How to install a set of ES Protege gauges


In this installment of our how to section , we will install a set of ES gauges from a wrecked Mazda Protege, . This item was obtained on ebay for 20 dollars, . cheap huh ..... here we go ...

Here we begin with the factory gauge cluster that comes with the DX protege, You will notice that this item has no tach and is basically a budget item .. A good idea is to get a set of Es gauges and check this site and get them installed urself,. ...

the first thing that you will want to do is remove the middle cover , this has two screw in it that will require a 8mm socket or a phillips screwdriver . Then pull out the cover and place it and screws in a safe place...

you will need to get the black cover off to do so , first remove these 2 screws
After the screws are out then you take a screwdriver and place it gently where this is placed and then prop it up and then the dash will pop right out and you can pull up the dash (black part) . Be careful when pulling this up as you have plugs connected on the other side placing the screwdriver here , you can loosen the paneling for the black cover of the dash ,.
when you are fnished loosening the cover so you can pull the top , you will need to unplug these plugs ,. The defroster,lightdimmer and hazards can be disconnected here. You will also notice the car comes with pre wiring for different items suck as clock and door lights.. cool huh .. you will need to remove these plugs so that you can get the black cover off , once the cover is off then you can get to the gauges....
When the cover is off this is what you will end up with , The Factory gauges and the screw where they can be removed ,. you will remove these screw pull out the gauges and then pull the plugs from behind,. this will free the gauge cluster so you can get to it .
you can swap the gauges in the clusters so that you will have accurate mileage,. what you will want to do is loosen the 4 middle screws on the back of cluster and the mph clusters will come right out and you will be able to swap out the mph gauges... If you want to swap the gauge faces then you can easily do so by loosening the screws on the gauges, and then putting a flat head under the gauge and then applying slight preassure to the bottom of the needle , these will make the needle pop right up and off, and it won't be broken, All this takes is patients,... and it is really easy... where the gold marks are you will remove the screws that are there and then when you are finished you can put them back and you will have the original mileage on your original gauges

this is what you will end up with when you are done , the middle gauge will be swaped in and you will be ready to install the item , it is real easy to do and is a simple install ,. check out the finished pics below to see what the end product looks like ...

 

when the mph's are swapped this is what you will end up with , a very simple procedure
put screws and all back in and getting ready to install the tach finished install of gauges