How to remove the gauge cluster

45024 Views 13 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Manscape, Jul 26, 2020

Deltaphi216

Discussion Starter · Jan 28, 2010

This is in my Xterra, but your Fronty should be the exact same.
Tonight I decided to change the LCD screens in my dash cluster. I recently swapped white leds into the cluster and the screens are WAY too bright. I couldn't find a how-to on here for the cluster removal, so I took a few pics along the way. One of the nice things about this....all of the screws you take out are the same. you don't have to worry about keeping them separate.

tools needed to remove the cluster
- phillips screwdriver
- patience

1) remove the drivers side kick panel. It just pulls out from the side of the truck. I just pulled mine out a little since you don't need to remove the whole thing.

2) remove the trim piece directly above the kick panel. It just pulls out. I also pulled the weatherstripping away to get a better look at it.

3) remove the lower dash piece. There are 2 screws at the bottom, one on each side of the steering wheel. Pull the lower dash piece away completely. I KNOW, I still need loom up the wires in this pic.

4) remove the a pillar handle. pop the caps off each end and unscrew. the screws don't come out of the handle completely.

5) remove the a pillar. it just pulls away like the kick panel did.

6) remove the trim ring around the ignition. it just pops off

7) remove the upper dash piece. there are 3 screws, one on each side of the steering wheel, and one on the left side near the door. Lower your steering wheel to the lowest position. Pull out and up and lift the upper dash away.

8) remove the 4 screws around the gauge cluster. Unclip the cluster from the harness and you're done!

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wpittsley

· #2 · Mar 3, 2010

your white faced gauges; are they overlays and if so, did you do them yourself?

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Idleone

· #3 · Mar 3, 2010

wpittsley said:
your white faced gauges; are they overlays and if so, did you do them yourself?

2005-2007 Xterra Pathfinder Frontier white gauges 05-07 : eBay Motors (item 360189770716 end time Mar-14-10 11:29:38 PDT)

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wpittsley

· #4 · Mar 3, 2010

that's actually what I thought. I was looking at their youtube tutorial in between the time I posted and the time I read the response.

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eminex81

· #5 · Mar 3, 2010

Any pictures of the guages lit up to see how it looks with light shining through?

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Deltaphi216

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 3, 2010

i got my gauges here...it's the company as the link Idle put up, it was just a little cheaper then. I got them for $19.99 w/ free shipping.
2005-2007 Xterra Pathfinder Frontier White Face Gauges 05-07 - whitegauges.net

i don't have any pics w/ the stock amber dash but these will do.

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wpittsley

· #7 · Mar 3, 2010

those pics are nightime pictures with the white face gauges? they look great!
two questions; 1) what color LEDs are they and 2) do you have any problems at dusk or dawn seeing the difference between gauge face and lit numbers?

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Deltaphi216

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 4, 2010

1) they are white 1206 smd leds
2) there is a noticable difference between the white of the faces and the white of the leds. I haven't had any issues. I can't imagine that it's any different than a car that has a set up like this from the factory.

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nisracer

· #9 · Apr 14, 2010 (Edited)

nevermind i answered my own question lol.

guages look good though!

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ForsakeNxJT

· #10 · Aug 22, 2010 (Edited)

How Many LEDS to do entire Truck?

Just Wondering how many 1206 smt i need to do windows, locks, gauges, HVAC, and ignition ring. in 08 Frontier and best place to buy from.

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phunkfarm

· #11 · Sep 25, 2011 (Edited)

you said the LED's u used are too bright

If one were to swap oem amber to all white, what wattage bulbs are you recommending and what sizes to totally eliminate oem amber and not have it too bright to be visually correct?

Please be specific and tell us what exact bulb goes in what exact location so we wont have to experiment and can use your lead!

your white gauges look awesome and is my next mod.

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Deltaphi216

Discussion Starter · #12 · Sep 30, 2011

if you search around on here, there are some REALLY good how-to's for the interior leds.
there are NO bulbs in the gauge cluster. just leds. i used 1206 SMD's for mine, as did most of the people on here.

read through this thread and it will give you a lot of good info. the page i have linked will show you a pic of EXACTLY which leds you need to swap.

http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f9/blue-gauge-53802/index3.html

this one shows how to reverse the led screens
http://www.clubfrontier.org/forums/f9/partially-reversed-lcd-screens-55036/

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959frontier

· #13 · Oct 4, 2011

Think you need 3mm led, 5mm led, 1206 smd. The only places with an actual incandescent bulb is the ac controls, key ring, passenger glove compartment and auto gear select if I remeber correctly. Other then that it's all LEDs. They will still be dimmable with the dimmer knob in the gauge cluster.

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Manscape

· #14 · Jul 26, 2020

Deltaphi216 said:
This is in my Xterra, but your Fronty should be the exact same.
Tonight I decided to change the LCD screens in my dash cluster. I recently swapped white leds into the cluster and the screens are WAY too bright. I couldn't find a how-to on here for the cluster removal, so I took a few pics along the way. One of the nice things about this....all of the screws you take out are the same. you don't have to worry about keeping them separate.

tools needed to remove the cluster

phillips screwdriver

patience

1) remove the drivers side kick panel. It just pulls out from the side of the truck. I just pulled mine out a little since you don't need to remove the whole thing.

2) remove the trim piece directly above the kick panel. It just pulls out. I also pulled the weatherstripping away to get a better look at it.

3) remove the lower dash piece. There are 2 screws at the bottom, one on each side of the steering wheel. Pull the lower dash piece away completely. I KNOW, I still need loom up the wires in this pic.

4) remove the a pillar handle. pop the caps off each end and unscrew. the screws don't come out of the handle completely.

5) remove the a pillar. it just pulls away like the kick panel did.

6) remove the trim ring around the ignition. it just pops off

7) remove the upper dash piece. there are 3 screws, one on each side of the steering wheel, and one on the left side near the door. Lower your steering wheel to the lowest position. Pull out and up and lift the upper dash away.

8) remove the 4 screws around the gauge cluster. Unclip the cluster from the harness and you're done!

Hello! Will this disassembly allow one to change a burned out dashboard idiot light? Thank you!

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