Hi,

I realize that most of the posters on this board are of the male variety, so I apologize if I sound like a "stupid girl", but I have a couple of questions.

I have a 1991 Maxima SE w/159K miles, automatic - no modifications. A few months ago, my speedometer spazzed out. Since then, everytime I turn the key it reads anywhere between 25 - 45 mph. I start driving, and it either jumps all over the place, or sticks @ 125 mph. My mechanic tried replacing the speed sensor, that didn't fix it. I recently had it in the shop, and the guy says it's the speedometer head. He had received a couple of prices, the lowest of which was $225 for a new one.

I found (a used) one at cavemanautoparts.com for $60. How hard is it to change it out? I removed my dash about a year ago when I had to replace the 3 amp fuse in the back of the bose (after the AAA towing guy fried it trying to jump start my car). So I'm sure I can get it apart - and I'm moderately mechanically inclined - but I don't want to tear it open and not be able to get it back together correctly.

Another question; I've read through some of the threads here, and I see some discussions about the lighted guages. What's the difference between putting colored light bulbs in the dash and getting an 'indiglo needle kit'? It seems a while back I had seen quite a few of the needle kits on ebay for about $30. Now I only see a couple of them, one is $75 and the other has a opening bid of $50. I figure while I have the dashboard apart, I may as well at least replace the bulbs - and I thought the indiglo blue looked pretty cool, but why would someone spend $50-$75 on a needle kit when you can buy the light bulbs for much less? You have to take the dashboard apart either way, right?

I appreciate any helpful suggestions.

 

Hi,
i have a feeling your going to be thanked for searching first

as for indiglo needles, i dont know much about them. since you have an SE also, you can just replace the bulbs with a different color and it will show through.

to your speedometer problem, not to much of a clue, if its like mine, i would try getting a new gauge cluster or just the speedometer gauge, since it is electrical.

www.car-parts.com might be able to help you out with that.

good luck
MrGone

 

It isnt too hard to change out. If you go to craigs site I think he has a write up on how to take the guages out here is the link look under the clock repair for how to take the dash apart.

The colored lights look good but fade over time...or so I have been told...I have some of the apc ones and havent had them fade in the 5 months I have had them...you will need 4 bulbs if you do this.

do a search and someone has some reverse indiglos which look cool too (I just dont like how the center lights up)

 

I forgot..I have a guage cluster from my parts car I will take $50 shipped for...I will plug it up to my car first to make sure it works if you want it.

email me if your interested

awsm66@netdoor.com

 

I had the same problem with my temp guage. I took the cluster out and played with the needle until i got it to sit properly. Sometimes the needles dont sit right...you may just have to push the needle in a little bit or pull it out a little. I would play around with it before spending money on a new part.


just be careful not to mess with the other needles or the same thing may happen to them.

If that doesnt work I have a speedometer that works. I already took the odometer motor out of the cluster so if you want just the one gauge let me know i dont want much for it.
REMOVED personal info

 

i'm having the same sort of trouble right now. my speedo use to jump all over then just quit working. i'm going to try to replace the cluster first i think.

 

First of all, Welcome To The .ORG!! Second, NO question is stupid unless you didn't ask it in the first place and ended up burning your car to the ground because you tried to do it without doing any research (read - SEARCH)... but I digress!

A lot of people have had that problem. And it's been tracked to anything from the speed sensor to the gauge cluster to Sadaam Hussein in the dashboard! So, it sounds like you're moving in the right direction. You might wanna get the gauges from Mike (awsm66) or Dan (vyper0), though... sounds like it might be cheaper.

As for the lighted gauge thing, I've done both (see my sig) and although the needles are less suseptible to fading than simply putting in bulbs, they are a [insert expletive here] to put in... The indiglo gauges, on the other hand, are a lot easier to install. If you need instructions on either (as well as taking the dash apart), I'm sure I have mine around here somewhere... or you can get 'em from Craig's website too.

(and as a sidebar - I'm likely gonna sell my 2-color indiglo gauges shortly, as I'm upgrading to the 6-color ones, in case anyone's interested)

 

Thanks for the tips! And I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. I actually did purchase the speedometer head that I found on-line for $60 (it should be here next week), I just haven't decided whether to take it to the shop, or switch it out myself. (Ooops vyper0, I'm gonna be so bummed if your suggestions works!)

lol @ nubiannupe. I'm not positive, but I'm going to have to go with it not being Sadaam Hussein in my dashboard. I'm guessing he would have bailed about the time Alanis started whaling on his eardrums.

I took a look at the pics of your gauges - I like it! I don't think yours will work for me, though, I have the 125 mph speedometer.

And thanks for the link awsm66! I think I'm gonna give it a shot. I'll let you know how (if) it works! I'm with you on the reverse indiglos, it looks odd.