I just swapped a USDM SI cluster into my 97 EK and the RPM gauge only lights up to 7500rpm, from 7600rpm to around 9000rpm, it doesn't light up like the rest of the RPM cluster. It has a D series motor w/ an automatic tranny and the motor only revs out to 7500rpm.

Is it just a coincidence that the RPM gauge only lights up to the redline of the engine? I've change all the stock bulbs out with bulbs from my old cluster that I KNOW works fine but it didn't change anything.

Any thoughts of why this is? The gas and temp needles light up now after I switched the bulbs. I also think the cluster is kind of dim? My stock cluster lite up fine, a lot brighter.

Here is a picture:

 

Because the redline portion is not translucent like the other areas.

 

I've seen it light up on other SI clusters, hence why I was concerned something was wrong with mine.

 

they scratch the paint off the back and then the light comes threw.

 

Wouldn't that make it light up a whitish color? That'd make it worst lol.

Anything I could use to scrap it off? Nail polish remover doesn't work.

 

Unless you have a tune and motor setup to go beyond the stock redline, why even bother??

 

Because when I K swap it, it's gonna rev higher than 7500rpm. I wouldn't care if I was leaving the D series motor in it.

Any suggestions?

 

......so I'm guessing you're planning on "taching out" all the time when you're behind the wheel?

 

Are you serious with that dumb *** question? lol I just want it to look like the rest of the cluster mainly, nothing about "taching out" all the time. Thought it was simple to understand from my post.

 

if you're so concerned about redlining the car at 7500RPM, just get yourself a 5" monster tach from AutoMeter and be done with. It's still cool in some parts of the United States.

BTW, I already told you what the deal is with the redline part of the tachometer. Do I have to repeat myself? Because the redline portion is not translucent like the other areas.

Good luck with that K-swap of yours. Might want to deal with the auto->manual swap first.

 

Lol @ an autometer tach gauge,

Do you not understand I'm asking people how they remove the paint from the back? Maybe I need to repeat myself on that?

Just come off my thread since you're not helping with what I'm asking, K thank you.

 

I was wondering on how this would be done aswell. If you find anything out let me know plz

 

Bunch of dicks in here always downing on people with plans to do **** since they haven't done it yet. Been seeing too many of these "you're never going to do it" type posts lately.

Anyways, you should be able to lightly scrape the back side of the gauge face until it looks translucent. With a razor, knife, or something like that. You don't want to scrape too much though or you will make it completely clear and it will just show the regular light through. At least that's how it is on a 92-95 cluster.

 

Same idea

 

I've never messed with an Si cluster, but I thought the bulbs actually had those orange "condoms" on them which provide the color, not the gauge overlay. This would make scraping the surface off retain the color.

?

 

You must be new here.


The answer was given in the thread already a few times, not to mention, search, search google, search youtube, search H-T; otherwise don't ask silly questions and get mad when people provide just as silly answers.

 

the ones on the climate control do. the gauge cluster is just regular bulbs. there is a red film on the back of the cluster.

 

You really waste time to type that?

Anyway, here is how i fixed mine just now, here is the link:

http://www.ej8squad.com/thread-12735.html

Everything came out great, pretty easy to do IMO. The redline is brighter than the rest of the RPM gauge and other gauges in the cluster so that's why i'll probably take some time and do the rest of the cluster that way.

 

Use nail polish remover.

 

Yep, works like a charm.

 

Here's the final outcome:

Before in stock form:


After:


Picture taken with my Z10 camera so not the best but you can see it good enough. Rubbing alcohol works better than nail polish IMO, also leaves a cleaner surface. I also have the blue condoms on the 5 the bulbs.

To each their own.

 

Just recently did mine, both rpm's and si logo