!urgent Please Help!
!urgent Please Help! I installed some white face gauges on my car and I pulled out the cluster needles, not knowing because the damn instrucions didn't say other wise 
Now the needles are every where and don't read right. I tried pulling them out and putting them back in where they sould be reading but no luck 
I'm honestly stumped and seriously need some help. This is my daily driver and I need to know how much gas I have. Some one PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME! Thank you very much in advanced. 
Now the needles are every where and don't read right. I tried pulling them out and putting them back in where they sould be reading but no luck I'm honestly stumped and seriously need some help. This is my daily driver and I need to know how much gas I have. Some one PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME! Thank you very much in advanced. Honesty dude....i don't think there's much you can do. Unless you have a way of reading (electronically) where each gauge needle is supposed to read, which i don't think is possible....i think your best bet is going to have to be to guess. I'm sorry to tell ya that, but other than that i really don't know what to tell you. Perhaps PM me and i can give you the contact information for a company that specializes in Clusters, they could re-program it for you...no doubt they could fix it...but other than that??
First, fill the gas tank slap full. Do you remember where your needle goes when the tank is full? Mine went a little past the "F". Well, put the needle there and tape it down. Get a voltage meter, with the key in the on position (don't start it up) check the battery voltage, put the needle where it should go according to your meter and again tape it down. I think the oil temp gauge will automatically go to where it supposed to, if not, I'm not sure how to check that..., come to think of it the battery gauge may go back automatically too. Make sure and see if those 2 go back automatically before you tape them down. If they do, 2 down 2 to go. If not, try the above steps. Ok, for the speedo. I just put mine to dead "0" and taped it, it's perfect now. Once done, have someone pace you at 5 mph, 10 mph 20 mph, and see if everything is right. I got everything back right, except my gas gauge is a little off, but, I ain't taking it apart to fix it again. Hope this helps, maybe someone with more knowledge can explain this better than I did.
Sort of what was said above.... The best thing to do would be get readings of everything and set the needles accordingly...
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, or need a quicker fix, do this...
Go fill the car up with gas... then let it sit over night.
In the meantime find out from a friend or someone on the board who has the SAME YEAR car (we'll call it the "donor" car from here on out) and find out what their idle is, oil pressure (at idle is) and voltage is...
Then in the morning (or whenever it's definetly cold) with the plastic lens OFF but the cluster in, turn the key forward...
Put the Speedometer needle at zero
Put the RPM's at the closest you remember it idling (800 maybe?), or whatever the "donor" car (mentioned above) reads...
Put the temp. needle at 160* (the coldest it should read)...
Put the voltage at whatever the "donor" car reads...
Put the oil pressure at whatever the "donor" car reads...
This will get you driving again at least... you can re-check for accuracy later...
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, or need a quicker fix, do this...
Go fill the car up with gas... then let it sit over night.
In the meantime find out from a friend or someone on the board who has the SAME YEAR car (we'll call it the "donor" car from here on out) and find out what their idle is, oil pressure (at idle is) and voltage is...
Then in the morning (or whenever it's definetly cold) with the plastic lens OFF but the cluster in, turn the key forward...
Put the Speedometer needle at zero
Put the RPM's at the closest you remember it idling (800 maybe?), or whatever the "donor" car (mentioned above) reads...
Put the temp. needle at 160* (the coldest it should read)...
Put the voltage at whatever the "donor" car reads...
Put the oil pressure at whatever the "donor" car reads...
This will get you driving again at least... you can re-check for accuracy later...
Originally Posted by SSinisterTX
I can't belive I did this! Thanks of the imput and ur help guys, I really appreciate it. Any one else have ideas or know where i can recalibrate it?
Of course the BEST scenario is to use something like Auto Tap or LS1 (or LT1) Edit to see what the computer says is going on and just stick the needles on to match...
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TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County, NJ
Don't panic, this is really pretty easy. Fill the tank since that is the only gauge you can't predict. With the the bezel off, the clear over off and the cluster installed with the needles on loosely, start the car and bring it up to operating temperature. This is where the instructions should have told you to note the position of the gauges or take a picture.
Now put the needles on gently where they normally sit at idle and operating temperature. If you want to be more accurate autotap or another scanning tool will give you the readings but the gauges aren't really that accurate so you may not want to sweat that. Now take the car out and either follow a car, or use a scanning tool to set the speedo at a given MPH. If you put the needle on gently with the car sitting still it should be close.
Once the needles are where you want them, press the on a little more firmly careful not to put them on too far so they contact the gauge face. Once your satisfied, put the clear cover on, the bezel and you're set.
That should do it, really fairly simple and only takes a few minutes.
Now put the needles on gently where they normally sit at idle and operating temperature. If you want to be more accurate autotap or another scanning tool will give you the readings but the gauges aren't really that accurate so you may not want to sweat that. Now take the car out and either follow a car, or use a scanning tool to set the speedo at a given MPH. If you put the needle on gently with the car sitting still it should be close.
Once the needles are where you want them, press the on a little more firmly careful not to put them on too far so they contact the gauge face. Once your satisfied, put the clear cover on, the bezel and you're set.
That should do it, really fairly simple and only takes a few minutes.
Ok I'm going to try this but what do u guys mean by taping the needles? Like I should tape them where they should be reading and once I turn the car off they go back to normal? Also how do I tape the mph or the rmp needle? Or what do you guys mean, please help and be a little more specific. Thanks for all the imput u guys saved me.
TECH Addict
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 1
From: Bergen County, NJ
I wouldn't do any taping, but that's me. When you buy the gauges, the instructions should tell you basically what I posted, that's how I and many others have done it. Either way you do it, just pick a method and go - you'll be fine.
Originally Posted by DaddySS
I wouldn't do any taping, but that's me. When you buy the gauges, the instructions should tell you basically what I posted, that's how I and many others have done it. Either way you do it, just pick a method and go - you'll be fine.
Well I got them right except my MPH is 1 to 2 mph off but its all good. It nice to know that my fellow LS1tech members helped another LS1 brotha out. I know how it is to be on the other end when u need help, thats why if i know or get a chance to help out some one I always do.
Well I got them right except my MPH is 1 to 2 mph off but its all good. Its nice to know that my fellow LS1tech members helped another LS1 brotha out THANKS GUYS! I know how it is to be on the other end when ur in need of help, thats why if I know or get a chance to help out some one I always do. Keep in mind one day u will need help so why not try to keep our gm bros on the road 
THANKS GUYS! I know how it is to be on the other end when ur in need of help, thats why if I know or get a chance to help out some one I always do. Keep in mind one day u will need help so why not try to keep our gm bros on the road
Originally Posted by SSinisterTX
Well I got them right except my MPH is 1 to 2 mph off but its all good. Its nice to know that my fellow LS1tech members helped another LS1 brotha out THANKS GUYS! I know how it is to be on the other end when ur in need of help, thats why if I know or get a chance to help out some one I always do. Keep in mind one day u will need help so why not try to keep our gm bros on the road
THANKS GUYS! I know how it is to be on the other end when ur in need of help, thats why if I know or get a chance to help out some one I always do. Keep in mind one day u will need help so why not try to keep our gm bros on the road ! 
well the oil pressure and temp gauge should be pretty easy as when you put the key in and turn it to accessories they drop down to 0. and if you remember what your car idled at when it was fully warmed up then that should be easy and then drive the car around and come to a stop then put the speedometer needle on all the way to 0 and it should be right on.