6G Celicas Forums

Hi guys, nice to meet you! What an informative forum!!

I know this topic has been covered a million times but I have some annoyances and problems I've not managed to pinpoint or diagnose quite well on my 94 EU Celica GT. I have a number of issues with the "indiglo" or similar type faceplate that the previous owner had installed:

1) The speedometer reading is WAAAYY off. I think that this is because the previous owner installed faceplates reading in MPH (till 180mph) whilst the stock gauge reading was in KMH (till 180KMH - like JDM models) so when doing around 60KM/H its actually marking around 100KM/H - not practical. More on that later.

2) The faceplates are hooked up to a custom on/off switch and dimmer. This isn't a problem, as the faceplates do light up, but the most annoying thing is that the stock bulbs located in the gauge cluster assembly itself don't light up when the headlights are on, hence the needles and odometer/trip odometer are pitch black at night - not practical paired with the above point. I also want to add that the OEM dimmer located on the left side on the ignition plastic panel was connected, but still no lights on the needles. All other dash and centre console lights such as A/C, handbrake warning, oil level, door ajar lights, etc work normally, even with the OEM dimmer switch disconnected. (is this normal???)

There also seems to be a resistor of some sort hooked up with the green wire going to the socket of the dimmer, and I don't know what purpose it serves.

So to get to the point... Can I remove these aftermarket faceplates to reveal the original stock speedometer to restore accurate reading and get it hooked to light up normally? Is it normal that the needles and trip odometer do not light up when using these faceplates, or is it the OEM dimmer switch fudged? I'm no good with electrical stuff, so is it better to just take it to an electricians shop to sort it out? I can provide pictures if they might help.

Thanks in advance!!!

1 - http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=64785 , PM me your e-mail, I'll send you the files

2 - That resistor looking thing might be cutting off the power to the dimmer, resulting in the bulbs not working. Take a picture of it. Might be as simple as removing it to fix all your problems. The previous owner probably did this so the OEM bulbs don't mix up with the indigo lights.

A very informative post indeed, I read it a while back and I must say its excellent, but I don't feel confident with tinkering on that level I also don't know if that method will be capable of adjusting with that much difference in reading though. Do you by any chance know if its possible to take off the aftermarket faceplates to reveal the original ones underneath or it was required to remove the original ones before?

The one I have right now is this



This is it lit up:



As you can see the odometer and needles are switched off

Below is the resistor I mentioned:

resistor

Should I just try to remove it?

bump?

The oem gauge faces underneath are gone.

In order to get the speedometer reading correctly you have to install it while it is operating. The easiest way would be for you to remove the plexiglass cover on the cluster(requires having the surrounding trim pieces off), and reinstall the speedometer needle to face 60 while the car is traveling at 60 miles per hour(use a friend in their car or gps on your phone to verify speed). If you install the speedo needle without following this step it will not read correctly

I've seen people installing aftermarket gauge faces over the original ones, you will have to check for yourself, if yours are still under there.

I missed the part where your car is limited to 180 km/h, doesn't matter how much you calibrate, it may be calibrated right, but that face will not show you the exact speed.

That does not look like a resistor, but rather a wire split box. It's probably for the power of the indigo gauges.

Have you actually opened the cluster to see, if the stock bulbs are inside?

But how likely do you think it is that someone went to all the trouble of building a pulse generator or drove the car down the freeway with various parts of the cluster removed to set the needle accurately? If you install the needle without performing one of the two options listed above your speedometer will not read correctly. The needle actually trys to point below 0mph when the car isnt driving.

If I ever get around to installing my indiglo gauges I will see about making some cheap pulse generators that will pulse at a specific speed so that you can accurately set the needle without the cluster in the car. Then we could have them as loaner tools for the community. I think Smaay had made something with an oscilloscope to set his, gonna have to do some digging...

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: May 7, 2014 - 11:46 PM

Originally, all the Celis we got here came with the same speedometer faceplates as used in the JDM versions - speedo came in kilometers per hour and the maximum mark on the faceplate only goes till 180km/h. The previous owner decided it would be a good idea to install the aftermarket faceplates which read in MPH up till the maximum of 180MPH, hence that is why the reading is now way off most probably.

I'll guess I will need to disassemble the whole cluster to check if the original faceplates are still underneath & the stock bulbs are still there. What a mess!

Sooo I happened to find a perfect speedometer from a junkyard and was thinking of getting it, however there's only one problem... it has over 50000 km more than mine. Would it be possible to reverse the odometer to match it with the one I have?

i had that speedo in my last GT. i agree it is disgusting looking lol

some garages can roll back mileage on a car. u might have to go to a "less than legit" place to roll it WITHOUT them putting a sticker in your car saying the mileage has been messed with though. and yes... there are places that roll back/forth mileage for legitimate reasons.

other solution is to get a speedo as close to your mileage as possible.

either way. its going to be long winded.

Well i've managed to sort it out finally, let's just say these things are real easy to "manipulate", so i've matched up the mileage (didn't cheat mind you), hooked it up and viola, as good as new. I agree, the indiglo gauges I had were terrible... first of all the speed markings don't line up properly so you never knew how fast you were going AND to top it all off you can't use the original bulbs because of runoff light, hence, needles and odometer never lit up. A terrible mod if you ask me.