Dissection of a 3rd Gen cluster for colour change

[tiwing]

why changing colours doesn't work


There has been a lot of discussion on the TOProtege forums about changing the cluster colours. I was fortunate enough to pick up a spare cluster for a future project, and figured I might as well dissect it and really find out why changing colours is so tough. So, combined with a "how-to" is finally an explanation why we can't easily change the cluster colour, and how to take it all apart, hopefully without breaking anything!

1) Take out the cluster. Not tough to do - I'll post up pics later if anyone needs it.

2) Separate the back and front main parts. There are 6 plastic clips that hold the two sections together, and no screws. Just push down on the clips and the two pieces should separte. The following 3 pictures show the location of the clips.

- Left Side and Top Clips
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6619/clusterlsideclips5ue.th.jpg (http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterlsideclips5ue.jpg)

- Right Side and Top Clips
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/213/clusterrsideclips8zz.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterrsideclips8zz.jpg)


- Cluster upside down: Bottom Clips
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1086/clusterbottomclips6mk.th.jpg (http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterbottomclips6mk.jpg)


3) Next step is to take off the needles. This is probably the hardest part of he whole disassembly. The spindles are incredibly easy to break. I was being very careful and still broke the spindles on both the smaller needles. The trick is to get something underneath the body of the needle and pull straight up. STRAIGHT up. If you pull on an angle at all the spindles will break. Hopefully when I finally reassemble the cluster I'll be able to use krazy glue to hold the two smaller needles in place.

- Cluster with needles removed
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/7099/clustershieldremoved3lo.th.jpg (http://img227.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clustershieldremoved3lo.jpg)

- Broken spindles on the two smaller needles
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8644/clusterneedles2borken14cd.th.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterneedles2borken14cd.jpg)


4) Once the needles are removed, take out the 2 black screws in the centre of each gauge - 6 screws in total. At this point the gauge faces and the "light guides" underneath should easily come out.

- Faces removed
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/201/clusterseparatedfacesremoved5y.th.jpg (http://img506.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterseparatedfacesremoved5y.jpg)

- Faces and light guides removed
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/5348/clusterseparatedlightguidesrem.th.jpg (http://img506.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterseparatedlightguidesrem.jpg)


5) Finally, here is why the colours cannot be easily changed. You will see on the back of this cluster that there is a green film embedded into the plastic. I tried to scrape it off, but it only scratched the plastic, and did nothing to remove the coloured film.

- Face Backs
http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/4600/clusterfacebacks0xr.th.jpg (http://img506.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clusterfacebacks0xr.jpg)


I also took apart the mazdaspeed cluster (same as P5). The colouring is embedded red instead of green in this cluster. It's unfortunate that Mazda built them this way...


It seems like the only solution is to get custom gauge faces built. As of January 2006 I'll be investigating where these can be made with a clear film instead of coloured, and for how much. I'll be updating my website http://www.kgm.tiwing.com, under mazdaspeed -> projects) once I find out more information.

Edit: in the MSP cluster, I've had red, amber, blue, and purple bulbs installed, and red, amber, and blue LED bulbs. the only ones that worked well at all were red and amber. Purple and blue were way too dim and the colours were not true. Amber was "reddened", while red was actually a very nice blood red...

[justanotheradikt]

nice way to sum it all up!....on a side note...id love to have a kmh cluster...

[TampaSport20]

note: supergluing the needles will NOT work...you will need a new cluster

[Hughes412]

Subing, I would like an indego blue face to match my deck. Keep us posted. (thumb)

[tiwing]

have you tried superglue? or any other variety? Good thing this is a spare cluster. It'll be a while before I get around to getting quotes for replacement faces, but I will update the thread if/when it happens... I want blue too!

cheers.

[justanotheradikt]

i have some indigo gauges for a dx (no tach) if you guys would want that? but tiwing...know anyone selling a kph cluster?

[tiwing]

nope. .. I will be selling the black faced ones in these pics once I get clear templates made - but I'm keeping the main frame of it all for a custom Dakota Digital cluster I'm planning ina couple of years time. Damn those gauges are expensive!!

[justanotheradikt]

damn...well if you dont mind keeping an eye out for me.

[TampaSport20]

have you tried superglue? or any other variety? Good thing this is a spare cluster. It'll be a while before I get around to getting quotes for replacement faces, but I will update the thread if/when it happens... I want blue too!

cheers.

yep..already went through it...it wont work

[Super Mario]

you need to get polycarbonate sheets and have them silkscreened. thats how gauge faces are made. i have sheets of polycarbonate but never had them screened.

to get the "dummy lights" the back side is screened in the 'color' of the light, and the other side is screened black.

[99 Pro]

i have some indigo gauges for a dx (no tach) if you guys would want that? but tiwing...know anyone selling a kph cluster?

I have a Km/h cluster sitting in my garage. It was my old one that I had (with no tach) that I replaced with my new cluster that now has a tach. Let me know if you are interested.

