Speedometer Needles [Color Available Chevy & GM]
ISS Automotive offers a wide variety of Chevy and GM speedometer needles in different colors. Choose from our selection of red, blue, or OEM quality needles. Our speedometer needles are easy to install and will give your car or truck a unique look.
Why settle for boring old black or white needles when you can add some color to your ride?
Click here to see our colored needle options > Gauge Needles
Where can I find Instrument cluster needles?
ISS Automotive has instrument cluster needles in stock that include different colored needles and bases for your Chevy and GM clusters.
If you want needles in different colors like blue or red, etc, visit ISS Automotive.
Where can I find custom Instrument clusters?
The best custom clusters can be found at ISS Automotive. A quick Google search will show other companies offering custom clusters but with a much shorter warranty. ISS Automotive offers a lifetime warranty due to our high-quality parts and testing process.
The Instrument Cluster is one part of a car that always gets damaged, so finding parts is quite easy for new vehicles and harder and older ones. There are custom-made instrument clusters available for sale all over the web and at ISS Automotive.
Be careful, though! There are a lot of parts being sold at a high price as "custom" when in fact they're just factory seconds that didn't pass the quality control. Different gauge manufacturers sell them directly on their website or you can search your local junkyard and see if they have any available.
Click here to search for your instrument cluster > Custom Options
How do you fix a broken speedometer needle?
If you have an instrument cluster with a broken speedometer needle, the first step is to determine if you need a speedometer needle at all.
Most late-model vehicles no longer have a single combined speedometer. There are at least two needles in the cluster, one for speed and distance, and another for oil pressure/fuel/temp, etc.
If you have a single needle speedometer, you need to determine if it's the actual speedometer gauge needle or the trip odometer function. If it's the trip odometer function, you need to see if all three small needles are broken or only one.
If it's a single needle speedometer and only one of the three small needles is broken, then yes you can fix it. If it's a single needle speedometer and all three small needles are broken, then no you cannot fix it.
So if you have a single needle speedometer and all three small needles are broken, the best option is to find a used gauge cluster. If you have a single needle speedometer and only one of the three small needles is broken, then an individual replacement of the broken needle is the best option.
The first step is finding a used speedometer needle. There are aftermarket companies that sell individual needles. You can find the exact same needle for half the price of a replacement from the dealer. Make sure the needle you buy is specifically for your make and model, as many needles fit many different vehicle types.
The second step is to determine what gauge needle you need for your make and model.
You can find this information by looking at an original or replacement needle. The stamped markings will tell you the correct gauge, range of motion, and the maximum speed for your vehicle.
The third step is to remove the needle from the instrument cluster. There are three small screws that hold the speedometer needle in place. If you're lucky, the screws will come out easily and you can pop the needle right off. If not, you need to use a pair of pliers to grip the needle and pull it out.
The fourth step is to attach the new needle to the back of the speedometer gauge. The needle is held in place with a small set screw. Tighten the screw and make sure it's secure.
The final step is to position the needle on the speedometer gauge. You need to make sure it's pointing straight up and down, otherwise, you can scratch your windshield.
Click here to read: GM Radio Repairs [Professional Built] >
What causes my speedometer needle to bounce?
Bouncing speedometer needles can be caused by a variety of problems such as faulty sensors, corroded electrical connections, and worn-out parts in the vehicle's speed sensor. The most common cause of a bouncing speedometer needle is a faulty speed sensor.
A speed sensor is used to detect the speed of the vehicle and send a signal to the electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU then uses this information to calculate the vehicle speed and activate the appropriate warning lights on the dashboard. Speed sensors are located on the transmission, differential, or wheel hub.
If the speed sensor is not working properly, it can cause the speedometer needle to bounce. This is because the signal from the sensor is not being received correctly by the ECU.
Corroded electrical connections can also cause the speedometer needle to bounce. This is because the electrical signal from the sensor is not being received correctly due to corrosion.
