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Set the height of the steering column to the lowest it can
go.
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Remove the plastic bottom cover to the steering column, it's
the piece that's above your knee. There are two screws near
the bottom, and then pull out.
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Remove the Metal shield covering the bottom of the steering
column. Two 10 mm bolts here.
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Remove the bolts holding the steering column up, two 12mm bolts.
Use the extension if you have trouble reaching up in there.
Drop the steering column down.
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Unscrew 2 screws holding in the top of the dash, it's the plastic
cover underneath that overhang. Pop down the top half way. Using
some firm BUT consistent pressure, pull back on it, removing
the cover from the dash. There are four little clipies that
are holding it in, so besure to find those clips. Unhook the
cables that are attached to the cruise control and dimmer switches.
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Remove the three screws holding in the dash cluster. Unhook
the four clips in the back and then take out the whole cluster.
Now, unclip the plastic over and the black casing.
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Now take the dash cluster to a place where is WELL LIT, and
comfortable. You're about to do something delicate. Note the
FUEL level.
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To remove the needles, you fist need to take off the needle-rest
stops. Those are the little black thingies that the need rests
on when the car is off. To do this, you need to lift up the
gauge pieces ever so slightly to get the tweezers in there to
pop off the plastic rests. after you have take out all three,
rejoice. and take a breather.
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Now, starting with the speedo, gently push the needle COUNTER
CLOCKWISE until you feel a little resistance. MARK THIS SPOT
WITH A PENCIL. this is your recalibration POINT. you'll need
to return the needle to this EXACT spot when you put back on
the needle or else your speed readings will be seriously fucked.
Mark down the recalibration point for the tach and temperature
too.
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Now, starting with the speedo gauge. gently, turn the needle
COUNTERCLOCK wise three times. The pressure should get lighter
and lighter the more turns you do. After the third turn, turn
and LIFT up the needle. YOU MUST GENTLY LIFT WHILE TURNING or
else you're toast. Turn about 3-4 more times while lifting and
the needle will pop off the small metal shaft. If you pull out
the shaft, you're what we call in Chinese: a Man-toh. A Dumpling.
A Dense white piece of toast, lamer than day-old bagels. After
you get the speedo needle off, do the same with the tachometer,
remembering to LIFT while turning. And then repeat for the fuel
and temp
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Now, that you have all the needles off, do what you want to
the gauges. Either swap out new ones or paint the stock ones.
You can do what i did, and get overlays to change the stock
ones into some cool colors.
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Once you're done with that you're doing, then place the gauge
back on, and position the needles at the 4 oclock position.
Gently press down. When it's pretty much in, gently turn the
needle, while pressing down, until you turn it to the recalibration
point that you previously noted. If you over shoot, that's ok,
just go around again CCW. Reclip in the needle-rest stops.
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For the FUEL and TEMP needles. it's going to be tricky. My
suggestion is, plug in the cluster, and then turn on the car.
Since you noted the fuel level when you first started the car,
move the needle to that position. And after three minutes, the
temp needle should be dead center, that's the "normal" temp
reading, so move the needle to the middle.
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Reclip the black casing, Reclip the plastic shield. Reattach
the wires to the back of the gauge cluster and screw in those
three screws.
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Re-attach the dash cover, remembering to replug the connections
for the cruise control and dimmer.
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Re-attach the steering column. Re-attach the steering column
metal shield.
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Reclip the dash bottom covers, remembering to screw those two
screws in.
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Turn on the car. Rev it up. Does the RPM needle move? Does
the Fuel register? Go fill up and see where exactly "F" is.
Is the temp right? Is the Speed right?
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Good. You're done.
