Fuel and temp gauge needles...

I'm not exactly sure how this happened but the needles are not reading correctly. I opened the gauge cluster up last weekend to try and put the needles back to where they should be but it didn't help. I tried to simply push them back to the spot where they'd normally be if the tank was full (which I made sure was) and when the engine was cold.

Can I carefully pry the needles off the cluster and place them back on? Is there any specific gapping I need to be aware of or anything that would make this seem like opening a can of worms if I'm not prepared?

Please give me some advice.

Many thanks again.

I've had a similar problem with my 2000 elantra. My fuel needle has never read properly. It has a 12.5 gallon tank, and I can put 13 gallons in it, and it never reads as full, and it will go 1/4 inch past the E before the gas light comes on. I never worried about fixing it, as I've learned to read it as it is. Now my problem needle is my engine temp.. but it's acurate, my engine really is getting that hot!!

My fuel needle has never read properly. It has a 12.5 gallon tank,

Are you sure? I'm not sure about outside the US, but as far as I know all the Elantras in the US have 14.5 gallon tanks. I've never gotten it that low, but that's what the specs (and my repair manual) say.

My manual says 12.5, but I've been known to get 13 or 13.5 in the tank. I don't get it that low often, but with my needle being off, it's taken some getting used to as far as when I need to fill my tank.