposed and you sould see 3 screws 1 at the top and 2 at the bottom. and BOOM you're done

Post by **fire_head57** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:31 pm

Has anybody ever seen white faced guages for the s13?

Post by **deCksy** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:36 pm

fire_head57 wrote:Has anybody ever seen white faced guages for the s13?

indeglow gauges? check ebay

Post by **fire_head57** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:40 pm

No, just plain white faced guages. maybe just a cover for the stock guages. The kind where you just take the needles off, slide the piece in and put the needles back on.

Post by **nismo_chk** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:47 pm

ok i just tried all that and i cant seem to get the column to go down..the bezel is loose and i took out a bunch of bolts from the column and nothing is moving.. help??

Post by **ddgsxr504** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 7:50 pm

There are white face guages you can buy that aren't indiglo. I have only seen one S13 that had them but that was like over a year ago.

Go here http://www.importintelligence.com/index.html and check it out! Just don't put the overlays over the dummy lights cuz that looks retarded!

Post by **nismo_chk** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:04 pm

quit hijacking my thread!

Post by **RedHatchback** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 4:21 am

I believe lsauto.com has instructions on their website. Click on LS Products and click instructions for their 180mph speedo. It shows you step by step on how to take out the cluster.

Post by **deCksy** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:58 am

RedHatchback wrote:I believe lsauto.com has instructions on their website. Click on LS Products and click instructions for their 180mph speedo. It shows you step by step on how to take out the cluster.

the site doesn't show how to drop the steering column... if you don't drop it the chances of you cracking the bezel is pretty high.

the 2bolts that are holding the steering column up is either a 14mm or 17mm i forget but theres one on the left side of it and the other on the right... it shouldnt be too hard to see ... just look directly up from under the column

Post by **spider_slayer** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:02 am

they are 14mm. follow the steering column from the wheel to where you see it connected to the dash. these are the to large bolts that you need to remove. after you take them out the steering column should jsut drop down allowing you to remove the bezel.

Post by **All Motor** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 8:13 pm

oo ok.. i didnt look that far up... ill try that when i get home.. thanks

EDIT-- This is Nismo_chk.. whoops!!!

Post by **spider_slayer** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:28 am

lol, no no no.

take out the panel that is under the steering column. then follow the column back to the bracket that is holding it to the dash board. there are 2 large 14mm bolts holding it to. if i remember correctly the bracket is directly under the gauge cluster.

sorry bout the horriable walk through. but you will need to take out that panel under the steering column and you should be able to see the exposed stering column and the bracket.

you will also need a kinda long extension to get to the bolts cause its kinda cramped in there.

Post by **lofapoo** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:35 am

Yep, it's that panel with the hood release latch on it. I believe you take out 3 or 4 screws and let the panel hang down by the hood release. Then there's 2 bolts, one on each side of the steering shaft, take 'em out and the steering wheel can drop to the floor :p

Post by **9240sx** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:21 am

All you have to remove the get the gauges out,is two 10mm nuts that hold the steering wheel adjust handle on,Once that is out of your way you can get the bezal out,It sould only that about 10mins to do.

Post by **spider_slayer** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 7:31 pm

when i took out my cluster i had to drop the column or i was gonna crack the bezel. i'm also pretty sure its the same s13 to s14. even with the wheel moved to the lowest position i couldn't get it out without dropping the column.

Post by **s13 240** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:33 pm

The green circles show the location of the bolts to drop the steering column, however that is a top view after the column is dropped. You have to go from underneath to take the bolts off. After you take out the two screws and unplug all the buttons there are two tabs underneath that hold the bezel in place. Pull the bezel out and then there are three more screws that allow you to take out the cluster.

Post by **nismo_chk** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 4:26 pm

awesome thanks for the picture!! im going to go try that RIGHT now. lol hope i can figure it out..

Post by **tyrannix** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:11 am

on the 240sx donor car i got, i had to take out the dash to prevent damage to the cluster bits, but on my silvia, the cluster came out easily (they have different steering column structure near the wheel... and the LHD one has a big round button to adjust height, where the RHD one had a lever that you pull down to adjust)

Post by **nismo_chk** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:36 am

ok.. i got the bolts and the steering column dropped and got the cluster out... next problem i just ran into is.. i cant get one of the wiring clips loose from the harness.. its the black one that WAY back behind the dash behind the air vents in the center.. Before i kill myself trying to get that damn thing undone.. i have one more question.. the whole thing im doing here is.. putting a regular cluster in a HUD car.. that WILL work, wont it? i know i cant use the harness that is in it now, which is fine b/c i have one for the NON HUD cluster.. Thanks..

Post by **tyrannix** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:50 am

theres 3 bolts on the top, and one on each side holding the dash in (maybe some on teh center)

taking out the dash isnt *that* big of an ordeal... and it will let you clear out all the dust and dirt in your vents as well, just take off the glovebox and center console first

also, (tangent) the defi sport cluster is supposed to retail for $1200 and be released in the states by the end of winter

Post by **nismo_chk** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:55 am

ok.. one more question for now.. Does anyone know why HUD is a common problem to go out? Ive heard its a common thing to go wrong in 240s, but does anyone know WHAT is actually going bad in them? LIke.. is it possible for me to fix it? Is it in the cluster,or in the car.. Id like to fix mine and get the HUD working if its at all possible.. thanks guys

Post by **masticatingcow** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:02 am

Typically, the HUD units on the digital clusters go bad because there is a small transistor that fails under varying temperatures located in the speedo unit. There have been a couple writeups about it, but it's a tough fix, if only because the components are so small. Other things have been known to go wrong, but 9 times out of 10, when the HUD dies out, it's because of this.

Go with the regular cluster. It'll work better and longer than the digital one. And that clip you're struggling with? It's going to be a PITA no matter what... but it'll be a hair easier if you pull the chassis harness off of the dash support back there. It's held on by a large white clip. Toss it, and when you're ready to reinstall, ziptie that mofo.

I've been in and out of my dash enough times that I can actually have the steering column dropped and cluster disconnected in 15 minutes. Hopefully you won't have to get that good at it!

Post by **nismo_chk** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:53 pm

im not sure if i know which harness your talking about.. are you talking about the large white one that goes to the cluster?? If so.. that one is off, but the damn black one is being a *****.. im about to go out there and work on that again in like 5 minutes.. pretty bad you can change out a honda cluster in like 15 minutes and my damn car takes 3 days.. lol wtf

Post by **masticatingcow** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:36 pm

The harness clip I'm talking about is the one that goes from the entire harness cluster to the chassis. It's WAY back in there, almost behind the venting hardware in the center of the dash. The white clip I mentioned is not a harness clip, but an actual plastic clip that supports the harness against the frame of the car... sorry if that was confusing.

Post by **nismo_chk** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 5:22 pm

o well.. well my boyfriend came over last night and got the bastard clip off in less than 5 seconds.. BOY did that make me mad.. lol ive been trying to get JUST that clip off for like 2 days.. haha anyway.. i got so frustrated with it all, he made me walk away from the car and finish it another time.. which im going out to do right now.. for those of you who know about my engine troubles.. it SHOULD be running by sunday.. hopefully. haha

Post by **nismo_chk** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 3:14 pm

ok.. damn..i have another question... does the cluster come out the same way in an s14? my friend needs to borrow mine for inspection.. lol let me know.. thanks

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