HVAC controls

[galantracer53]

So I have a 99 Eclipse GS and the HVAC control switch (temp control, fan speed, position) doesn't always light up. It will sometimes but then if I turn any of the knobs or go over a bump it'll go off. I believe it's a ground issue but can anyone tell me where it's grounded to?

Any help would be awesome!

 

[spyderdrifter]

Just remember that the gauges will need to be recalibrated afterward since the needles have to come off.

Mine is a GST, but I will be converting it to a GSX Spyder one day. After I find a good enough donor car. But that's the long term project plan along with the engine I'll be building for it next year after I move and get settled again. Will be buying a N/T Talon from a friend as well (manual trans), but that'll just be my DD while the Spyder gets AWD and everything else.

 

[galantracer53]

How do u recalibrate the needles?????? And yeah that's what I plan on doing. I wanna get a gsx and pretty much build my 10 second fast and furious dream car with it

 

[spyderdrifter]

There's a couple ways, but the best way, would be to have a professional shop do it that can handle such a task. The way I'm doing it for my friend is installing it in my car after it's completed, and since I have a scanner that reads MPH, RPM, engine temp, and other things, I'll be able to reset the needles while driving the car and monitoring the scanner. Although, I'll have DSMLink next month and will be able to set the boost, oil pressure, and fuel level gauges as well, so won't have to use the scanner.

Using a scanner like this or DSMLink is probably the best ways to do it. And cheapest.

 

[galantracer53]

Is there any way to sand it without taking the needles off???

 

[spyderdrifter]

No. You could put the sand paper back there, but it won't do much of anything. And it helps to wet-sand them. I wouldn't recommend not wet-sanding.

 

[galantracer53]

Hmmmmmm and is there anyway to reset the needles by hand????

 

[spyderdrifter]

One thing I read a while back was to lift the needles (this only applies to speedo and tach) over the needle stop peg and let them swing down and settle pointing to the bottoms of the gauge. Then mark where they stopped and place them in the same location when reassembling, then lift them back over the peg. As for the other gauges, not to sure.

 

[galantracer53]

For the coolant temp I could just put it back on the peg?? And for the gas could I mark where it is and put it back there? Or would that not work....

 

[spyderdrifter]

The fuel gauge might work that way, but I don't think the temp gauge would. It is similar to the tach and speedo where at rest, the pin the needles are attached to, still want to continue in that direction (if that makes sense). So at rest, the gauge "uncoiling" isn't done. There's still tension in order to keep the needle planted on the peg. I got one of my spare clusters right here, let me take a pic or two to help with something else I thought of.

 

[galantracer53]

Okay and if I were to just put a blue led strip into it how much harder/easier would it be??

 

[spyderdrifter]

If you just put a blue strip into it, it'd just be dark and hard to see without the faces being sanded.

So for your two small gauges, if you took a razor and cut where I put the yellow lines, you could get away with not pulling those needles off, since the faces are held on with screws (blue). Obviously yours would be a little easier since you don't have as many needles, but same concept.

 

[galantracer53]

How would that help it though? If I cut it I mean and would it be able to be seen in the car???

Or would the gaps be covered up by something???

 

[spyderdrifter]

That is true, but it's an option. You could also cut along the edge of the needle base to help conceal it. The gaps wouldn't be covered if you do it like I showed, but if you followed the edges of the needle bases, it'll be better looking.

 

[galantracer53]

How would that help it?? Just by letting the blue light shine through it??? But would that make the gauge itself brighter?

And i have a chilton for it so maybe that'll have a way I can do it by hand. Or have u looked in there already??

 

[spyderdrifter]

It'd only be brighter you did cut it and then sanded. I personally wouldn't cut it, but just saying it's another option.

I got the Chilton, Haynes, and an electronic manual. None of them offer anything for this.

 

[galantracer53]

Yeah I'd prefer to do alittle more work and just take the needle off then to cut it and have it look badly

 

[spyderdrifter]

Another way, for the speedo and maybe the tach, is to follow someone who can set their vehicle to a specified speed and stay on cruise control. Then you match speed, set cruise, and then set the speedo. Then compare their speedo at various speeds to see if yours matches.

 

[galantracer53]

How would I set the speedo then???

 

[spyderdrifter]

Match their speed, set cruise control, then place your speedo needle at whatever speed they say they're at. Helps if it's a friend you can talk to on a phone while driving behind them.

 

[galantracer53]

Gotcha so I would adjust it while I was driving??? I think I heard the letting them dangle down freely think in the chilton too I don't remember what they said for gas or coolant temp tho

 

[spyderdrifter]

That's correct, while driving.

 

[galantracer53]

Gotcha. So either way I would have to sand them off to go through???? :/

 

[spyderdrifter]

Yes.

 

[galantracer53]

Hmmm that sucks :/ I guess I'll havta suck it up and deal with it. How hard is it to sand it off?

 

[spyderdrifter]

It's not too hard. It takes a little time, but that's if you want the redline marks and KPH markings to stay red. Which is how my friend wanted it for the white gauges. But if you want it all to be solid blue, then you shouldn't have any issues.