Installing Glow Gauges in 98 Malibu

Hey, im alil new to this and i want to know how to install these glow gauges i got off ebay. Also, anyone got any wiring suggestions?

not sure about actually putting in the new gauges but in order to get the cluster out you will need a relatively short screwdriver, an average 6 inch will work, but the short stubby ones are ideal. But the screw driver needs to be a phillips and you will need a 8mm socket with a long extension appromimately 8 inches or more.

Its easy to get the cluster out. Use a flat screw driver to remove the trim piece that runs along the front dash. Pry on it gently. Take the phillips screw driver and there are two screws above the steering column on the underside of the dash. Remove those. Pull the trim piece out gently, take off the foglamp and dimmer switch, then remove the hazard switch. You might have to push down on the part where the screw were gently to pull that piece out. Then bam you are done with that (as far as I can remember its been a while)

Then to the cluster, I would recommend disconnecting the battery, but its not my car, so tis your call. There are 4 8mm screws in each corner. If you have a little magnet extender wand, I would use it, if not, be careful on the lower screws... they could disappear in the lower portion of the dash. Remove those, work the cluster with some finess and it will come out. Unplug the connector on the back and you are done.

When you plug it back in, and or hook up the battery. The gauges will spike up. Normal procedure, but sometimes the fuel gauge will flip upside down. In the event of that, don't get mad just take it back out, the front plastic wanna be glass pops right off and you can spin the dial back with your hand. It will not mess anything up. So I also recommend not fully assembling the dash until you hook the battery or wires back up and know it has not flipped upside down. Oh and easy with the way you twist it to get it back in, as you can flip the gauges upside down yourself. They move easy, there is no gear for it like on older cars.

Nice! Thank you dude. I got the dash off, and i gotta get an 8mm to get the other 4 screws. I see what ur talking about with the bottom screws, its a little akward, but it can be done. you recommend uplugingthe battery? is it ok if i just turn my car off? and what about getting power to the gauges, do i have to change anything? (power inverter?, switches?, cig lighter?)

Nice! Thank you dude. I got the dash off, and i gotta get an 8mm to get the other 4 screws. I see what ur talking about with the bottom screws, its a little akward, but it can be done. you recommend uplugingthe battery? is it ok if i just turn my car off? and what about getting power to the gauges, do i have to change anything? (power inverter?, switches?, cig lighter?)

I am almost a 100% on the 8mm, its either 8 or 7 but I am fairly sure its 8mm. If you want get a 7mm just in case. Hell dollar store tools will work for this.

As far as having the battery not disconnected. Its not that big of a deal because all you are doing is unplugging the connector, you are not splicing anything. You should be fine, but if a wire scrapes and grounds out, you could have a burnt harness, blow fuse or both. I would not worry about it surging the ECM, but its possible.

I do not know what your kit entails so I cannot tell you really if it needs any wiring. Is it just a glowing color gauges face? Does it come with any bulbs or harness'? If its just the face, and they are the same, then there is no customizing. I have never put a glowface gauge kit in any of my cars. I wanted to, but never did.

I am almost a 100% on the 8mm, its either 8 or 7 but I am fairly sure its 8mm. If you want get a 7mm just in case. Hell dollar store tools will work for this.

As far as having the battery not disconnected. Its not that big of a deal because all you are doing is unplugging the connector, you are not splicing anything. You should be fine, but if a wire scrapes and grounds out, you could have a burnt harness, blow fuse or both. I would not worry about it surging the ECM, but its possible.

I do not know what your kit entails so I cannot tell you really if it needs any wiring. Is it just a glowing color gauges face? Does it come with any bulbs or harness'? If its just the face, and they are the same, then there is no customizing. I have never put a glowface gauge kit in any of my cars. I wanted to, but never did.

haha yea i'll def check out the dollar store for 7-8mm. I would dissonnect my battery, but i have a fuse for my alpine hooked up to it and my alternator, and i'm not too keen on how it all works, i'm tryin tho!

Well the kit comes with complete wiring, and power inverter. i think it comes with the lights or just the face, i haven't checked yet. I don't want to have to put it in the cig lighter, id rather have it hooked up to the dimmer or something. Any reason why you haven't installed a glowface yet?

I am one of those people who won't buy something they particularly don't need. Well I can't say that. Lol. My saturn has an assortment of unecessary go fast parts. :rolleyes: But the only thing I have done to my chevy is 2 12s and a Pioneer P8mp head unit. So... but about the battery, I would unhook it up if you are going to be splicing wires. That is a typical way of shorting things out.

I am one of those people who won't buy something they particularly don't need. Well I can't say that. Lol. My saturn has an assortment of unecessary go fast parts. :rolleyes: But the only thing I have done to my chevy is 2 12s and a Pioneer P8mp head unit. So... but about the battery, I would unhook it up if you are going to be splicing wires. That is a typical way of shorting things out.

theres nothing wrong with a little personalization lol. the funny thing is i also have to 12's and a pioneer head unit lol But yea, i'm planning on switching the gauges this weekend so i'll follow up on wats goin on with that. i hope i don't have to splice any wires. That novelty wore off for me in highschool lol

LOL.. the saturn has more then just a personal touch.

LOL.. the saturn has more then just a personal touch.

Hey, ok so i got the glow gauge on, all i need to do is get it power, it came with a power inverter box and a connector to the glow face and the car. the two wires are red ad black and the other red. the last part is the knob/switch thats aleady connected to the inverter. where do the other two wires go?

Hey, ok so i got the glow gauge on, all i need to do is get it power, it came with a power inverter box and a connector to the glow face and the car. the two wires are red ad black and the other red. the last part is the knob/switch thats aleady connected to the inverter. where do the other two wires go?

couldn't tell you. I would have to see it. But like I said, I have never done gauges before.

couldn't tell you. I would have to see it. But like I said, I have never done gauges before.

Tru. Alright, well i got it hooked up to my psp charger(cig lighter), so i guess i can settle with that ha

So you have a red and black wire. One is probably, the power wire, and the other is probably ground. So ground the black one to the body and then rig the hot wire or power wire in with the one from your dimmer switch. Like I said, I would have to see it to know exactly what I am doing.