There were a few threads on this but nobody showed HOW it was done.

Prepare to be amazed! ... okay, enough with the jokes.

NOTE: You do NOT need to remove the steering wheel to remove the instrument cluster!

Follow the instructions in the service manual for removing the instrument cluster, minus the steering wheel removal.

The sections I followed were: "Body->Body - Service Information->Instrument Panel->Removal" and then ...
"Instrument Cluster->Instrument Cluster - Service Information->Removal" DO NOT bother with removing the steering wheel AND you can leave the battery connected. NOTE: It was not necessary to remove the dash, A-pillar or lower console. I simply unbolted/unscrewed the anchors of the lower console so I could drop it some and get out the section just above it. (I have a picture in this post showing what was removed.)

So I followed the steps and here are the pictures... I DID take the steering wheel off, but found it was unnecessary after the fact. DOH!

I have the steering wheel back in place and have had the cluster in and out a few times trying to get the right LED bulbs to work. I'll be waiting on yet another set I think.

Instrument Cluster after removing the clear lens. Be careful removing it, the tabs break easy (I know, I broke one!).


Release these black tabs to get the instrument frame off the cluster. Again, careful, it's just plastic!


On each side where the indicator lamps are located, you will need to remove all the bulbs first.


After the bulbs are out... like so.


You next need to open the side cover...


You need to lift the flexible circuit and prepare to feed it through the opening to allow the cluster to be removed from it's frame.


After releasing the clips around the plastic housing, you should be able to release and drop out the circuit board and lens cluster. And... you get this.


If you pull the needles straight off, you get this. Notice that the top of the needle is painted red. In theory, you could remove the red paint and use a different color. I did not.


Begin by carefully lifting the silk screened gauge overlay from the lens system.

 

More progress...


Viola! This is the part we are after!


UPDATE: At this point you CAN remove the bezel assembly from around the LCD displays and simply remove the green lenses. Take care to tip out the LCD screens from the top and just lift out the lenses and rest the LCD screens back.

You will want to use "Goo Gone" or something similar to remove the factory adhesive.


Using 400 grit wet-dry sandpaper I removed the green paint/ink from the back side of the overlay. Don't remove too much or you may remove the turn signal green like I did.


Here is the first spot... in the light.


More and more...


... and then in the light again.


All done.


I used some red model paint to color the "6" in the SRT6 logo.


From there I used some light spray on adhesive to re-apply the overlay to the lens. If you want to change the actual color, you could mask off the areas you don't want painted, like the turn signals and traction control indicator and use a light coat of semi clear colored spray paint. (Get the kind used for R/C car bodies as it has a built in adhesive to bond it to the clear plastic.)

UPDATE: Here is the cluster back in with the factory bulbs. (I think the one on the right is not lit.)


Last thing to note. There was black behind the red part of the fuel gauge. I sanded that off and found a light port right behind it without a light in it. I put a bulb in and will report back IF it lights when the other fuel light comes on.

Cheers!

UPDATE #2: Here is the cluster with my new UV LEDs installed. I've also included a false color image below that better reflects real life as my camera does not pick up UV deep purple. Check post #29 for specific bulb types and socket modification details for the UV bulbs.

Dang image limit... just click on the thumbnail below.

 

MMZ, thanks a lot!

Just think of all of the folks that will be burrowing into their dashes now.

I would love to do this. We'll see...

 

Great pictorial! Many thanks...........another project to tackle!

 

Excellent write-up! Thanks!

 

At this point could, you change the bulbs to another color?

BTW- great write up!

 

Cool, I always wanted to apply a small decal that says JAIL over the 160mph mark and color the needles! Not to sure of my self yo dig deep into everything else thougd

 

Yes, I'm currently working on getting purple LED bulbs that are bright enough. The set I have are very dim. So I'll keep looking. If I can't locate any bright enough, I will probably go with either the paint solution or colored film behind the overlay.

 

Suggest you look for leds that are purple. Woody

 

Good info and pics. I'm not sure that I want to do that much work.

 

Update: I put the cluster back in the car. Here it is with the factory bulbs. (I think the one on the right is not lit.)


(NOTE: The left gauge is pasted in from a different picture, resting the camera on the steering wheel for stability only gave me the center and one side at a time.)
I'll check tomorrow if the right bulb is lit, but overall it still came out really well.

Thanks for the comments. Any further questions you have, I'll be happy to answer.

I'll also update again when I get the next set of purple LED bulbs to try out.

 

Purple, eh?

That's what I wanted to do! Can't wait to see it! Looks great so far!

Have you noticed any rattling now that the cluster is back in the dash? That's the only thing that's stopping me from trying it..

Great work

-Eric

 

I have not noticed any rattling and I don't even have the dash all the way back together yet! LoL

I've left off the clear lens and two pieces of dash trim around the cluster for now. I'll probably order the LED bulbs tomorrow and try again when they arrive.

 

Glad no rattling issues!
Thanks for the info and the write up!
Keep it coming please!

Regards,
Eric

 

I was reviewing the service manual, do you have to remove the lower console assembly too?

 

I did NOT have to actually remove the lower console assembly. I did have to unbolt/unscrew most of it's anchors so I could drop it down and remove the upper part located just below the gauges and steering wheel column.

I updated the OP with this information. Hopefully it's a little clearer. I found a picture to post here to show what I had removed.



Hope that helps.

 

Holy $hit!

Awesome work, but I do not know if I am brave enough.

I bet ultra white SMD LEDs would look super clean in there....

 

MMZ, you're still the master dude.

 

amend to that....

 

Forever thankful for this thread!!! New project coming soon