Indiglo DIY - (Pics/detailed instructions)

[Matt Whelan]

Indiglo Installation - Do it yourself (DIY)

Required Tools: Philips Head screw driver, flashlight, tape, and patience.

1. First off, DO NOT REMOVE ANY NEEDLES AND BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK THEM!!

2. Remove the plastic under dash cover. There are 3 screws that you need to unscrew.
--> The first one is on the far corner just above the gas pedal.

-->To access the second screw you must pry out the courtesy light control switch. Once you've done that, carefully unscrew the screw behind it. Now unplug the green plug.


-->Find the hood release lever. The third screw is under it. Unscrew it.

3. Now carefully remove the plastic under dash cover and set it aside.

4. Unplug the plug (green) from the underside of the instrument cluster.



5. Now unscrew the instrument cluster frame from underneath. There are 2 screws, one on each outer side of it.


6. Begin to remove the black cluster frame by pulling it towards you. You will notice that there are wiring harnesses connected to it. Unplug the sockets of these wiring harnesses and then completely remove the cluster frame and set it aside.



7. Unscrew the 4 screws holding in the instrument cluster. (These are kind of further back. Don't mistake them for the screws that are holding on the clear plastic in front of the gauges.) There are 2 on each side aligned vertically.



8. Start to remove the instrument cluster. Now like the cluster frame, you will notice that there are wiring harnesses connected to it. Unplug the 3 harnesses from the back of it and now completely take the instrument cluster out.

9. Now take apart the front of the cluster. By "take apart the front of the cluster", that does not mean try to remove just the clear plastic. Do some searching and you'll find some parts that snap in and out. Snap them out and then raise the cluster upward.



10. Carefully remove the instrument frame.



11. Place the new gauges over the old face. It helps to kind of bend them so they bow. It will be much easier to slide the needles through once you do this.



12. The fuel and temperature gauges are a little harder to since they are smaller. For these you must really fold the gauges into taco-like shape and place them over the needles. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BREAK OR POP OFF THE NEEDLES!!



13. You must drill holes through your instrument cluster (2 holes)
preferably from the bottom, and run the 4 indiglo wires through the holes. Of course run the left two wires through the left hole and vice versa.



~While installing everything back in, keep in mind to connect all of the harnesses back. Its a pain to get everything put back in and then having to take it all back out, and then back in again.~

14. Now reinstall instrument cluster and put back into car. Run the indiglo wires down through openings behind the cluster/dash. If you cannot find the openings, get a flashlight and shine it through the back of the dash and find where the light shines through. You now have a place to run the indiglo wires.

15. Once the indiglo wires are run through the back of the dash connect them to the wires coming from the transformer. They will snap together. Now mount the transformer somewhere.

16. Now install everything back on except the plastic under dash cover.

17. Now, If you have an LS model, just insert the stripped wire end(red) into the back of the plug of the courtesy light switch (pic). Just test each one (there are 8 or so) to see if the gauges light up. (be sure to ground the black wire first before doing this test. The ground I used was the bolt connected to my OEM Keyless Entry Brain. Now tape (or T-Tap) the red wire to the factory wire that worked on courtesy lights.



Now if you don't have an LS, then just do the same to the instrument control dimmer plug. It should work the same.

18. Once you get it to work install back the plastic under dash, the courtesy light switch, and the 3 screws. Also, make sure you have the dimmer switch coming from the transformer where you want it to be.

I hope everything goes successfully. Install/uninstall at your own risk. Acura-legend.com is not responsible for any accidental damages caused during this modification. If you have any problems feel free to post on the forums. Thank you.

Matt Whelan
Owner/Administrator Acura-legend.com


This will soon be a part of the DIY section of my site(not forum), so that is the reason for the info. right above this...Thanks guys.

[morbo]

Thanks for the detailed info man! I'll keep this in mind when I install my gauges, thanks a lot for all the hard work!

[Koji_H]

EXCELLENT TUTORIAL!!! I have my reverse indiglos from the original group buy sitting in my closet to this day. Now I have no excuse to not bring them out.

Would it be OK if I link to your tutorial on LEGENDtuner?

[Matt Whelan]

Originally posted by Koji_H
EXCELLENT TUTORIAL!!! I have my reverse indiglos from the original group buy sitting in my closet to this day. Now I have no excuse to not bring them out.

Would it be OK if I link to your tutorial on LEGENDtuner?

Sure! I will have it on this site though soon where it will be linked at the top of the page. Its up to you I guess.

I can't take full credit for this though. legends_got_it was the one who took the pictures and wrote out partial directions that he emailed me. I kind of just made them gramatically correct and added information and answers to some additional questions that I know anyone would have when doing this project...

[Triton3K]

Wow, that is definately a great tutorial and now it has me thinking about getting the indiglo gauges. I guess i'll just wait and see.

[mYbabYLeGend]

WoW matt that is great, why didnt you have thiswhen i installed my indiglo , i like how you put pics and every detail.
-hass

[Kiwi]

Most excellent Matt!!
I have a question. I will end up with white needles over a white background during daytime. Should I paint them red? How about fingernail polish? Modellers paint?????
Thanks

Chris R

[mYbabYLeGend]

[HATE_ME_NOW]

I connected my indis' wires to where the old lights' wires where connected to, i had to cut out the old wires and soider the indi wires, gives me the same control of dimming the indis' like the old cluster lights

[shahavchik]

Originally posted by HATE_ME_NOW
I connected my indis' wires to where the old lights' wires where connected to, i had to cut out the old wires and soider the indi wires, gives me the same control of dimming the indis' like the old cluster lights

Is it hard to do. Can you explain how you did it? any pics?
what about on/off button? Where did you put it?

[ZGhost]

Great tutorial Matt. One thing I wish you would have elaborated on is: what makes the gauges stay in place and not move around! Also, what to do if the needle becomes stuck due the temperature extremes causing the gauge face to bow outwards.
One last thing what do you do about existing lights to get the best indiglo experience. Hopefully you can still edit and add this info as I think it’s extremely beneficial. Excellent job buddy. Keep up the good work. Thanks

[B+O]

GREAT MATT...and thanks for makin sure your hands were kempt i love the pics Very Magazine quality and very thorough

[assmaster]

what kind of paint did you use to paint the garnish around the gauges silver?

[Dethred]

Bump

[theasiangenius]

where did you get the guages from?