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Discussion starter · #21 ·
Two years Update!

The instrument cluster has been working Great since the Retrofitting, But some months ago, it developed a fail on the Tachometer needle, which drop dead suddenly; but I fixed it easily, see:


And I Found the Culprit!

The thin plastic that has the electrical tracks, behind the instrument cluster, sends the Power, Ground and info for the Tachometer, also to the Speedometer and the rest of the Gauges, via long Screws, that touches those tracks and sends the signal to the gauges' system.


Those contacting screws were Loose, very loose...



...those loose contacting screws made the Electrical False Contact. I only needed to clean their contacting surfaces and place them there, very Tight.

Voilá! ... Problem: Solved.
Except that minimum episode, everything has been working Flawlessly.

Kind Regards.
 
Discussion starter · #22 ·
Something pretty interesting of this "New" instrument cluster, is that the Speedometer's needle, shows the vehicle's Speed Also while going in Reverse! :lol:

Kind Regards.
 
Discussion starter · #23 ·
Removal instructions

For those who needs to remove the instrument clusters, on their second gen Kia Sephia, let me explain how to do that, step by step:

Not all the Dashboard needs to be removed to gain access to the instrument cluster, but you'll need to remove the centerpiece, that covers the Stereo, and has the A/C vents, plus is a "Frame" for the instrument Cluster.

To remove that, FIRST you need to remove the top part of the plastic cover that wraps the Steering Column, it comes off easily, just by pulling it up with your Hands.

Then in order to remove the Dashboard's Centerpiece, you'll need to Unscrew the two mini bolts that it has on its inner side, above the instrument cluster's opening, then said Centerpiece comes off by pulling it CAREFULLY, to avoid breaking the plastic tabs; after that, you must unplug the wirings for the switches that it has, prior to pulling that Centerpiece completely.

Once the Centerpiece has been removed, you gain access to the instrument cluster, which is held in place by four Screws, unscrew the two above and the two below, then carefully remove it, but you'll need to unplug the Three wiring plugs that it has behind, prior to take out it completely from the Dashboard.

Be Careful while extracting the instrument cluster, otherwise you can scratch it with the Dashboard and the Steering column parts.

Good Luck! ... Kind Regards.
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
Update

I wanted to use a white LED instead the incandescent bulb, which came wrapped with a blue "Condom-Like" hood on the Dimmer Control of the "KiaStein" to match the Rest of the Dashboard & instrument Cluster's illumination...




...But the Dimmer Control, came with a T-4 Bulb, and I only had T-3 LEDs...



So, I Removed the T3 LED that already comes with built-in protective resistor, from its "Neo-Wedge" rubber base, by unwrapping their twisted legs, and then wrapped those legs again, onto the incandescent T-4 bulb's rubber base from the Kia's Dimmer Control, after I removed the old incandescent bulb from there, let me Show ya:



Voilá! - Perfect Fitting. :thumbsup:​
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
Here you can see how the T-3 LED illuminates the Dimmer control:



:thumbsup:​
 
Discussion starter · #26 ·
Update

By the Way, long time ago I had to change the Dimmer Control unit on the "KiaStein" because, the original one had worn-out inner contacts and sometimes the instrument cluster & dashboard panel's lights, turned off / on Randomly, while driving in bumpy Roads; the Replacement control I obtained at the Local Kia Dealer:


Is exactly the Mirror image from the Original one, I mean that the placement for the wiring's plug is in the opposed position and placed upside down, also the placement for the Background illumination's bulb, is in the opposed side...

But the new control fits Perfectly on the Dashboard, and the wiring's plug of the car matched perfectly the receptacle on the new Dimmer control unit; also this new control, does provide even Lower illumination on the Minimum setting, than the Original one...

Kind Regards.
 
Discussion starter · #27 ·
Do you remember this post?

The idea of using the Long Base Neo-Wedge T-3 Bulb is to let a small output (wattage) Bulb to illuminate the "D" (For Drive) indicator on the instrument Cluster's area for the Automatic Transmission's Shifter position Lights; so the Driver will not have a Powerful Light pointing to his / her eyes all the Time, and the indicator will be visible, because the tiny bulb is Nearest to the "D" marked plastic than the other "Standard" T-5 Bulbs for the other gears position indicators.

However, that tiny bulb trend to be the First to get burned by the normal use, so I wanted a Long Lasting LED Bulb there, without being too much Bright that could be a Blinding Light Spot, dangerous especially during night driving times.

As I Wrote before in early posts of this thread, I Build my Own Neo-Wedge long base LEDs...




...and I covered the single point LED bulb with a condom-like green Rubber, so the Light keeps green as the "D" indicator itself, but deep green than the other indicators with Rubberless T-5 Bulbs.

Something very Smart from the Kia Engineers is that when you Switch the Lights ON, the whole instrument Cluster Lights, including the Automatic Trans Gear "D" indicator Light, could be Dimmed using the Dimmer Knob; so there's No Blinding Light Spots at all!
That "Homemade" by me, T-3 "Neo-Wedge" LED failed a month ago, it started to blink rapidly, then went completely off...