How do you remove a needle from a speedometer?
If the speedometer needle of your instrument cluster is broken or cracked, then you have to replace it with a new one. You can purchase needles from a local auto parts dealer or shop online.
Once you have the new needle, you need to remove the broken or cracked one. You can do this by heating it up with a hairdryer, and then cooling it quickly. This will loosen the glue or adhesive bond holding the needle in place. Once this is done, you can easily remove and replace the needle.
Please do keep in mind that you need to be careful when removing and replacing needles as they break easily, so be gentle.
Once you have replaced the needle, you need to ensure that it is glued or sealed well in place. If moisture gets inside your speedometer, then the needle will not move and it will also cause rust to form inside your instrument cluster. To prevent this from happening, you need to use a sealant.
Other than this, you can also replace your needles with those that have more modern gas-filled designs instead of the common types as well as different colors like red, blue, green, yellow, etc.
These gas-filled types are more accurate than the older electric-type needles.
For more details on different types of needles, you can either check the owner's manual for your car or contact a local supplier of vehicle parts.
Click here to read: Chevy Silverado Instrument Cluster Not Working [Professional Built] >
Why does my speedo needle drop?
Before we go into why the needle drops, we need to understand how the speedometer gauge works. First, we need to know that the speedo is actually a collection of two needles. There's the big one, called the odometer (with numbers associated with it), and there's a small one, called the trip meter (with a scale of hash marks associated with it).
Inside the speedometer gauge, the housing is a thin piece of metal called a Bourdon tube. It's shaped like a flattened spring, and as it moves through the air it will twist. The twisting action of the tube is transferred to an internal gear with a small pin on the edge of it. This pin will move either the big odometer needle or the small trip meter bar. The pin is moved by the speedometer cable, which is connected to the drive shaft of your car.
Since we can't create a nice perfect circle with the drive shaft, we make up for it by using one of three gears in the transmission (final drive in four-wheel drive and rear-wheel-drive cars).
This whole mess is controlled by a white plastic ring we call the speedometer gear. This gear is attached to the output of your transmission and can be removed with a couple of Allen wrenches.
So why does the speedometer needle drop?
Now that we know how it works, we must understand friction. The speedometer cable (and the whole assembly) is hanging off the side of your car, and as it moves through the air the friction from the wind adds a load onto it.
This load is transferred down to the speedometer gear and causes the Bourdon tube to twist. The more you turn your steering wheel, the more it twists. Over time (and depending on the size of your tires) this twisting will cause the Bourdon tube to straighten out a little bit. This stretches it, and it won't be as effective a spring any longer. You'll notice that the smaller hash marks on your trip meter will move, and sometimes even disappear.
How to fix it?
If the speedometer needle drops it's an easy, cheap fix. You can buy a speedometer gear at any auto parts store for about $20 bucks. The only other thing you need is a wrench (or Allen wrench) to take off the nut holding the speedometer cable to the gear. Loosen it, take off the old gear, put on the new one with a little dab of grease for good measure, and tighten it back down.
Replace the cable onto the gear (not too tight), mark the position of the cable on the gear with a marker or tape, and pull it back off. Then remove the cable from the speedometer housing (pulling gently on the end connected to the transmission), and clean off all traces of old grease. Now hook it back up, and go adjust your speed as described here.
Just be sure not to over-tighten the cable, or it won't move smoothly. Other things you can do are adjust your tire pressure (if you don't have the factory specs) or buy new tires with taller sidewalls to reduce the angle on the speedometer cable. There are a lot of options to make life easier with these simple fixes.
Hope this helps!
How do you remove a speedometer needle?
A speedometer needle is attached to a cable. The cable runs back to the transmission and the odometer/trip meter. If you put the vehicle in neutral, the cable should disengage. Follow the speedometer cable back to the transmission or transfer case and disconnect it.
Just remove the needle, usually with a very simple clamp. It's tight but you can pull it free by hand.
