Shadowfax
03-28-04, 11:50 AM
I just changed out my main gauge cluster plastic lens for a new one. The entire job took me about an hour. Please note that the following steps are for a 1994 Stealth and there may be slight differences depending on your model and year. And... use these instructions at your own risk.
- lower the steering wheel to it's lowest position for more working room
- remove the two phillips screws under the top of the gauge bezel
- there are two clips that hold the bezel in place at the widest point of the bezel near the bottom
- carefully pull and pry the bezel straight back towards you and it will pop off
- unclip the two wiring harnesses for the switches and slide the bezel out from the dash
- there are four phillips screws that hold the gauge cluster in place, remove them
- pull the gauge cluster straight back towards you to disengage it from the wiring sockets
- remove the gauge cluster from the dash
- the trip meter reset stem needs to be removed before the plastic lens can be taken off
- pull on the trip meter reset stem and it will pop out of its socket
- carefully work each of the plastic lens clips out and remove the lens from the gauge cluster
- install the new plastic lens by working each clip in a little bit until all of them are seated properly
- push the trip meter reset stem through the hole in the lens and into it's socket
- put everything back together
Points of Caution and Tips
Prying out the bezel from the clips is scarey, it feels like it's going to break. Even, steady, straight back pressure is needed to keep the bezel from cracking around the clip mounting points. Pulling off the trip meter reset stem is also scarey, but it does come out with enough force. A magnetized screwdriver is handy for getting the four gauge cluster screws back in to their hard to reach holes.
- lower the steering wheel to it's lowest position for more working room
- remove the two phillips screws under the top of the gauge bezel
- there are two clips that hold the bezel in place at the widest point of the bezel near the bottom
- carefully pull and pry the bezel straight back towards you and it will pop off
- unclip the two wiring harnesses for the switches and slide the bezel out from the dash
- there are four phillips screws that hold the gauge cluster in place, remove them
- pull the gauge cluster straight back towards you to disengage it from the wiring sockets
- remove the gauge cluster from the dash
- the trip meter reset stem needs to be removed before the plastic lens can be taken off
- pull on the trip meter reset stem and it will pop out of its socket
- carefully work each of the plastic lens clips out and remove the lens from the gauge cluster
- install the new plastic lens by working each clip in a little bit until all of them are seated properly
- push the trip meter reset stem through the hole in the lens and into it's socket
- put everything back together
Points of Caution and Tips
Prying out the bezel from the clips is scarey, it feels like it's going to break. Even, steady, straight back pressure is needed to keep the bezel from cracking around the clip mounting points. Pulling off the trip meter reset stem is also scarey, but it does come out with enough force. A magnetized screwdriver is handy for getting the four gauge cluster screws back in to their hard to reach holes.