Temp/Fuel Gauge Painted

cinellipro · 06-17-2013, 09:41 PM

The temperature and fuel gauge cover can be pulled out by hand. I'm not saying you should do this as the part is not sold individually. I pulled it straight out (toward me) using my thumb and middle finger. Slowly, then I stopped pulling once it released itself to make sure nothing was attached behind it. I'm not saying you should do this. Nothing was attached. There are four square tabs on the perimeter of the cover that hold it in place, and they snap right back when pushed into place. I'm not saying you should do this, but I then masked the window of the cover and painted it black.
The job is not perfect, but the results are so much better than how it looked from the factory.
Now if only one of the carbon fiber vendors would create and sell us a snap-in cover for the rest of the bezel, Nissan could learn a lesson on how the instrument panel should have been designed originally.

Cheers

cinellipro · 06-17-2013, 09:45 PM

This is the carbon fiber cover we need to see on our instrument cluster.

Vichtz · 06-17-2013, 10:56 PM

wait so it just naps out with the holes from the fuel LEDs still in the dash? really? So i dont have to mask off the trough and each individual LED bulb? what did you paint over, any symbols?

cinellipro · 06-18-2013, 05:35 AM

Correct, the horizontal leds stay in place on the cluster, they ARE removable so be careful when pulling the cover off. Which as I mentioned earlier you shouldn't be doing, but if you do, the cover itself is all that comes out. There are only outline holes for the leds and are painted over. I only had to mask the digital read window. The outline of the fuel tank and temperature symbols are indented and still readable after being painted (during the day). So there should be no confusion about which are the fuel and which are the temperature symbols. At first, I did scrape off the bottom portion of the gas tank symbol just to keep it looking like it came, but I realized that the design came inherently flawed and bulky so why keep it. In my case, I prefer it with the silhouette look because it makes the gauge look more set back into the cluster and more natural (my opinion of course) with the rest of the layout. If there is confusion about identifying the top and bottom leds in the future...uh then you shouldn't have painted it.

Wonka2581 · 06-18-2013, 06:56 AM

Sub'd!! Nice work! Now CarbonSignal needs to step in, or any other carbon sponsor. I would like to see it in red carbon myself,

diddy535 · 06-19-2013, 09:58 PM

Anyone know of a way to mask off the lights on the top and corners? (not the fuel gauge but the "E" and "F" and markers on the top and the "C" and "H" on the bottom?)

GaleForce · 06-20-2013, 07:16 AM

I'm going to try to pull mine off so I can install a Blackcat Customs cover.

Cbtech · 06-20-2013, 07:46 PM

Well he is telling you that you shouldnt...

gurneyeagle · 06-20-2013, 08:03 PM

So if the silver pre-2013 snaps off, shouldn't the black 2013 do the same? If so, can you just order the 2013 part?

Irregardless, excellent post even if we really shouldn't do it!

GaleForce · 06-20-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gurneyeagle

So if the silver pre-2013 snaps off, shouldn't the black 2013 do the same? If so, can you just order the 2013 part?

Irregardless, excellent post even if we really shouldn't do it!

I'm told Nissan sells the cluster as a whole, not individual pieces. I haven't verified that information with my dealer though.

06-17-2013, 10:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Vichtz Track Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Unknown Posts: 538 Drives: PG 09 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 13	wait so it just naps out with the holes from the fuel LEDs still in the dash? really? So i dont have to mask off the trough and each individual LED bulb? what did you paint over, any symbols? __________________ очень быстро ... Stillen Gen 3 CAI// Stillen CBE// B&M SS with PWJDM Shift Knob// Custom OCC// Drilled/Slotted Rotors//Halo/painted Headlights// Under-hood dress up

06-18-2013, 05:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
cinellipro Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: florida Posts: 102 Drives: 2009 370Z Rep Power: 13	Correct, the horizontal leds stay in place on the cluster, they ARE removable so be careful when pulling the cover off. Which as I mentioned earlier you shouldn't be doing, but if you do, the cover itself is all that comes out. There are only outline holes for the leds and are painted over. I only had to mask the digital read window. The outline of the fuel tank and temperature symbols are indented and still readable after being painted (during the day). So there should be no confusion about which are the fuel and which are the temperature symbols. At first, I did scrape off the bottom portion of the gas tank symbol just to keep it looking like it came, but I realized that the design came inherently flawed and bulky so why keep it. In my case, I prefer it with the silhouette look because it makes the gauge look more set back into the cluster and more natural (my opinion of course) with the rest of the layout. If there is confusion about identifying the top and bottom leds in the future...uh then you shouldn't have painted it. Last edited by cinellipro; 06-18-2013 at 05:38 AM.

06-18-2013, 06:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
Wonka2581 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 3,083 Drives: MY WIFE CRAZY.... Rep Power: 2611	Sub'd!! Nice work! Now CarbonSignal needs to step in, or any other carbon sponsor. I would like to see it in red carbon myself, __________________ "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat""Winston Churchill"

06-19-2013, 09:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
diddy535 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 789 Drives: '09 370Z RAE 6MT Rep Power: 14	Anyone know of a way to mask off the lights on the top and corners? (not the fuel gauge but the "E" and "F" and markers on the top and the "C" and "H" on the bottom?) __________________ ( Click to show/hide ) http://www.the370z.com/members-370z-...ys-thread.html

06-20-2013, 07:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51864	I'm going to try to pull mine off so I can install a Blackcat Customs cover. __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

06-20-2013, 07:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cbtech A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,372 Drives: 40th Anniversary Rep Power: 15	Well he is telling you that you shouldnt... Dsevast likes this. __________________ Are U in Sacramento or Central Valley California? Click here! Foglight Hardwire in less than 10 minutes! DIY: Automatic VDC off

06-20-2013, 08:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
gurneyeagle A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Houston/Saint Augustine Posts: 2,681 Drives: '18 Audi TT RS Rep Power: 20214	So if the silver pre-2013 snaps off, shouldn't the black 2013 do the same? If so, can you just order the 2013 part? Irregardless, excellent post even if we really shouldn't do it! __________________ Waiting on the Z35! SOLD - 2011 Gun Metallic Touring 7AT w Sports Pkg & Nav, Nismo Bumper and Rims, RC Grille, RC Brake Ducts, H&R Spacers, Painted Door Hdls, GTR Start Button, Nav By-Pass, EVO R Fog Light, CF Ducktail, CF Interior Trim

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