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How To: Make your gauge cluster brighter and clearer.

This is a discussion on How To: Make your gauge cluster brighter and clearer. in the Civic and CRX - EF forum
Hey everyone, as you can see from my sig, I've recently been uploading some of my personal write-ups on different things regarding mostly EF's. Heres my How To on making those gauge cluster lights really shine. Unfortunatly enough, and I'm really sorry, my motor is ...

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Old 09-07-2006, 05:37 PM   #1
 
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Default How To: Make your gauge cluster brighter and clearer.

Hey everyone, as you can see from my sig, I've recently been uploading some of my personal write-ups on different things regarding mostly EF's.
Heres my How To on making those gauge cluster lights really shine. Unfortunatly enough, and I'm really sorry, my motor is out of town getting built, so I don't have any before and after pics. But please be assured, it looks MUCH brighter and clearer.

Lets get to it.
You'll need:
-Small screwdriver. the screws are phillips head, but if it's small enough you can use a Flat head.
(Thats it!)

1. Start by locating the 4 screws that hold the gauge cluster cover on.


2. Remove them-



As for these two, just pop the little covers off and unscrew them.


3. As you start to pull the gauge cluster cover off, you'll feel some tension. Don't yank on it. Just look back behind it and you'll notice that your Hazard switch, Light dimmer, and rear defroster switches(if it's an SI) are holding it. Just unplug them and it will come right out.







4. On top of the gauge cluster you will find a small white plastic strip, the bulb housing. Unscrew the 2 screws holding it down and lift it up.





5. With this up, you'll see a reddish colored light defuser. Remove it. As you can see, that light defuser does a lot more than just turn the light the color orange. it actually blocks the majority of the light from the bulbs.


And thats all!

If you want color in your cluster, take a piece of plastic, whatever color you want, and cut it to size and put it where the OEM piece was.

Like I mentioned before, check my sig for other How To's, and as always, Comments are welcome.
-Andrew
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Old 10-29-2006, 04:30 AM   #2
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any before or after shots?
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Old 10-29-2006, 06:59 PM   #3
 
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There were a couple great pics posted up on H-T a while back.
Let me see if I can find them(it might be later tomorrow before I can get to it though)

-Andrew
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Old 11-11-2006, 11:43 AM   #4
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I wonder if you could do the following,

Cut a piece of plexiglass to the same size as the stock light difuser, then cut inside it to which you have a rectangle with no middle, then put a colored saran wrap over it and shove it back it.

it shouldn't defuse too much light cause of it's thinness however, it should give you the color you want.
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Old 11-12-2006, 05:53 PM   #5
 
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thanks, i was trying to figure out how to get my gauge cluster brighter.
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Old 11-12-2006, 06:27 PM   #6
 
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hmm.. i think i'll try and make mine amber on my EG.. i'll figure it out
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Old 11-12-2006, 07:26 PM   #7
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NightCat View Post
I wonder if you could do the following,

Cut a piece of plexiglass to the same size as the stock light difuser, then cut inside it to which you have a rectangle with no middle, then put a colored saran wrap over it and shove it back it.

it shouldn't defuse too much light cause of it's thinness however, it should give you the color you want.
I've seen people do that, and it works great!

Go for it, and remember to take pics!
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Old 11-12-2006, 09:17 PM   #8
 
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Hey man, this is a great Thread. Good Work...
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Old 11-13-2006, 07:08 AM   #9
 
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Thx
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Old 11-17-2006, 04:18 PM   #10
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Good stuff. I'll be doing that to my car. I love DIY (cuz I'm BROKE!).
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Old 11-18-2006, 11:10 PM   #11
 
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Great write-up!! definetly will be doing that...Thank you
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Old 11-20-2006, 07:03 AM   #12
 
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Ur welcome
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Old 01-11-2007, 04:39 PM   #13
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I did it on my car. How much trouble did the dimmer plug give you? I couldn't get it out so I just lowered my wheel and moved it. I love it though and eventually will make it blue.
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Old 01-11-2007, 05:00 PM   #14
 
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Amber FTW!!
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Old 01-11-2007, 05:11 PM   #15
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What did you do to make it amber?
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Old 01-11-2007, 05:15 PM   #16
 
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for my EG cluster, i just bought amber bulbs and replaced the others with them
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Old 01-11-2007, 05:31 PM   #17
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Nice. Where did you get the bulbs?
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Old 01-11-2007, 05:35 PM   #18
 
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Autozone, but i've heard you can just scratch the blue thing off the bulbs that are in the cluster and color them with a red sharpie and it gives it a darker amber color..
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Old 08-28-2007, 10:39 PM   #19
 
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I know this thread was last active more than 7 months ago, but just for anyone reading this and thinking about doing it, it's the shit.

this is during the day too
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Old 08-28-2007, 10:57 PM   #20
 
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wow i really want to do that now lol...i want green ones...anyone know where u can get green saran wrap lol? is it the same steps in an ef?
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Old 08-29-2007, 02:33 AM   #21
 
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well this is off topic but i like the steering wheel.
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Old 08-29-2007, 06:47 AM   #22
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EF9_Hatch View Post
wow i really want to do that now lol...i want green ones...anyone know where u can get green saran wrap lol? is it the same steps in an ef?
Just use Green LED's.


Quote:
Originally Posted by LSacuragirl90 View Post
well this is off topic but i like the steering wheel.
Check my sig for a write-up on installing an aftermarket wheel.
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Old 08-29-2007, 09:35 AM   #23
 
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Good Idea! Now where to find Green LED's that will work with that?
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Old 08-29-2007, 10:23 AM   #24
 
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First find out which bulbs you need:

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProd...lacementGuide/

Then buy LED's instead of halogens...

http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b....12857&next=50
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Old 08-29-2007, 11:25 AM   #25
 
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Cool Thanks man! Definetly have to do this next time i get a chance!
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