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Recalibrating needle after changing instrument cluster dials

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:17 am
by sliq
Hi forumites,

I have an nb8b instrument cluster which I would like to have its dials (i.e. the tachometer and speedometer) replaced with 6 O'clock jdm ones.

I note that the needles are pointing at the 6 O'clock position on the JDM ones at idle, whereas the existing ones are at about 7 o'clock.

How do I go about recalibrating the needle after I have replaced the dials?

I've seen on the awd website, instructions to perform this for an NA.

Is it the same method for NB's?

Recalibrating needle after changing instrument cluster dials

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:24 pm
by Garry
I haven't read their instructions but I just took note of where all the needles were before I started then put them back in the same place after I changed the faces. The fuel gauge is fairly easy because it's position wont change while your doing the job unless you get a leak in your fuel tank. You just need to leave the ignition on for a few minutes to give the gauge enough time to move up to the right place before you re-attach the needle. I noted the position of the temperature gauge at normal operating temperature and set the needle on the new gauge face to the same position. I set the tacho to the same position at idle when the engine was fully warmed up as it was on the old gauge face. When I did it I didn't have a GPS so I set the speedo via the tacho. ie before I started I noted that X rpm in Y gear = Z kmh. It took a couple of laps around the block to get it right, but surprisingly I was pretty close with my first guess. With a GPS unit you could set it much more accurately. A tip is to leave the clear lense off for a few days and not to push the needles on fully until you are sure they are in the right place, they can be a bit hard to get off if they've been seated properly and leaving the lense off makes it easier to fine tune everything.

Recalibrating needle after changing instrument cluster dials

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:41 pm
by sliq
8) cheers for that garry