A-Pillar 3 Gauge Pod Install (Creative Compacts)
08-17-2005, 12:34 AM
#1
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A-Pillar 3 Gauge Pod Install (Creative Compacts)
This is a do it yourself tech article to teach you how to install the Creative Compacts A-Pillar 3 Gauge Pod, and three gauges (optional at this point).
Install Time Without Gauges: 20 Minutes
Install Time With Gaues (just running the wires): 30 Minutes
Tools Needed:
Power Drill
Philips Head Screw Driver
Your Hands
Materials Needed:
Creative Compact A Pillar Pod
(2) Screws (included with the CC pillar pod)
(2) Screw Caps (included with the CC pillar pod)
OEM A-Pillar
Small drill bit (or unibit)
Step One:
Removing the OEM A-Pillar
Remove the stock A-Pillar by pulling the top of the pillar (pull towards the passenger side of the car). The pillar should begin to pop out (it is held on by two white plastic clips, and little slits at the bottom for it to rest properly), and work your way to the bottom pulling on it. Once both clips have popped out, begin to pull the pillar towards you (towards the back of the car), and kind of give it a wiggle till it gets free.
See the image below to see where to start removing the stock pillar
Step Two:
Checking Fitment
Place your Creative Compacts A-Pillar on top of the stock A-Pillar, and ensure it is a very good fit on the top, and bottom of the pillar.
See the image below to see how the Creative Compacts A-Pillar should sit on top of the stock A-Pillar
Step Three:
Securing the Creative Compacts A-Pillar Pod to the OEM A-Pillar
Now that you have the Creative Compacts A-Pillar adjusted to fit the stock OEM Pillar, you need to secure it to the stock Pillar. Place one of the supplied screws in your power drill, and drill it into the top hole first (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN), then drill in the bottom screw (DONT OVER TIGHTEN). Once this is complete, take a Philips head screwdriver, and tighten the screws a little bit to make it snug, but don’t over do it. I also recommend taking out the white clip closest to the bottom of the stock A-Pillar for a proper fitment later on during the install. (you can see what clip I'm talking about in step four's picture)
See the image below to see where the bottom screw gets screwed in
Step Four:
Creating Holes To Run Wires/Tubes
**NOTE** If you are not installing your gauges right now, you can skip to Step Seven, or you can do some of these steps now to make your gauge install smoother later down the road.
You will need to drill a small hole behind where each gauge will sit in the pillar to run the wires/tubes (depending on the gauge). To do this, place a small bit (or unibit) in your power drill, and drill 3 small holes towards the back of where the gauge will sit in the Creative Compacts Pillar.
See the image below to see where I drilled my holes to run my wires/tubes (and where I removed the white clip)
Step Five:
Running your wires/Tubes
You need to remove the black plastic panel below where your side view power mirrors control switch is (to the bottom left of the steering wheel, right above the hood release). You will now run all of your wires/tubes through the holes you drilled in the A-Pillar, and then run them down into where your removed that panel (if you have an rear-view auto dimming mirror, you will run your wires/tubes the same place that wire is run). Make sure you have enough slack to install the A-Pillar, and enough to reach the components that are required to install the gauges wires/tubes.
See the image below to see what panel to remove, and where the wires will be ran to
Step Six:
Installing Gauges
Attach all your wires/tubes to your gauges, and simply push them into the holes where the gauges sit. The gauges should sit very Snug, and don’t really need any other support to hold them, but it is a good idea to use whatever hardware your gauges came with to hold it in place even better.
See the image below for the Gauges in the A-Pillar
Step Seven:
Installing the A-Pillar
To install the A-Pillar, you are going to do just the opposite of how you removed it. You will need to start from the bottom, by aligning the 2 pegs with their slots. Once they are in their slots, you need to get the bottom left hand corner of the pillar to rest under the black felt (by the window). To do this, simply pull the felt up with your finger, and you will need to do this the entire way up to ensure the entire A-Pillar is resting under the black felt. While working your way up, you should be able to get the top clip to pop back into place, and the A-Pillar should be holding fine. Now, look towards the bottom of the windshield, and you will probably have a slight gap between the Creative Compacts A-Pillar, and dash. To fix this, you need to press firmly with your thumb, to get it to fit snug between the stock A-Pillar, and dash. Finally, simply push in one of the screw caps on the bottom screw, and the other cap on the top screw,
See the picture below to see the area I am talking about with pushing it with your thumb
Step Eight:
Enjoying the Pod/Gauges
Now that you have your Creative Compacts A-Pillar Install (with or without Gauges), enjoy the looks, and benefits it will have once gauges are installed.
** NOTE ** I still have not put the screw caps on the screws because I need to play around with my gauges. Just wanted to inform everyone that so they know the pillar will look even more like an OEM fit with the caps on the screws.
See pictures below for the final product installed:
My personal review of this product:
I give this product an A+. The reasons for this are the following. The price is right on the money, $59.00 plus shipping is a great price for this pillar. The fitment and color make it look like it was meant to be that way from the factory. Install was a breeze and not time consuming at all. Overall it makes the interior look 10x better. I believe James and the guys/gals hit it outta the ballpark on this one, GREAT JOB GUYS!!!
