Cluster Gauges

[chia_han_didi]

Sorry if this has been answered before. I looked through first couple pages and didn't find the answer I was looking for


I own a Canadian si (US ex?) and just moved to the US not too long ago. The mph on my cluster doesnt illuminate at night so I'm driving blind, not that I follow the speed limit neway lol. But I'd still like to know what speed I'm driving. I was thinking of ricing it (lol), buying one of those glow gauges from ebay to illuminate both km/h and mph. Take the cluster out and putting the gauge faces seem simple enough. I'm just not sure how to do the wiring. Has anyone done this before and got any tips for me?

Also, does anyone know if the wiring for an auto and manual are different? Some of the manual faces look better than the auto ones. Figured if I'm going through the trouble, might as well make it look good haha =P Thanks~

 

[sohclubkid]

why not just replace the cluster bulbs?

 

[2NRSTV]

^x2. Lols.

 

[chia_han_didi]

why not just replace the cluster bulbs?

Do the mph ever illuminate when I turn on the headlights? I bought the car second hand and it never showed up at night so I assumed it just doesn't show up at all. Never bothered with mph because I lived in Canada. I'm still not accustomed to miles here in the US. km/h is the primary display in my car.

I feel some hate going on already about 'ricing' my civic. Honestly, this is something that's helping me drive at night. For future posts, please, I'm just looking for help, not criticism.

 

[2NRSTV]

Oh... Lols. That's the problem. I thought you were having problems with the bulbs not lighting up (the fact the car is Canadian totally went over my head - Km/h). Sorry about that.

No, they don't light up. If you want to see MPH, you'll either have to convert to a USDM cluster or get the glow gauges. Keep in mind that, for the glow gauges, they have an option for ones that have glowing faces or glowing numbers and hash marks.

Of course you're going to need to get the Canadian version, but here are some pics.

I think these are the ones you are talking about.

But personally, I like these:

 

[chia_han_didi]

Oh... Lols. That's the problem. I thought you were having problems with the bulbs not lighting up (the fact the car is Canadian totally went over my head - Km/h). Sorry about that.

No, they don't light up. If you want to see MPH, you'll either have to convert to a USDM cluster or get the glow gauges. Keep in mind that, for the glow gauges, they have an option for ones that have glowing faces or glowing numbers and hash marks.

Of course you're going to need to get the Canadian version, but here are some pics.

I think these are the ones you are talking about.

But personally, I like these:

Yeah, stupid Canadian cars lol. But ye, those are the ones I saw on ebay. I've searched and I kind of get the gist of how to take out the whole cluster. I'm just not sure how to do the wiring so that it lights up at night when I switch on my headlights. Anyone done this before?

 

[2NRSTV]

They should come with instructions.
But to wire up the lights, all the wires should plug into a transformer. Coming off the transformer, there are two wires: red-hot, black-ground.
Thread the wires behind the dash so that they can reach the dimmer switch for your gauges. Push the dimmer switch from behind to remove it or pry at it with a flat head screwdriver (carefully).
Red wire goes to Red/Black wire on dimmer switch.
Black goes to Black Wire on dimmer switch.

 

[chia_han_didi]

They should come with instructions.
But to wire up the lights, all the wires should plug into a transformer. Coming off the transformer, there are two wires: red-hot, black-ground.
Thread the wires behind the dash so that they can reach the dimmer switch for your gauges. Push the dimmer switch from behind to remove it or pry at it with a flat head screwdriver (carefully).
Red wire goes to Red/Black wire on dimmer switch.
Black goes to Black Wire on dimmer switch.

I hope it's as easy as you make it sound lol. I'm looking at these right now. Hopefully I can install them with no problem. They look pretty nice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TYPE-R-RED-GLOW-96-97-98-99-00-HONDA-CIVIC-LX-EX-GAUGES-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQfitsZModelQ3aCivicQ7cYearQ3a1998QQhashZitem3a5cd526e3QQitemZ250665576163QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[2NRSTV]

It's pretty easy. The hardest part is disassembling the the gauge cluster to install the new faces and actually routing the wiring.
Oh, and you may have to cut a little into the cluster with a snips or something to get the wire from inside the cluster to the outside so you don't pinch the wires.

Also, those gauge faces you are looking at are pretty kick ass. I'll have to find them for my car.

 

[chia_han_didi]

thanks alot for you're help. totally apreciate it. if I remember I'll let you guys know how it went. I'm hoping successfully lol. Thanks 2NRSTV

 

[2NRSTV]

Lol. No Prob.

 

[chia_han_didi]

kinda late, but i thought i'd still share the end result. pretty nice i think . turns on and off with my headlights and factory dimmer works too lol.

 

[2NRSTV]

That is beautiful. I still need to get me some of those.

 

[Xx96CoupexX]

they look sweet