silverado_dude said:
Will this be something I can work on, or should I take it in to be done by a professional??? As of now, I have no clue on what to do to replace this. :help:
We've done it 3 times ... simple explanation, make notes of all your gauges (very important), I even made note of mph at different rpms while driving ... pull off the dash trim (it snaps on and off) it's easiest to open the ashtray and start there, take out 4 bolts to remove the gauge cluster, unplug it (1 plug) take it to a table and remove the shield (slides on and off) remove the needles with the tool provided (be very careful not to break them, be gentle), remove the 4 pins, start on one side and remove the stock face by pulling on it, its stuck on with sticky glue. once it is off take out the trip mileage push button and clean the face up with alcohol or something, continue once clean and dry.
Reinsert the trip/mileage push button, take the new white face and peel off the backing, there are alignment guides at the top and left and right of the gauge, also you can use the needle and pin holes as guides. go slow, 2 people helps as one can help keep the other side from sticking too soon, try not to stick it on misaligned, if you have to pull it back up it can screw it up and peel off some of the numbers, once it is straight press it all down. Put the pins in ... Don't put the needles back on yet .. put the cluster back in and plug it in and start your truck .. now put the needles back on in the right places, the more time you took to document where they were the easier it will be to replace them.
Once the needles are back right put the shield back on and screw the cluster back in. Then snap the surround on and you are done. Again the better you document your gauge settings the easier it will be. I noticed when my truck was off and I turned it to ACC the mph gauge barely lifted off the pin, when you shut it back off it sat on the pin again. Also when your truck is off some of the gauges are at weird settings, then when you switch to ACC they are at different settings, and once running again at still differnt settings ... taking pictures with my digital camera was very helpfull.
It may sound daunting, but it isn't really that bad ...
