LED Gauge Install

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Ginger

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]This is for the 95-99 GMT-400 truck and SUV gauge clusters.l

Things you will need:
(6) 194 LED bulbs. color of your choice. The bulbs you want are available from superbrightLEDS.com. They are the WLED-x bulbs, they look like this.

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These bulbs provide the best light output for this application, they don't leave hot spots like other types of bulbs.

Tools:
-7mm nut driver, or a 1/4" 7mm socket and extention with a ratchet.
-Small flathead screwdriver

Start off by tilting the steering wheel as low as it can go. Also put the gear selector all the way down into 1. (you will need to have the key on to get it out of park)
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Then start pulling off your dash bezel. Take your time, you wouldn't want to break any clips.
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Be aware of the things that have wires running to them that mount to your bezel. Such as the headlight controls
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And the rear hatch popper and wiper controls for you Tahoe boys, or cargo lamp if you have a pickup.. Also if you have push button 4x4, you'll need to unplug those as well.
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Naked dash
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Dash bezel
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Next is to take out the four 7mm screws that hold the gauge cluster in place. Use the nut driver for this.

Cluster
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Flip it over to get to the bulbs you will be pulling out. There are six of them, and they all say "ILL" next to them
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On the left is the bulb you're taking out, on the right is the LED you'll be putting back in.
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**IMPORTANT** Before you screw the cluster back in, simply place it back where it goes, and then take the headlight controls off of the bezel. Then reconnect it to the wire you took it off. This will allow you to test your lights to make sure all the LEDs are facing the right way. If they do not work, pull the cluster back out and turn the bulbs 180°. They should work then.

Once you get them in and working correctly, simply put the cluster back in and screw the screws back in.
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Then reverse the process you did to get them in. Be careful as to not tangle or twist the wires that connect to the controls that mount to the bezel.

Everything back together, lights off
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Lights on
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How my gauges use to look (they were never that bright of a white, the picture makes them look better than they were)
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**NOTE: I also cleared my needles when I did this. If you plan to do the same, first take a picture of the gauges or draw a little diagram or however you choose so you can put the needles back in the exact same position you took them out. I used a kitchen fork to get the needles off, and nail polish remove to clear them, then some sandpaper to give them a "hazy" look. To get the clear plastic cover off the gauge cluster, there are tabs on the sides of the bezel than you have to release.

Here is what my gauges look like now, with red LEDs. Notice I also did my HVAC controls. Those take T1.5 bulbs, which are also available from superbrightleds.com. Installation for those are pretty much the same for the cluster. Remove the HVAC controller, turn it over and find the four bulbs that illuminate the face of the HVAC controller and replaced them the LEDs.

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Greg

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Awesome write up.
One Question: Can you just clear the needles when the truck is off, then you won't have to figure out where the needles need to be. Or do the needles placements get screwey when you do that?
 

willinthe985

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Is there a way to recalibrate the stepper motors? Seems that would be a better option then hoping the truck warmed up to the exact same conditions as before.
 

Ginger

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Awesome write up.
One Question: Can you just clear the needles when the truck is off, then you won't have to figure out where the needles need to be. Or do the needles placements get screwey when you do that?

well the guages rest on the needles so the will be uncalibrated

Is there a way to recalibrate the stepper motors? Seems that would be a better option then hoping the truck warmed up to the exact same conditions as before.

i dont believe so
 
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