like a complete dumbass.

so get the picture, i'm taking apart my speedometer cluster on my 2008 tC, alls good until i get to the end, i try to remove the actual plastic card with the numbers, in order to create a size and whatever else so i can make a custom one.
well my hand slipped, and hit my speedometer, and well...
when i'm going 40, it says i'm going 5, sound like a problem? does to me...
and then, i call up the local dealer, and the quotes me a price of 500 dollars to replace this, and i'm thinking, wow am i failure at life.
so i try to play it off like i didn't do anything wrong, and it is a warranty situation, so this should be fun driving around til monday with no working speedometer...

anyone else have any good stories that can make me feel better about myself?

or if anyone has a speedometer cluster that has different colored LED's in it... the orange just started to really ____ me off....

 

Wait, so did you actually take apart the cluster or is this just removing the cluster from the car? If you had the cover off and exposed the needles, then hit it by accident, you possily just pushed the speed needle down to far and it's sticking. And yes, there are people on here who can swap your LED's in your gauge cluster. I'm sure 3 of them will chime into this thread! one of them already has!

 

well it doesn't stick. it just kinda flops around, like i set it at zero, start up my car and it works, drive around for a lil bit with my subs going, and it drops all the way down and to the left, so it resets the base *zero* at the plastic on the bottom, rather then at the actual zero...

 

If you take it apart and move the needle, does it grind any?

 

so you dont think its just slipped to a diff. place on the stem?...its wierd how it works some but not other times...so electrical things *bass* affect it?...

 

and yes i've done several stupid things....most of them, i think to myself, make sure i dont do this..and then i do.....i cant count how many times i dropped bolts in the engine bay of my old car...they always landed in an impossible place to reach...

 

well if i take it apart again, i can move it to zero, and then when the subs hit, it vibrates it down... itz as if there is supposed to be a catch at zero so that it has a restart point, and itz as if i have broken that catch, because i tested the others after, and it allows me to move then up, but if you try to move them down, there is alot more resistance...

 

hmm..ok....maybe determine the actual zero point use some kinda of epoxy or gooey substance...not glue..in case you need to take it apart

 

gimmie a shout one engifineer@hotmail.com and I can try to help you figure it out, as well as give you some durned good pricing on an led swap if you need that I will email you back a link to where my stuff is advertised on the web so you can take a look around.

The needle itself has no catch. The catch is in the motor that moves the needle. The proper way to zero them when re-assembling is as follows:

1) Start needle in max position and barely press onto spindle
2) Turn needle counter clockwise, you will feel it catch a bit when the spindle hits the zero mark
3) keep turning the needle (it will be spinning on the spindle now)
4) Once it is back to its proper zero point, press it the rest of the way on. Make sure to leave about 1/8" or so gap between it and the board

That will get it properly zeroed again. If that doesnt do it, then you may have damaged the motor, but I would think the needle would break before the motor did. If you end up sending it in for an LED swap, I can see what I can do to fix the needle as well, if it is indeed broken.

It also sounds like you are trying to move them while it is powered up by some of the description, which is part of the issue. You wont be able to get it properly zeroed that way.

 

Long time ago while installing my underbody kit, I accidentally drilled a hole through my spare tire

 

see, ppl mess up, ur not the only one.

 

I have the best story about instrument clusters not working!

Years back when i had my Ford Ranger, i had an oil pressure gauge go bad. I was working at the Ford dealership as a technician so this was easy to replace. I ordered the part and they siad "it will be here later today." I remove the cluster and take it all apart. The part ends up not coming and i said "screw it, i'm not putting it back together." I was only a couple miles from work and just figured i'd stay in the right lane til i got home.

---Side Note...It's the middle of winter and it's 15 degrees outside.

I went home and the next morning, i get in my truck and it's slow to start. It starts and i'm off to work. I get 2 miles down the road and the engine shuts off. It restarts and i get 1 mile from work and it dies. CLICK CLICK...Nothing! I get out to pop the hood (leaving my jacket in the truck) and the locks decide to cycle on their own!!! Now i'm locked out of my truck and it's freezing.

I call my work and someone brings me a jump box and i have to leave it hooked up to the car. I had to leave the hood open and do 15mph back to work. As i'm almost there, a huge gust of wind kicks the hood up and nearly crushes the windshield!!! The hood was bent and the hinges too! I felt like the BIGGEST @$$! To make things worst, this happened in the middle of an intersection and i'm sure everyone was laughing.

Don't feel so bad! Come to find out that the charging system for that Ford Ranger runs through the Instrument Cluster! Hey FORD !!!

My Geo Prizm that i drive everyday has a bad speedo cable. I'm replacing it on Monday!

 

yeah man.. relax... sounds like you just pushed the needle in too far and you're just not re-installing it right.. or.. doing that at all..

just follow engifineer's instructions... but yah... yank off that needle first too and then follow the steps he put.