Thread: HOW TO: In-dash aftermarket temp gauge

There was no point in keeping the stock gauge since its basically useless (IMO).
So I set out to find a gauge to replace it. I decided on an Autometer digital display.







Since I was replacing the stock gauge and sensor I needed an adapter to put the aftermarket sensor in the stock location. I found this on ebay.








First you need to get your cluster out to remove the stock gauge. Just disassemble it and its just a few screws to get the oem gauge out.







The AM gauge I got was too deep to mount it below the clear plastic cover (unless you decide to hack the gauge itself or stick the guage through the back of the cluster) I wanted to leave the circuit board on the back of the cluster intact. Which is why I cut the clear plastic.






I found that drilling will crack the plastic... a hot knife is what you want. Just make sure you are cutting in the right spot. Since I did not have a "hot knife" I used one of my soldering irons.
This is the longest part of the process for me since I didnt want a hole too big.









I also had to enlarge the hole for the gauge.






At this point I tested it to make sure it was working before I began to wire.




This is were I began to wire it up.
Having a multimeter handy would be useful.












With that part done. I tested again with a 9V battery.




Then installed the sensor.
Run your wires to your sensor.
Install your cluster.

Enjoy.

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Looks great! You did a nice job making it look clean and pretty dang OEM-like.

Well done, sir.

All the videos should be embedded now.





Thanks!

Sweet!

Note for those attempting this mod:

You could also consider a hole saw to cut thru the cluster cover, or use a Dremel tool.

Nice.

I've got a few questions. Maybe you know or can easily measure.

That looks to me like a B14 cluster, and you have NX in your name itself. Not sure what cluster I am looking at? Is that a B13 cluster, or is the B13 cluster essentially the same as B14, in particular in dimensions?

Exactly how big in diameter is the stock gauge?

What is the depth dimension of the stock gauge?


How much depth (distance/height) do you have above the surface of the cluster before the clear plastic cover? Ie...between the cluster surface and the plastic cover?

How deep can you flush-mount the gauge before you hit the circuit board? Is that a different measurement from the depth of the stock gauge itself? Or is the stock gauge about as deep as it could go?

Appreciate any additional info.

That's a b13 gauge cluster. B14 came with a digital speed sensor. So I'd actually say that's a b13 ser cluster.(se had a digital sensor as well)

Its my B13 NX2000 cluster.

The hole through the black faceplate was close to 2" diameter so it didnt need much to get the hole to 2-1/16" for the gauge.

I cant seem to find the stock gauge yet, so im not sure.

You can see in the finished video there is a gap b/t the clear plastic and the faceplate, its angled so the best bet would of been if i sharpie'd the body that shows there so its not noticeable. I cant get accurate measurements without pulling it all back out, and I dont feel like doing that right now.

Theres no telling how much/little space inside the gauge itself is taken up, it may be possible to remove the housing off the gauge and make it look even more OEM, but I didnt want to risk the gauge if that didnt work. The biggest problem is the "lip" of the gauge. its half the reason i put it through the clear plastic. (the other half is the flexible circuit board)

Great how-to! I wonder if it'd work to pull the plastic cover and mount the gauge inside and then put the plastic back over the top.

VDO gauges work well for this.

Boost gauge in my NX.

Volt gauge I did for Happynole

OP & WT gauges in my Miata

C