DIY: Red Gauge Needles (PICS!)
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
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From: NV
Rep Power: 813 
DIY: Red Gauge Needles (PICS!) Okay all, I've decided to fix something that was really bothering me for some time. I have an 02 civic, and the needles are a nasty orange color that don't match anything. So I went to find some translucent red paint to give them a nice red color. I ended up with that red taillight repair tape instead. Here's how I did it:
1) Gather some basic supplies. Take a piece of paper out the the car and try to draw a basic outline of the orange needle part. (You have to take off the glass part to do this, but not the whole cluster or indiglos.)
2) Take a long piece of tape and stick it on a piece of waxpaper. Then put this on top of the outline you drew. Gently cut out a piece using a new, sharp knife. This may take a few tries of cutting and fitting.
3) Take the pieces out to the car and start sticking them on. Fingerprints won't really show, but the tape is not very sticky. Use your nails to stick them over the orange part. This pic is before the DIY.
4) After you're done, it should look like this. You can see a tiny sliver of orange, but it's hard to get it exactly right. I'm happy with the way it turned out. As you can see, I also put electrical tape around the needle holes to cover up the stock silver gauges that used to come through the indiglos. I think they may be slightly dimmer at night, but it should be okay.
Here's a night shot. No difference in brightness.
1) Gather some basic supplies. Take a piece of paper out the the car and try to draw a basic outline of the orange needle part. (You have to take off the glass part to do this, but not the whole cluster or indiglos.)
2) Take a long piece of tape and stick it on a piece of waxpaper. Then put this on top of the outline you drew. Gently cut out a piece using a new, sharp knife. This may take a few tries of cutting and fitting.
3) Take the pieces out to the car and start sticking them on. Fingerprints won't really show, but the tape is not very sticky. Use your nails to stick them over the orange part. This pic is before the DIY.
4) After you're done, it should look like this. You can see a tiny sliver of orange, but it's hard to get it exactly right. I'm happy with the way it turned out. As you can see, I also put electrical tape around the needle holes to cover up the stock silver gauges that used to come through the indiglos. I think they may be slightly dimmer at night, but it should be okay.
Here's a night shot. No difference in brightness.
Last edited by gearbox; Nov 16, 2003 at 06:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Well, the stock lighting is red at night already. My mod is just to make them look red during the day (instead of orange). I don't think blue would work like that.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 I got mine from advance auto parts. I'm pretty sure any automotive store would have it. I'm just glad I didn't find the paint. It may have turned out sloppy.
--> When you cut out the needles, use a ruler to make a straight cut on one side. Use the edge of the tape for the other side. Makes it easier.
--> When you cut out the needles, use a ruler to make a straight cut on one side. Use the edge of the tape for the other side. Makes it easier.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 813 Okay, night pic is up. It looks just like stock in terms of color and brightness. Only difference is during the day you have red needles. It may be slightly dimmer, but not noticable to me.
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