Well, It lasted more than two years, and being the only bulb that is usually permanently on duty all the times the car is being driven, I can't complain.

Time for Replacing.
 
Discussion starter · #28 ·

However, this time instead of making another "Homemade" long base T-3 LED, I decided to use one of the T-3 "Neo-Wedge" LEDs I have, with short base, in its place:

 
Discussion starter · #29 ·
The only issue is that the Long Base T-3 "Neo-Wedge" has a thicker measurement on the plastic, than the Short Base T-3 "Neo-Wedge" and felt a little loose on its place; what I did to "Solve" that, was to use a small amount of "Ultra-Grey" silicone, smeared on one side of the T-3 "Neo-Wedge" short base, in order to let it hold it in place, see:


That kind of Silicone, becomes some sort of sticky Glue, that allows to be removed (with patience) without damaging the plastic underneath, since it is not extremely sticky like a real glue.

The Short base T-3 "Neo-Wedge" was placed without any green Rubber "condom-like" cover, and the light has been working absolutely Flawlessly for a Month so far, it is Not too bright and the dimmer control, works great with it.
 
Discussion starter · #30 ·
Awesome!

So, besides that, the completely LED instrument cluster on the "KiaStein"



has been working Flawlessly for more than two years so far, thanks to God.

Kind Regards.​
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
I Uploaded a High Definition Video, so you can see it Working!





Let me Know what do you think about this.

Kind Regards.​
 
Discussion starter · #32 ·
More than three years

This instrument Cluster with Tachometer, worked well for more than three years, then suddenly, my Wife reported that it developed a 3X faster speed reading, on the mere Speedometer; everything else was in good working order.




The next day, I switched cars with my Wife, so I delivered my Little Daughter on early morning to her School, on the "KiaStein" and I made this short video with my small cellphone (my little daughter is whistling in the Background), you can see that the First gear almost reached 70 MPH (according to the Speedometer), then shifted to Second gear; we were just leaving home (That's why the engine was still cool).
 
Discussion starter · #36 ·
...After carefully check it, also check its wirings and plugs;
thinking that maybe there's something loose or dirty among the connections...



...and despite that Everything is allright,
the Thing still shows 3X faster speed readings.​
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
0k2dk-5543x

The instrument Cluster that is on the "KiaStein" has the following part number: 0K2DK-5543X

It is for the Automatic, second gen Kia Sephia from 1998 to 2001, and certain models of the first gen Kia Spectra from 2000 up to march 2004; so it display individual letters and signs for the Automatic Transmission, also it features Tachometer, Speedometer, Trip meter, and all the Basics, you know.

Searching on internet, I found that Kia offers as brand new Spare, each separated Part from the instrument Cluster, each having its own part number as well, let me share here with you, a Screen Shot with each part number, for this instrument cluster:
 
Discussion starter · #39 ·
I tried to obtain the mere Speedometer brand new, Part # 0K2AA-55471 at the Local Kia Dealer, but they don't sell it, they can only bring here, the whole instrument cluster at a sky high price; so I had to make another search among local Junk Yards, once again...
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
Old style Spectra and Newer Style Spectra

As I wrote above, not all the first generation of Kia Spectra (2000 ~ 2004) used this same instrument cluster, only certain models, such as the old styled body in Hatchback shape; the other Spectras, used another, newer styled instrument Cluster, whose main difference lies in the Odometer and Trip Meter, which has a Digital LCD display, instead of the analog rotating numbers.

Besides that, it is pretty similar to the instrument Cluster on the "KiaStein" but, the numbers are written with styled thinner lines, and each warning light has its own opening, instead of a single, big opening for all the set of warning lights per side.

At first I doubted that the Newer style, first gen Spectra's instrument Cluster, would work on the second gen Sephia, but seeing both instrument Clusters from behind, they looked almost identical, having the same three receptacles for the same three wiring Plugs; even in the same places and positions.

Here you can see the Newer style Kia Spectra instrument Cluster, and the older style Kia Spectra / Sephia instrument cluster, together; I took this photo on the Ground at the Junk Yard, with the "KiaStein" having its driver door, opened:





Of course, I dared to Test such newer styled instrument Cluster, on the "KiaStein"


And it was a Perfect Fit, however, only the Temperature Gauge and the Warning Lights from the Right side set, were operative, the Rest, such as Odometer & Trip meter LCD display, the Speedmeter, the Tachometer, and the left side set of warning lights, were completely Dead. :crying:

I bet that this kind of instrument Cluster, takes the signal / saves the Mileage on the ECU, not directly, as the older style instrument cluster does. So, these different instrument Clusters, are Not interchangeable at all; in fact, the "KiaStein" displayed a "Check Engine" plus a Blinking "O/D OFF" warning lights once I put back its old instrument cluster, after I tried the Newer styled instrument Cluster ... I had to disconnect the Battery and wait for ~ five minutes to Reset the ECU. Everything went back to Normal after that.

My searchin' for another instrument Cluster, continued, but this time focused on the proper one, whose part # is: 0K2DK-5543X
 
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