knfeparty

My tach needle has not budged since I bought the car late last year. PO said that it until very recently worked fine. I was browsing the clark's garage procedure (late car) on removing guages and it looks like it could go south fast. Even if I succeed in getting the instrument panel out without breaking anything, what are the chances that I will be able to identify some sort of connection that needs repairing and that I would actually be able to repair it?

Keithr726

Gauges are not easy and they're very delicate, I just had my speedo replaced....1,800 miles and counting.

inactiveuser92616

if its a late dash without airbags, the gauge removal is super easy! just follow clark's garage.

Bri Bro

Have you checked to see if all the connectors that going from the DME to the tach are connected?

Mongo

Brian is right. Be sure your connectors are plugged into the back properly or you could be overlooking a very easy fix.

billthe3

I'll agree with the statement that if it is a late car getting the gauges out is relatively simple. The biggest issue I see with pulling the gauges is that the orange pointer bars on the dials are able to bend extremely easily, so make sure you don't put the gauges down face down when they are out of the housing (my voltage pointer now has a wierd kink in it, so BTDT).

Reconnecting the wires to the gauges on reinstallation can be somewhat of a pain just because of limited working space, but it otherwise is a pretty simple procedure. I'd recomend cleaning up the gauge cluster lights as well while you're in there - I just did the tin foil and new bulbs method listed on clarks and I can now actually see the lights when they're turned on during the day. Good stuff.

Whatever you do, just disconnect the battery beforehand so you don't accidentally short anything out.

knfeparty

As far as connections with the DME, should I look first behind the instrument panel or at the DME? I'm going to go look on Clark's for what pins on the DME the tach is, but if anyone knows off-hand that would help, too.