Mine isn't doing this I was just researching it and figured I would read up and figure it out since I will most likely have to do it at some time. I found them on Ebay but I also found some that said they were upgraded is there a difference ? These are the ones I was looking at. Check out this item I found on eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?nav=item.view&id=310445275703&alt=web
question about replacement stepper motors
- Thread starter Zack2003
- Start date
Mark20
Member
- Dec 6, 2011
- 1,630
That is the set I just bought and will probably install this weekend. On my trip to NYC/LI I was starting to wonder why everyone was doing 35 on the Belt Parkway. No they were doing 50 and the speedo was reading 15, later 20 and finally 25 low. The speedo currently resets itself when I fire up the Voy but that won't last for long.
As I understand it, Gm spec'ed or had designed improved steppers that won't die after 10 years or so. They are different than the originals but should gave many more years of service.
As I understand it, Gm spec'ed or had designed improved steppers that won't die after 10 years or so. They are different than the originals but should gave many more years of service.
If I remember correctly, the old stepper motors were black, not white. At least thats what I saw someone else say. Usually stepper motors are alright for quite some time. They typically break if someone pries up the needles to take apart their cluster. There is a video online that says to take your needles and turn them counter clockwise until they snap and then take the needle off. They show that with the broken and good stepper motors. When I replace my lights with led's, I am going to try and use a tool like this to get under the needles and pry them up after I mark their left most position on the cluster so they are programmed right.
Some others have used a fork to pry up their needles but I was worried about scratching up the face of the gauges.
Some others have used a fork to pry up their needles but I was worried about scratching up the face of the gauges.
Mounce
Member
Ok good. Let me know how it goes if you don't mind. I like learning this stuff so when I have to do it I already know how to
When you turn the needles counter clockwise what breaks?
When you turn the needles counter clockwise what breaks?
It won't happen on mine until the summer. I want to wait until I won't be using the remote start so I know how many times I can go between my house and work before needing to fuel up since I don't have any way to tell how much gas is in my tank when the cluster is out. I am modding the cluster a little too by ditching the volt gauge and putting a SMD-VM1 in its place. Then the LED's will be blue and the needles will be blue and chrome escalade needles. I will post about it when I get to it this spring/early summer. I have a lot of crap planned on my truck like the cluster, doors and dash to modify.
Mounce
Member
I doubt that tool would work for the needles, it's too thick by the looks. The fork worked perfect for me, and the gauge face is tougher than you think. Also, the needles come off easy.kickass audio said:
It breaks it's grip on the stepper motor shaft.Zack2003 said:
I done all six of mine a month or so ago and had no issues at all.
I highly recommend a solder sucker though. I thought I could get away with solder wick but it didn't work well at all.
Hey Mounce when you did youres. Do you turn counter clockwise to zero and stop or is there a place you can feel to stop ? And did you just put the tape on the faceplate and mark the end of the needle and put them right back where they were and it worked ?
Midnyteryder196
Member
Mounce
Member
To be honest, I can't comment on that at all. It confused me when I got to the point of marking them because the needle will turn to the left an eighth of an inch or so and then stop and I didn't know whether to mark it where it sits or turn it to the left and mark it. I just took a picture of mine and got them close then put the cluster in without the front cover on and adjusted them till they read close to what they should.Zack2003 said:
As in leaving the plastic cover off and putting the key in the run position and adjust them until they were perfectly on zero?
That's easy really. just go and mark the part of the volt meter that is covered by the front face and then dremel that part off of the gauge face. Then unsolder the stepper motor from the PCB and either use fiberglass resin or more than likely just use some CA glue to adhere the meter to the front facing of the gauge like where the silver goes around the needles for looks and then just run 3 wires, one for ground, one for the turn on which I will wire to the trigger wire that is hot when in accessory and run, and the other wire goes to the battery to show voltage which I am running to the rear battery bank I have.Midnyteryder196 said:
Mounce
Member
Put it in and turned the key then realized that they were way off. Turned key off, took cluster out, front plastic cover comes off with a few push tabs so I popped it off then adjusted them.Zack2003 said:
You could start by putting it back in without the front cover and make sure it all looks okay by turning the key and/or starting it, ake adjustments if you needed to, then pop the cover back on without removing the cluster if you wanted because putting it back on is real easy.
*JUST MAKE SURE THE KEY IS OFF WHEN ADJUSTING THE NEEDLES! If not, you could damage them.*
Would probably be a safer bet to just remove it while adjusting them though like I did.
Midnyteryder196
Member
Sounds easy enough.. Be looking forward to seeing how it turns out for sure!kickass audio said:
Mounce
Member
No problem, Zack. Let us know if you need any more guidance or have any more questions, we're glad to help!
Blckshdw
Moderator
I think there's a little bit of adhesive on the post of the stepper motor, and when you turn the needle past the zero mark, the 'breaking' is the bond of the adhesive, making the needles easier to remove.Zack2003 said:
kickass audio said:
I approve of this mod. That is all.Each of the times I've tinkered with the LEDs and stepper motors in my clusters, (DIC and non DIC) I've either used a kitchen fork, or my bare fingers. Think I required a fork the first 2 times removing the needles. After that, was able to wedge a finger under the lip on each side, squeeze inward and get enough pressure to pop them loose. Just one of those things that comes with doing it enough times (or having mods to doMark20 said:
)You won't scratch the gauge face with a fork, unless the fork you're using has a jacked up surface on the underside.
