make your own white guages for 5th gen dash
i got tired of the black speedometer and tach with the white numbers. so i decided to make my own white guages with black numbers.
what you need: computer scanner; sheet of lexan or another thin plexi-glass; paper; color printer; something to cut the lexan (dremel)
1. remove bezel by removing retainer screws and pulling bezel out of the car. also remember to remove the hazard light button first and removing the screw hidden behind it.
2. remove the guages' housing by removing side screws and unplugging all the wires from the back.
3.remove the clear plastic cover from the guage housing.
4. before removing the needle, pick it up and over teh stop pin to see where it sits. mark that or photograph it to remember it's position so you know where to place the needles on replacement.
5. remove the needles from the guages by pulling straight out firmly.
6. remove screws from the guages that connect the to the needle motors.
7. scan the guages you have removed. ( i used 300 dpi.)
8. take the scans to photo shop and make a negative copy of them.
9. use the paint bucket feature to make the white section true white ( or whatever color you choose) and the writing a darker black (or whatever color)
10. print the pictures at the same size as the scan.
11. use the original guages as templates and trace around them on a thin sheet of lexan or plexi glass.
12. cut out the new lexan backing for the guage. ( i used a dremel with a cutoff disc)
13. take a straight pin and heat it and stick it through the lexan in the place where the original stop pin was.
14. attach paper guage to lexan with tape or spray adhesive.
15. re-assemble and install on car.
16. have fun.
problems... i found that when lit from behind, you can see the grain of the paper. i'm going to try this again with just the lexan and no paper. i'll see if i can screen print the guage onto the lexan. another bigger problem. it is very difficult to place the needles back in their original positions once they have been removed. i still have to reset them.. i'll do it tonight.
i have only done the speedometer so far. i figure i'll master the process before i complete the project.
pic of the original guage once removed:
pics of new guage installed in my car:
i'll have more pics once i get more work done and master the project : )
i got tired of the black speedometer and tach with the white numbers. so i decided to make my own white guages with black numbers.
what you need: computer scanner; sheet of lexan or another thin plexi-glass; paper; color printer; something to cut the lexan (dremel)
1. remove bezel by removing retainer screws and pulling bezel out of the car. also remember to remove the hazard light button first and removing the screw hidden behind it.
2. remove the guages' housing by removing side screws and unplugging all the wires from the back.
3.remove the clear plastic cover from the guage housing.
4. before removing the needle, pick it up and over teh stop pin to see where it sits. mark that or photograph it to remember it's position so you know where to place the needles on replacement.
5. remove the needles from the guages by pulling straight out firmly.
6. remove screws from the guages that connect the to the needle motors.
7. scan the guages you have removed. ( i used 300 dpi.)
8. take the scans to photo shop and make a negative copy of them.
9. use the paint bucket feature to make the white section true white ( or whatever color you choose) and the writing a darker black (or whatever color)
10. print the pictures at the same size as the scan.
11. use the original guages as templates and trace around them on a thin sheet of lexan or plexi glass.
12. cut out the new lexan backing for the guage. ( i used a dremel with a cutoff disc)
13. take a straight pin and heat it and stick it through the lexan in the place where the original stop pin was.
14. attach paper guage to lexan with tape or spray adhesive.
15. re-assemble and install on car.
16. have fun.
problems... i found that when lit from behind, you can see the grain of the paper. i'm going to try this again with just the lexan and no paper. i'll see if i can screen print the guage onto the lexan. another bigger problem. it is very difficult to place the needles back in their original positions once they have been removed. i still have to reset them.. i'll do it tonight.
i have only done the speedometer so far. i figure i'll master the process before i complete the project.
pic of the original guage once removed:
pics of new guage installed in my car:
i'll have more pics once i get more work done and master the project : )
