gauge CLUSTER
INSTALLATION
Installation of white-faced gauges add a nice touch
the dark interior of the 4th generation F-Bodies. But you
have to be sure the new gauges are properly set so accurate
readings are displayed. Before taking anything apart, drive
your car around until it reaches normal operating
temperature (take note of how long it took to get there) and
make sure your gas tank is full. Then with the car still
running, park and record the reading of all gauge needles on
a diagram of the dash board. Record the temperature reading
first as the car will heat up after you park, and then
records the rest of the readings.
Now it's time to disassemble the dash board. Remove the
panel under the steering wheel (about 2 bolts and 2 screws).
Remove the radio frame (about 4-5 bolts with 3 of them
inside the glove compartment. Remove the A-pillar plastic
covers from both side of the car (no screws, just pull them
off). Remove the top cover (panel) that sits behind the
dashboard (no screws, just some Velcro holding it together).
Be careful not to break this piece. Then remove the screws
that hold the dash together (about 5 or 6 with 2 of them
close to the windshield and hard to reach). Now you can take
out the dash.
Next, remove transparent plastic gauge cover (all little
screws). This provides access to the gauge needles which you
can remove with a flathead screwdriver by placing it under
the base of the needle and wiggling it around until the
needles pops out. Prying on the needle from various angle
makes the process a lot faster and easier. You also have to
remove the other screws on the dash, so you can take the
black gauge cover off. Once that is removed, you have to
peel off the original gauge face using a flathead
screwdriver to initially get under the plastic piece. Enough
glue should be left on the dash base to properly adhere the
new white face without any extra glue. Make sure you place
the new face exactly where the old one was. Also make sure
you peel off the plastic film on the face of the new gauges.
Place the black gauge cover back on and put the
speedometer needle and let it drop down to its base. Finish
installing the other needles, but don't worry about placing
them in the right position at this time. Now with the rest
of the dashboard still apart, drive the car around for the
same amount of time as it took previously to get it up to
normal operating temperature. Park, turn the car off, and
pry all the needles off (except for the speedo) with your
screwdriver as you did before. Then start the car up again,
and using your diagram, place the needles in the same
position as you noted on you diagram. Press firmly on the
base of the needles so they don't fall off later. Then turn
off the car making sure the needles do what they did prior
to installation (i.e. returning to zero/rest). Then start up
again, going for a ride with the dash still apart to make
sure the needles are operating properly. Finally, park the
car and reinstall the rest of the dash pieces in the reverse
manner from they were removed.
12-PIN TO 16-PIN PCM
CONNECTION
Since all the 1995+ cars have 16 pin PCM connections
(where they were only 12 pin connections in prior years),
you can still possibly use an older on- board system which
measures performance. The following instructions pertain to
such a conversion using the Auto-Xray system:
--------------------
| A B D E |
| M |
--------------------
12 Pin Auto-Xray Cable
--------------------
\ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 /
\9 A B C D E F G /
----------------
16 Pin PCM Connection
(A-G actually labeled 10-16)
First hook terminal A on the 12 pin to terminal 5 on the 16
pin. Then hook terminal M on the 12 pin to terminal 9 on the
16 pin. That's it. Just two wires need to be connected.
|