Install Time Without Gauges: 20 Minutes
Install Time With Gaues (just running the wires): 30 Minutes
Tools Needed:
Power Drill
Philips Head Screw Driver
Your Hands
Materials Needed:
Creative Compact A Pillar Pod
(2) Screws (included with the CC pillar pod)
(2) Screw Caps (included with the CC pillar pod)
OEM A-Pillar
Small drill bit (or unibit)
Step One:
Removing the OEM A-Pillar
Remove the stock A-Pillar by pulling the top of the pillar (pull towards the passenger side of the car). The pillar should begin to pop out (it is held on by two white plastic clips, and little slits at the bottom for it to rest properly), and work your way to the bottom pulling on it. Once both clips have popped out, begin to pull the pillar towards you (towards the back of the car), and kind of give it a wiggle till it gets free.
See the image below to see where to start removing the stock pillar
Step Two:
Checking Fitment
Place your Creative Compacts A-Pillar on top of the stock A-Pillar, and ensure it is a very good fit on the top, and bottom of the pillar.
See the image below to see how the Creative Compacts A-Pillar should sit on top of the stock A-Pillar
Step Three:
Securing the Creative Compacts A-Pillar Pod to the OEM A-Pillar
Now that you have the Creative Compacts A-Pillar adjusted to fit the stock OEM Pillar, you need to secure it to the stock Pillar. Place one of the supplied screws in your power drill, and drill it into the top hole first (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN), then drill in the bottom screw (DONT OVER TIGHTEN). Once this is complete, take a Philips head screwdriver, and tighten the screws a little bit to make it snug, but don’t over do it. I also recommend taking out the white clip closest to the bottom of the stock A-Pillar for a proper fitment later on during the install. (you can see what clip I'm talking about in step four's picture)
See the image below to see where the bottom screw gets screwed in
Step Four:
Creating Holes To Run Wires/Tubes
**NOTE** If you are not installing your gauges right now, you can skip to Step Seven, or you can do some of these steps now to make your gauge install smoother later down the road.
You will need to drill a small hole behind where each gauge will sit in the pillar to run the wires/tubes (depending on the gauge). To do this, place a small bit (or unibit) in your power drill, and drill 3 small holes towards the back of where the gauge will sit in the Creative Compacts Pillar.
See the image below to see where I drilled my holes to run my wires/tubes (and where I removed the white clip)
Step Five:
Running your wires/Tubes
You need to remove the black plastic panel below where your side view power mirrors control switch is (to the bottom left of the steering wheel, right above the hood release). You will now run all of your wires/tubes through the holes you drilled in the A-Pillar, and then run them down into where your removed that panel (if you have an rear-view auto dimming mirror, you will run your wires/tubes the same place that wire is run). Make sure you have enough slack to install the A-Pillar, and enough to reach the components that are required to install the gauges wires/tubes.
See the image below to see what panel to remove, and where the wires will be ran to
Step Six:
Installing Gauges
Attach all your wires/tubes to your gauges, and simply push them into the holes where the gauges sit. The gauges should sit very Snug, and don’t really need any other support to hold them, but it is a good idea to use whatever hardware your gauges came with to hold it in place even better.
See the image below for the Gauges in the A-Pillar
Step Seven:
Installing the A-Pillar
To install the A-Pillar, you are going to do just the opposite of how you removed it. You will need to start from the bottom, by aligning the 2 pegs with their slots. Once they are in their slots, you need to get the bottom left hand corner of the pillar to rest under the black felt (by the window). To do this, simply pull the felt up with your finger, and you will need to do this the entire way up to ensure the entire A-Pillar is resting under the black felt. While working your way up, you should be able to get the top clip to pop back into place, and the A-Pillar should be holding fine. Now, look towards the bottom of the windshield, and you will probably have a slight gap between the Creative Compacts A-Pillar, and dash. To fix this, you need to press firmly with your thumb, to get it to fit snug between the stock A-Pillar, and dash. Finally, simply push in one of the screw caps on the bottom screw, and the other cap on the top screw,
See the picture below to see the area I am talking about with pushing it with your thumb
Step Eight:
Enjoying the Pod/Gauges
Now that you have your Creative Compacts A-Pillar Install (with or without Gauges), enjoy the looks, and benefits it will have once gauges are installed.
** NOTE ** I still have not put the screw caps on the screws because I need to play around with my gauges. Just wanted to inform everyone that so they know the pillar will look even more like an OEM fit with the caps on the screws.
See pictures below for the final product installed:
My personal review of this product:
I give this product an A+. The reasons for this are the following. The price is right on the money, $59.00 plus shipping is a great price for this pillar. The fitment and color make it look like it was meant to be that way from the factory. Install was a breeze and not time consuming at all. Overall it makes the interior look 10x better. I believe James and the guys/gals hit it outta the ballpark on this one, GREAT JOB GUYS!!!
Nice, great install and write-up!
08-18-2005, 12:47 AM
#10
Senior Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 4,372
it is a plastic, but the color matches very well. you wouldnt be able to tell its not covered in the same fabric unless you sit there and look at it for a while. i deff recommend this product.
if anyone eles has questions about this, please feel free to ask me
if anyone eles has questions about this, please feel free to ask me
09-23-2005, 11:32 PM
#17
Senior Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 4,372
