Opening the Guage Cluster
 

I have a 2002 LX protege and I'm trying to get to the guage cluster but I can't get the first plastic part off (the one with the two screws at the top). The wires from the alarm light, that is on the bottom of the plastic piece, is stopping me from removing it. Any ideas on how to get it out? Thanks

don't know if the 02 is the same setup as the 99 but I would do a search (top right)

Actually no piece has only 2 screws at the bottom.

The first dark gray piece has 2 screws at the top and all you have to do is pull. After, the gauge cluster is held in the dash by 3 screws. 2 at the bottom and 1 at the top. After that you pull it out and unclip the wire harnesses and you`'re home free. Its as simple as that.

Let me know if you have more questions.

then it's a similar set up. I don't what you mean by the alarm wire is stopping you from removing it?

Me neither, but I dont have a factory alarm.

It the factory alarm LED and it's set in the middle of the first piece you have to take out. When I had the two screws out and was pulling it out I relized that there are two wires running from that LED that won't let me pull it out. It's a small LED and I'm not sure how it's connected. Thanks for tryin guys!!

I have an '02 and did this very thing today....and yes I have the factory alarm too...

after removing the two screws at the top you have to pry out at the bottom very gently as there are to clips there that will pop out....I lifted the piece out towards the stearingwheel and found that the wires on my LED were long enough that I could just work the piece around toward the left and allowed it to hang down by the wires.....I was prepared to cut them if they were not long enough and put insulated connectors on them so that I could unplug and plug in the light as needed for the removal in the future. after I let it hang there I removed the three screws that hold in the gage cluster and then unpluged it and it was in my lap.

Thanks Nuke, I'm not sure if they're long enough but I'll give it a try tomorrow. If I remember correctly, I could only get it an inch or two out, not far enough to work around it. I might have to cut and apply connectors. Thanks!

Actually if you look up under the dash you should be able to locate where they are routed and see if you can get some slack. depending on who routed them they may have some slack zip tied up or wrapped around something. All you have is the two screws at the top, pop off the trim, take out 3 more screws (2 on bottom and 1 on top. Then pull cluster out and remove 3 plugs. I have had mine out about 4 diff. times, it's alot easier than my '99 VW Jetta was. I recently put in the brushed aluminum gauge bezel from Speedhut and the carbon fiber gauge layovers from Import Intelligence . I'll post some pics of those as soon as I get them.

Thanks JellyBean 98, I'll try it. Do the overlays go on easy? Are the guages from Import Intelligance stickers? I'm curious about how thier overlays look at night? I've seen pics of the overlays with the guage pod painted silver but I haven't seen it with the guage bezel, look good? Did you paint the bezel or keep it the original look. Thanks again

Dude - don't worry about it. Get up under the dash, and see if you can disconnect the wires. If not, clip 'em. It's no big deal - you can just splice the wires together again when you put it all back together. And you can even just tape the connectins - there is zero risk of fire or even blowing a fuse if you screw up, because LEDs are ultra-low power. The wires connected to your LED carry a teeny tiny current (that's why the LED can keep blinking and not drain the battery).

Just snip and splice if necessary.

~HH

The overlays are just stickers and the areas that light up aren't covered by the stickers, they are cut out around the numbers and other things that light up. I like how the overlays and brushed aluminum bezel looks. My Kenwood in dash monitor has brushed aluminum around it and the console area has that carbon fiber look so i like how they compliment each other. I'll post pics as soon as I can.