I purchased some replacement 'glow' dials for my import so that I could have MPH. They arrived today and I have no idea how to fit them as they did not come with instructions.

 

They have a unit that needs wiring to the electrics so that I can choose between blue/green and a dimmer. All the dials have wires attached to them to get the glow to work but I'm a bit stuck on fitting them.

 

If anyone has successfully done this and can offer any tips/instructions I would be very grateful.

 

Cheers

 

Dom

You should have a small box called and inverter and there either should be some plugs on it or a wire with plugs on. The dials should fit over your stock one by sliding the needle through the hole in the middle and it should fit over the black part of the needle.

 

You then need to plug the dials into the inverter some.

 

The inverter needs to be powered and it is easiest to get a feed from one of the dash lights. unscrew one of the bulbs and then attach the earth of the inverter to one side of the bulb holder and the live to the other. Put the bulb back in making sure the bulb connections make contact with the dash to get power. Test this by turning on the lights and see if it lights up. The dials should light up, if not take out the bulb holder and turn it 180º so wores are on the other side from what they where.

 

If the connection is good, the dials will light up with the dash.

 

Hope this helps

 

Where you get the dials from as the US dials work on a different scale to UK and Jap dials

 

Stuart

I got them off eBay from the US. Does this mean they won't be accurate. How different are the scales?

I attempted to fit my new gauges today but could not get them to fit. I managed to fir the small oil pressure and turbo gauges with no probs but I can not for the life of me get the main ones to fit. I can slide them over the needle but once they get to the centre I cannot get the other end of the needle through. I made the mistake of making a small cut to try and fir them over and then realised I've cut through the circuit!!!!

 

SRRAE - How the f**k did you manage to fit yours? Or are the neddles on an early Z32 different to a '92 onwards?

You will find that if you move the rev counter needle

to about the 4k mark you can slide the dial over

the pointer. Carefully work the disk under the boss

and then you will find that the hole in the disc

will go over the tail end of the pointer.

 

Similarly for the speedo; moving the pointer to a similar

position as for the rev counter.

 

Find the parking light feed to power the inverter.

 

Did your speedo come with the right scale?

 

Mine came showing only 160 m.p.h.

Mine too read 160mph. However, I think I've buggered it by cutting the dial to try and make it fit. What an idiot!!! Is it worth me trying again d'you think only I've just put it all back together again!

 

Also, my odometer only works intermittenly so I removed it and cleaned with an electric degreaser and wd40 but still doesn't work unless I have driven over 20miles first!!! Any ideas? Looks electrical to me rather than mechanical.

Most likely that the needle is catching on the

new disc. You have to make sure that it is

completely flat. I used some spots of hot glue

at points around the dial. I checked for high

spots by blowing gently on the pointer to

move it clockwise then back.

 

160 no use for TT!

Why is 160 no use for a TT?

The scale of a UK dial and US dial are different. The top speed on a UK is 180 and a US is 160 and a Jap with a converter the top speed is 190. So if you have a converted Jap speedo with a US over the top of it, when the US dial reads 160 you will infact be doing 190.

 

Stuart

Originally posted by SRRAE

....when the US dial reads 160 you will infact be doing 190.

 

Stuart

ie. all your speed readings will be wrong. :eek:

Bugger!!! As my car is still limited to 112MPH I might just forget about it and rip out those yanky-doodles!!! I've got them in now and I must say they do look cool but as your already suggested, my needles are sticking and the MPH is wrong anyway!!

 

I will go back to my original dials and do the convertion in my head me thinks!! :slap:

That is a problem with some dials too, they do tend to stick which is not good. The dials will be completely wrong if its still reading KPH as you will be going 112mph when the needle is at full speed but will show 160mph on your dial.

 

There are a couple of projects to make glow dials at the moment, one by Vijay on this forum and one from a place in Aus. So keep your eyes open for news.

 

Stuart

I made my own and the neadles come off. You have to put them back on when...

Engine warm so you can get the temp needle possition right.

Full tank of fuel fo same reason (Those that can afford it)

Ignition on to put boost needle to 0, if have TT.

Engine running to put rev needle on, very carefuly!

 

The hardest is of course the speedo..

 

I put the needle back on with it just resting on the black stopper..seems fine but will do a speed test with the missus in the Honda to check..

 

IF anyone wants to see picks, let us know.

Granted not perfecto, but what do you want for nowt.

 

Used, scanner to scan in original dials.

Paint shop pro to make 2 colours and then make negative image.

Make neater (zoon in to sort out bad edges and get rid of dots etc)

Added my own colours i.e. Temp H red Temp C blue.

Turbo fan blades Red, Rev counter Green to Red not just red on the red line bit.

Printed out on Photo paper high qual.

Roll of that clear sticky back stuff (Like wallpaper sellotape) over the front. Then cut to shape.

All put back.

The only downside (which I hope to sort out 2nite) is that the old speedo number shine through, but only the speedo.

:dance:

i want to see pics!!!!!! might have a go at makeing some sometiom:dance: :p

Sent some pics to me and I'll post them up for you so we can all see how they look.

 

stu@300zx-mods.co.uk

Why do you need the engine running to fit the rev counter needle? just put it at 0 with the ignition ON. I have to move mine tomorrow as some fool it at 0 with the ignition OFF so it rises to around 1000 when igntion is turned on then over reads by the same, bugs me sooo much!