I found these searching the interwebs for custom Scion tC gauge faces and I had to have them. Super clean look w/ the kMH markings removed, and carbon fiber style face. Black Cat Custom carbon fiber style gauge faces for the 2005-2010 Scion TC. You can get them for both manual or automatic transmissions. I paid $108.75 for this set. Black Cat Custom quoted a 6-8 week wait for production. I ordered them March 14, and received them May 8.
Here’s my OLD gauge face look
This is the look of my original color swap – red/white/blue. This is achieved with transparent blue and transparent red wrap on the back side of the gauge face. The LED is still white, it just changes color through the transparency. Although this looks nice, there is a lot going on.
Here’s the silver gauge face held up to the light, you can see the light passes through and the gauge changes color.
New Gauge face look
Black Cat Custom carbon fiber style gauge face and red needle swap
Tips for reinstalling and zeroing your gauge face needles
IMPORTANT – DO NOT PRESS THE NEEDLE DOWN ALL THE WAY THEN MOVE TO ZERO. YOU’LL DAMAGE THE SERVO. There’s no easy way to replace those, you have to solder in a new unit.
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Lightly put the needle on the servo stem (1mm or so)
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Lightly nudge the pointer to align over zero
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Light but firm press down using both thumbs.
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Look under the needle housing and check for clearance, you don’t want anything rubbing against the gauge face. If you pressed down too far, you’ll have to remove the assembly and start over.
Links to my other DIY Cluster gauge articles
- How to wire up a test donor gauge cluster
- DIY LED cluster swap mod amber to white 2005-2010 Scion tC
- Changing colors on the gauge face using transparent wrap
- LCD color / change using polarizer film, and LED swap
- Black Cat Custom carbon fiber style gauge faces
- OEM style red needle swap
- AC Unit LED swap modification
- Changing the LEDs in your window and lock switch controls
Links to soldering tools and accessories
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Adjustable heat soldering tool kit complete with extra tips, solder, flux, etc. You can use this for the DIY Cluster LED swap too, very handy to have
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Butt connectors that melt solder to the connections, I really like these
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Heat gun with melting shield, great for melting the butt connectors above. You can get in tight spots without heating up neighboring parts
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Tube shrink wrap, I use this stuff all the time to cover up raw wire soldering and to water proof butt connectors
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Mini fuse taps, these come in handy if you want to piggy back off existing HOT or switched AC power from the fuse box near the driver kick panel
