don't try this at home--
 

I'm not sure how to reference an old thread that I started before, but this is some new info on my gauges in my 2002 p5. I had broken the temp. gauge so I was replacing the whole cluster and was trying to use gauges from a 2000 protege because they light up green instead of orange which is what I wanted, and I was installing a set of indiglo gauges at the same time. I had asked if the mileage was stored in the gauge or in the vehicle computer, and the answer is: in the gauge. My car went from having 10,000 miles to having 40,000 miles in a matter of minutes. I had also asked if the gauges from a 2000 protege are a direct swap for the 2002 protege 5. They are not. They plug in and the needles operate, but the check engine light comes on immediately, and when you turn on the headlights, the brights indicator comes on reguardless if the brights are on or not. I drove the car for about a day with the 2000 gauges in there until I went out to start it and it just cranked. On about the 10th attempt it finally kicked over, and I was able to get it home but it ran very sluggishly and did not have consistent idle. When I got it home, it smelled like gas and would not start again. I put the old gauges back in and the check engine light was on again, but the car started right up. After I shut it off and started it up again, the check engine light shut off and has not come back on since. So, I appreciate the responses I got to my last thread but I guess you just have to try stuff before you know for sure if it will work or not, no matter what people say "should" work. My advice to anyone with a protege 5 would be: when you buy a new radio, make sure it lights up orange. I have a pioneer deh-p8400mp and that is how this whole mess started because I wanted everything to match. Anyone have a 2000 protege and want to buy a set of gauges with 40000 miles with indiglo faces already installed??????

**Getting off topic** Hey you in vegas, where did you buy your P5? I dont see to many modded p5's around. . .

At courtesy over on Sahara---
Didn't think you could get one anywhere else because Jim Marsh is supposedly going out of business and I don't know if that new one is open in the automall yet.

It's be cool to hook up sometime-- I'd like to see the autoexe lip in person and see where you got it and what it cost and all that.

I got mine at courtesy as well. My email is orangealpha@hotmail.com go ahead and drop me a line.

Re: don't try this at home--
 

I wonder if the gauge with the 40K has something to do with the engine misfire? That's what the dealer told me and the a common problem among 99 - 00 that your spark plugs f'd up reaching 40K and that's when you have to do your 36K - 40K Service.