Thread: How to change the color of gauge needles??

getting white overlays for my gauges. i want to change the color of my needles but i know theres something special about them how the light goes through and stuff. can you pop the needles off? and anyone know how to do this? thanks!

The needles will pop off if you get a fork or something under them and pry up a bit.

thanks guys. im looking to get the separate pieces one. not the whole compete gauge over lay. the one thing when i pop them off is how do you recalibrate them? and what would i use to paint? i want them red not a faded orange haha.

My friend recalibrate his by.
-Filling up the gas tank full, easy to know where that needle goes.
-Used GPS (while driving) to calibrate speed (get on some open high way lol)
-Used his computer to see what his RPM's were then put that needle on.
-And if you let your car sit for (eg 10 min) if your drive way, you can remember your engine temp, then do the same thing and stick that needle on.

Not sure if that's how everyone does it.. just going off of what I've seen (once).

Originally Posted by Colossus

My friend recalibrate his by.
-Filling up the gas tank full, easy to know where that needle goes.
-Used GPS (while driving) to calibrate speed (get on some open high way lol)
-Used his computer to see what his RPM's were then put that needle on.
-And if you let your car sit for (eg 10 min) if your drive way, you can remember your engine temp, then do the same thing and stick that needle on.

Not sure if that's how everyone does it.. just going off of what I've seen (once).

yeah it doesnt sound too fun but will probably be what i have to do if i take them off. still dont know how i would change the color though.

Originally Posted by Mad Monkey

why not just leave them on, put a piece of paper behind it and brush on new paint?

thats exactly what i was thinking. but i need to find some sort of clear colored paint or something. its just orange to red so nothing major but i think it would look good.

Originally Posted by Mad Monkey

check this out


RED 1oz Needle Paint for instrument cluster gauges : eBay Motors (item 360189793837 end time May-13-10 12:37:14 PDT)

yeah i saw that. i dont see why it wouldnt work. i just dont want it to prevent light from getting to them.

Originally Posted by Mad Monkey

kinda reviving this one a bit...

go to Micheal's, get yourself transparent glass paint - can get a multi cup pack for like $10 maybe..

wipe the bottom of the gauge with lacquer thinner then apply your glass paint instead, works like a charm, this is how im changing the whole gauge cluster to a new colour.. well that and a few other key secrets

nice! that sounds like it would work great. if you do it some pics would be great. what do you mean wipe it with lacquer thinner? what does that do?

Mad Monkey, what do you mean by wiping the bottom of the gague? dont you mean the gague needle?? and would it be the back of the needle, where the "orange/yellow" is? or are you changing the colour of the plastic gague cover?

be sure to update this with pictures!