CAN'T READ INSTRUMENTS?

[GALVANIZEDYANKEE]

I have noticed that most Cruisers have gauges with black numerals and a white background. The 04 GT Turbo that I own has a silvery looking background with black numerals. At night the illuminated gauges are great. During the daytime, depending on the location of the sun, there is a shadow cast on the left or right side of the instruments. This is caused by the deep set back of the instruments, and the instrument hoods. This makes the shadowed side virtually unreadable, especially while wearing sunglasses. Turning the instrument lights on does not solve the problem. I have purchased glow gage faces for the car. This would have solved the problem. However, the glow gauge set for the PT Cruised has a gauge face with a 120 MPH speedometer. The GT Turbo Cruiser has a 140 MPH speedometer. The glow gauge faces are not made for the GT Turbo. I have taken a small LED flashlight and shined it on the gauges during the daytime. It eliminated the problem. I am now considering installing LED’s on the cluster inner instrument hoods. This will require removing the instrument cluster hood panel, which is major surgery. It requires removing the center panel cover and the top cover of the dash. Has anyone found an easy way of removing the instrument hood panel? How about a better solution to the problem?

[CREWZIN]

Al,

Instrument cluster reading has been discussed quite a bit. We all have trouble reading the dials when the sun is out, especially, as you say, wearing sun glasses. Taking apart the dash is not an easy job but has been done by a few owners. I have some pictures that one person posted but they are back on my home computer. (up in Virginia now visiting the grandkids) The LED lighting trick might just work. Hopefully someone will come along with the help you need in taking apart the dash.

Almost everyone reads the whole forum so I deleted your posting (same subject) in the feedback section but left it here and the Turbo section.