You can use a paper clip or a small plastic zip tie to hold the needle in place. You might need to remove it with some needle-nose pliers.
If the needle is loose, you can remove it by hand. Just be careful not to break or scratch anything.
There's a small screw and locking mechanism on the back of the needle. Simply remove it to free the needle.
Slide a thin strip of plastic underneath the needle to hold it in place, then use pliers to gently pull the needle up. If you're pulling it from behind the speedometer face, be careful not to scratch anything.
On some models, the needle is fastened with two small screws on either side of the speedometer face. A few models have a small locking mechanism. You might need to use an old-school flathead screwdriver for this.
If you're removing the needle from the front of the face, be careful to not damage the face itself.
How do you remove a tachograph needle?
To remove the tachograph needle, use a flathead screwdriver. Massage the area around the needle with your fingers to heat it up a little. Take the screwdriver and carefully place it under one side of the needle, then push it up to loosen that side. Repeat this on the other side.
Once both sides are loose, you should be able to pull out the needle easily using your fingers. To put the new needle in, simply follow the same steps. Be careful not to touch the tip of the needle with your fingers, or it will get dirty and be difficult to read.
How do you remove a cluster gauge?
Instrument clusters or sometimes called gauge clusters are the gauges, speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, and other gauges of a car. This instrument cluster is very important in reading the vehicle's speed, fuel level, RPMs, and other vehicle specs while driving.
So you need to make sure it is working correctly. Like any other part, it has a lifespan. After some time, it starts to give the problem of not working or moving or even staying stuck. When that time comes, you have to take off the instrument cluster in order to replace it with a new one.
The following are the steps on how to remove an instrument cluster or cluster gauge:
- Prepare the replacement instrument cluster and be sure also to include all of its parts.
- Unplug the negative battery cable. This is very important to avoid accidents. Never perform any work on the instrument cluster while the car is running or while you are plugged into the battery.
- Remove all the screws on the instrument cluster. These are usually located under the switch pads or around the edge of the instrument cluster.
- Remove the instrument cluster by pulling it out or remove it and set it to the side for future repair.
- Once you have removed the old instrument cluster, you will check the connector plugs for any damage or problem. Also, inspect the wire harnesses to look for breakage or leakage. Replace any parts that are damaged like lights, fuses, and odometer gears.
- Check the oil pressure sending unit and be sure to replace it if you have a faulty one.
To reassemble the removed instrument cluster, you just simply do the reverse order. Please note that this is for repair or replacement so be sure to assemble the new instrument cluster exactly the same way you took it apart.
How do I reset my instrument cluster needles?
You can reset the instrument cluster needles by disconnecting the battery for 5 minutes. This is known as the 10-minute reset.
However, if you disconnect your battery for just 10 seconds, you reset all of the vehicle's computers, including the instrument cluster. The needle positions should be memorized for about an hour.
You can also reset the instrument cluster needle by pressing the trip odometer button or through your radio controls.
Follow these steps:
1. Disconnect the battery
2. Wait 10 minutes
3. Reconnect the battery and start your car
Your instrument cluster needle should be reset.
However, this method will not work for all vehicles. Please check your owner's manual to see if this is an option for your vehicle.
Where to find instrument cluster repair services?
Our company ISS Automotive offers instrument cluster repair, replacement, automotive-related products, and even custom gauge upgrades.
We have automotive technicians that are well experienced in the field of instrument clusters that help our customers. We have worked for over 30 years directly with manufacturers and have inside knowledge. This means your money will be well spent. We offer free shipping and we also give a limited lifetime warranty for most parts and services. Other sellers only offer 6 months to 1-year warranty. We ship all over the U.S and some countries internationally even shipping to united kingdom.
Just visit our site and choose category shop or use our search keyword to enter Instrument cluster or any related products and add to cart to check the shipping rate for your country. You can also request a quote by sending an email to support@issautomotive.com.
For more details, you can visit our website www.issautomotive.com