re installed gauge needles and now they dont work

**JeremyL** · 02-09-2005 11:43 AM

so i took the needles off the try to fix my gauge cluster and when i put the needles back on none of them worked properly, the speedo is all jerky the tach doesnt even move and the temp gauge stays at C

how do i fix this?

**zoinks** · 02-09-2005 12:13 PM

Where the post goes into the needle there is a small plastic ring. Take a couple of tiny screwdrivers and gently push the ring down towards the face of the gauge. It's easy to tell when you get it on the tach because when you rotate the needle it should glide back to zero like has a bit of weight to it. It's harder to tell on the fuel and temp because they always have some resistance. When I scraped the film from the back of the face it took me several trys before getting them all to work properly. However, I didn't completely remove the needles. It seems that the WRX is particularly sensitive to removing the needles. Good luck.

**JeremyL** · 02-09-2005 03:16 PM

are you talking about the little black plastic snap ring or something in the gauge where the small metal post on the needle fits into?

**zoinks** · 02-09-2005 05:58 PM

It's that black snap ring that is a part of the needle itself. Since you removed the needles something else may be the problem. I've always heard bad things about removing the needles on Subarus. I've removed them on other vehicles before with no problems but subies are a bit tricky. I had to take mine apart a few times before getting them all to work properly. You can feel when the speedo and tach are seated good. The fuel and temp though are tricky because they always have some resistance to them. If worse comes to worse you could ship them to me and I could give it a go but that would be a pain in the ass for you.

**JeremyL** · 02-10-2005 06:11 AM

well its at the suby dealer right now to diag the problem so hopefully i can get it to be warrantied. if it aint ill just have to buy a used cluster

***Trainrex*** · 02-10-2005 06:29 AM

Unfortunately, once the needles come off, the cluster will usually not work correctly afterwards.

**JeremyL** · 02-10-2005 09:51 AM

then how do people install white faced gauges or indiglo gauges?

**zoinks** · 02-10-2005 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by JeremyL

then how do people install white faced gauges or indiglo gauges?

I think that you have to slide them over the needles. From what I've heard it takes some work to get it over the fuel and temp needles. Also you may want to look at an STi cluster. If you are getting the new one from the dealer, then they are going to charge a lottt of $$ for it. I've seen STi's going for $200-300. Good luck and hopefully they can fix yours.