P.S. Nice work on the write up.....excellent info!

[justanotheradikt]

ehhhh....i was going to try to keep the wite/silver faces...and the tach.

[99 Pro]

ehhhh....i was going to try to keep the wite/silver faces...and the tach.

You interested in my old km/h cluster?

[justanotheradikt]

isnt it black face w/o a tach? if so then no, sorry. id like to get one with white faces and a tach

[Buck]

This may be dumb to point out...but doesnt corksport sell gauge faces with options of red orange and blue back lighting, as well as options of silver or white gauges?

[Bartron8000]

anyone know where you can get those guage face's that slip on? and are they worth it?

[justanotheradikt]

...the indiglo gauge faces? slips over the needles? i have a set. lights up blue or a "green" which IMO is a blue-ish green...

[tiwing]

i've seen the indiglo ones. ..But I like the stock look & feel of the gauges. the indiglo ones look too aftermarket for my tastes. I want different. but subtle different. Plus I like the idea of going "custom" where I can - even if it costs a little more and is way more PITA to accomplish. I want people who know these cars to look at it and say, "That's how Mazda SHOULD have done it" ... and I already have had a few comments like "are those stock??" with my seats. i want to keep that theme going :)

[Buck]

i've seen the indiglo ones. ..But I like the stock look & feel of the gauges. the indiglo ones look too aftermarket for my tastes. I want different. but subtle different. Plus I like the idea of going "custom" where I can - even if it costs a little more and is way more PITA to accomplish. I want people who know these cars to look at it and say, "That's how Mazda SHOULD have done it" ... and I already have had a few comments like "are those stock??" with my seats. i want to keep that theme going :)


Have u looked into the alternative Mazdaspeed gauges that corksport offers? i.e. silver face w/ red,orange, or blue and white face w/ red, orange, or blue lighting?

[Bartron8000]

well I wanted to get the stock white faced gauges from an 02 protege but after hearing about the extreme difficulty changing them I decided to go with an aftermarket white face. does any one know a link that sells a White face, blue or red lighting, slip on guage face?

[99 Pro]

well I wanted to get the stock white faced gauges from an 02 protege but after hearing about the extreme difficulty changing them I decided to go with an aftermarket white face. does any one know a link that sells a White face, blue or red lighting, slip on guage face?

Maybe try ebay. Careful with those things though....the needles break very easily.

[Witchdoktor]

well I wanted to get the stock white faced gauges from an 02 protege but after hearing about the extreme difficulty changing them I decided to go with an aftermarket white face. does any one know a link that sells a White face, blue or red lighting, slip on guage face?

I combined a 99 and 02 cluster. The faces are white and it lights up red. If you have a cluster with black faces I'll do a straight up trade.

[justanotheradikt]

ive got some indiglow gauges if anyone wants them...not the cheep ebay ones.

[Buck]

well I wanted to get the stock white faced gauges from an 02 protege but after hearing about the extreme difficulty changing them I decided to go with an aftermarket white face. does any one know a link that sells a White face, blue or red lighting, slip on guage face?


Ya I just got mine in from Corksport yesterday and installed them last night. Keep in mind that they are more expensive than what u could find on ebay. 82 dollars worth to be exact, but I must say that they look awesome! I got the white faces that light up blue lettering. It looks like a VW instrument when lit up. I like them alot. They slipped right over the stock faces and over the needles. Must be careful but it works. I will post some pics of them lit up tonight!
Note: I dont know if they make them specifically for your year of car...

[Witchdoktor]

please do post pics BUCK. the gauges will work for any 99-03 pro. some models lose the low gas warning dot and others lose the drivetrain symbols.

[Buck]

please do post pics BUCK. the gauges will work for any 99-03 pro. some models lose the low gas warning dot and others lose the drivetrain symbols.
I will post them as soon as I finish hooking back up some wires I neglected to reconnect (oops) Right now I don't have any Hvac lights and my needles aren't lighting up :rolleyes: But those gauges look damn good (thumb) I should have them up in a day or two.

[Buck]

Hey guys here are those pics of my new gauges from Corksport as promised. I love em!

Sorry about the poor pic quality, I don't have a digital cam yet, so I had to use my Cell phone!

[tiwing]

hey those are nice!! not what I expected them to look like that's for sure. I haven't even looked, but do you know if they make a MPH/KPH verson for us metric canadians? :)

[99 Pro]

Looks good Buck!

P.S. Your tail lights will be shipped out tonight.

[Buck]

Im not sure if they do make a KPH version or not. I would check with Corksport.com. I didn't see anything mentioned about KPH versions but maybe if u call them they can hook something up for u. Tiwing I know you are wanting something subtle but different, I think these are pretty subtle when compared to the other reverse glow gauges out there. They are nice and simple. Thats why I like them.

Hey thanks Tyler! I am looking forward to getting them.