Removing "indiglo" faceplates & troubleshooting gauge li, They're ugly IMO and the needles don't light up. Options

[r3ck0n1ng]

Hi guys, nice to meet you! What an informative forum!!

I know this topic has been covered a million times but I have some annoyances and problems I've not managed to pinpoint or diagnose quite well on my 94 EU Celica GT. I have a number of issues with the "indiglo" or similar type faceplate that the previous owner had installed:

1) The speedometer reading is WAAAYY off. I think that this is because the previous owner installed faceplates reading in MPH (till 180mph) whilst the stock gauge reading was in KMH (till 180KMH - like JDM models) so when doing around 60KM/H its actually marking around 100KM/H - not practical. More on that later.

2) The faceplates are hooked up to a custom on/off switch and dimmer. This isn't a problem, as the faceplates do light up, but the most annoying thing is that the stock bulbs located in the gauge cluster assembly itself don't light up when the headlights are on, hence the needles and odometer/trip odometer are pitch black at night - not practical paired with the above point. I also want to add that the OEM dimmer located on the left side on the ignition plastic panel was connected, but still no lights on the needles. All other dash and centre console lights such as A/C, handbrake warning, oil level, door ajar lights, etc work normally, even with the OEM dimmer switch disconnected. (is this normal???)

There also seems to be a resistor of some sort hooked up with the green wire going to the socket of the dimmer, and I don't know what purpose it serves.

So to get to the point... Can I remove these aftermarket faceplates to reveal the original stock speedometer to restore accurate reading and get it hooked to light up normally? Is it normal that the needles and trip odometer do not light up when using these faceplates, or is it the OEM dimmer switch fudged? I'm no good with electrical stuff, so is it better to just take it to an electricians shop to sort it out? I can provide pictures if they might help.

Thanks in advance!!!

[The_enD]

I've seen people installing aftermarket gauge faces over the original ones, you will have to check for yourself, if yours are still under there.

I missed the part where your car is limited to 180 km/h, doesn't matter how much you calibrate, it may be calibrated right, but that face will not show you the exact speed.

That does not look like a resistor, but rather a wire split box. It's probably for the power of the indigo gauges.

Have you actually opened the cluster to see, if the stock bulbs are inside?

[Special_Edy]

I've seen people installing aftermarket gauge faces over the original ones, you will have to check for yourself, if yours are still under there.

I missed the part where your car is limited to 180 km/h, doesn't matter how much you calibrate, it may be calibrated right, but that face will not show you the exact speed.

That does not look like a resistor, but rather a wire split box. It's probably for the power of the indigo gauges.

Have you actually opened the cluster to see, if the stock bulbs are inside?

But how likely do you think it is that someone went to all the trouble of building a pulse generator or drove the car down the freeway with various parts of the cluster removed to set the needle accurately? If you install the needle without performing one of the two options listed above your speedometer will not read correctly. The needle actually trys to point below 0mph when the car isnt driving.

If I ever get around to installing my indiglo gauges I will see about making some cheap pulse generators that will pulse at a specific speed so that you can accurately set the needle without the cluster in the car. Then we could have them as loaner tools for the community. I think Smaay had made something with an oscilloscope to set his, gonna have to do some digging...

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: May 7, 2014 - 11:46 PM