Installed My New Tach - Toyota Yaris Forums

Lil Abner · 01-05-2011, 04:34 PM

EDIT: New image in later comments

I ordered an Autometer tach some time back, and finally got around to installing it. I didn't like the "in the open" places, so this spot seemed to work the best. Many Audi's have them in the vents aftermarket for the boost gauges.

Everything thing I did is 100% reversible to go back to stock/factory!!

I started by splitting the vent into 2 pieces. The passenger vent went into storage. The Autometer tach had a lot of "extra" packaging around it that was taking up space. There was almost 1" of shroud past the needle, length that I couldn't deal with. With the tach stripped down to the guts, I built a new housing from plastic, turned down on my lathe for a nice tight fit. That protects the guts. I then made a new faceplate to fit the vent. Painted the parts, and glued them together. A blue LED was used to light things up. Yeah, it doesn't match the factory cluster YET, but it soon will. Dimming is done with the factory dimming. The vent was also plugged on the passenger side to direct more air flow to the drivers.

Before I get comments, YES, I do realize the gauge only goes up to 6,000 RPM. But I don't rev the car close to redline, so when I found this gauge brand new for less than $15 shipped, I jumped on it.

Comments are welcome.

Shinare · 01-05-2011, 05:40 PM

Very nice gauge, the handy work looks great! Very slick.

(poor choice in music tho)

matthewai · 01-05-2011, 05:47 PM

^^ hating on the tunes ooooo

Lil Abner · 01-05-2011, 05:55 PM

Yeah, I'm use to getting crap about my music! I'm a grown-up, I can take it (turns and cries)...

matthewai · 01-05-2011, 06:01 PM

hhaahah

coheed · 01-05-2011, 07:04 PM

Very original idea. I like it!!!

Revsson · 01-06-2011, 12:16 AM

Looks like a nice install. I would guess you don't have passengers all that often?
I know when I do have passengers, they like the air blowing on them from that center
position. However, most of the time, I am alone.

Lil Abner · 01-06-2011, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revsson

Looks like a nice install. I would guess you don't have passengers all that often?
I know when I do have passengers, they like the air blowing on them from that center
position. However, most of the time, I am alone.

Yeah, I don't have many passengers ride with me. I commute 1.25 hours each way daily, so the car is for me. The passengers just have to deal with it

R2D2 · 01-06-2011, 10:39 AM

That's a great looking install-nice work!

R2

ilikerice · 01-06-2011, 11:55 AM

wow.. i likes... mind if i steal your idea for future use with another guage? lol

Lil Abner · 01-06-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikerice

wow.. i likes... mind if i steal your idea for future use with another guage? lol

Steal away, just don't steal all the credit

SAV912 · 01-06-2011, 09:37 PM

I like the concept, but I'm not sure of the execution. The center vents move the most air. I would've plugged the driver's vent so it's closer to the sightlines. Kudos, and the handywork looks faultless.

-SAV

cali yaris · 01-07-2011, 12:01 AM

very nicely done. I also would put it in the drivers side instead, but I use my tach more than my speedo, so i'm sure it's just fine for you.

thebarber · 01-07-2011, 12:33 AM

looks like it'd be too far to the right to be useful....

but its a very slick install

Lil Abner · 01-07-2011, 12:55 PM

Man, you guy's are starting to make me wonder if it's better in the other vent. I made it so it can go in either vent, so I might try moving it to the driver's side one. Time to turn the heat on in the garage I guess...

cali yaris · 01-07-2011, 01:54 PM

^ hehe, that's the spirit! The tach is such a useful gauge, and if it's on the driver side, you'll find yourself referring to it a lot more.

Lil Abner · 01-07-2011, 01:55 PM

Ok, you guys pulled my arm. I moved it to the other vent:

Now, I need to drive with it to see, but it does look to be in a better field of view. However, the main issue I noticed is the passenger air vent does not turn far enough to the driver's side. This might become an issue during the summer when I want the A/C blowing on my face. But we will see. I also ordered a new LED to match the stock dash for the time being.

Oh, and bring on the comments about the new music choice. BRING IT!!

WeeYari · 01-07-2011, 02:16 PM

Much better. Should look great in orange. Too bad the HU is sooooo blue.

and not hate'n on Beethoven here

01-05-2011, 04:34 PM	#1
Lil Abner Drives: 2009 3dr LB Manual Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 412	Installed My New Tach EDIT: New image in later comments I ordered an Autometer tach some time back, and finally got around to installing it. I didn't like the "in the open" places, so this spot seemed to work the best. Many Audi's have them in the vents aftermarket for the boost gauges. Everything thing I did is 100% reversible to go back to stock/factory!! I started by splitting the vent into 2 pieces. The passenger vent went into storage. The Autometer tach had a lot of "extra" packaging around it that was taking up space. There was almost 1" of shroud past the needle, length that I couldn't deal with. With the tach stripped down to the guts, I built a new housing from plastic, turned down on my lathe for a nice tight fit. That protects the guts. I then made a new faceplate to fit the vent. Painted the parts, and glued them together. A blue LED was used to light things up. Yeah, it doesn't match the factory cluster YET, but it soon will. Dimming is done with the factory dimming. The vent was also plugged on the passenger side to direct more air flow to the drivers. Before I get comments, YES, I do realize the gauge only goes up to 6,000 RPM. But I don't rev the car close to redline, so when I found this gauge brand new for less than $15 shipped, I jumped on it. Comments are welcome. Last edited by Lil Abner; 01-07-2011 at 01:56 PM.

01-05-2011, 05:40 PM	#2
Shinare Bronze bombshell yaris Drives: 09 Yaris HB 3door Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 641	Very nice gauge, the handy work looks great! Very slick. (poor choice in music tho) __________________ Now I drive a CARMINE RED METALLIC 09 Yaris 3-door!! I'm Back!!! WooHoo!! Mods done so far: Tinted windows, Viper 211HV Remote Keyless Entry, Atoto Android headunit, backup camera, steering wheel controls Before it was totaled I drove a 2007 Black Sand Pearl 3 Door Lift-Back M/T with 49k miles. Stock Everything except for black tint, all red badges, red dash, and stealth garage door opener. Ultra-Gauge mounted on steering wheel. A1 Electric MES Central Locks and Avital 3100 Alarm system.

01-06-2011, 10:39 AM	#9
R2D2 Crazy Oil Sniffer Drives: MM 09 Yaris 5 Dr LB "Click" Join Date: May 2009 Location: ME Posts: 498	That's a great looking install-nice work! R2 __________________ "The howl was the sound of God’s casting pot, the morphing of my cells into shape, the forming of oceans out of molten premordial plasma. And I could feel it. I could cry for it. I could cry with it." -The Fitful One

01-06-2011, 09:37 PM	#12
SAV912 Pirate Yaaaaris View User's Garage Drives: '00 Toyota Celica GTS 6MT Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 573	I like the concept, but I'm not sure of the execution. The center vents move the most air. I would've plugged the driver's vent so it's closer to the sightlines. Kudos, and the handywork looks faultless. -SAV __________________ Georgia Bulldogs! '09 Yaris LB 5MT Sold.

01-07-2011, 12:01 AM	#13
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	very nicely done. I also would put it in the drivers side instead, but I use my tach more than my speedo, so i'm sure it's just fine for you. __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

01-05-2011, 05:47 PM	#3
matthewai Drives: it is kinda stock Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: united states Posts: 1,258	^^ hating on the tunes ooooo

01-05-2011, 05:55 PM	#4
Lil Abner Drives: 2009 3dr LB Manual Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 412	Yeah, I'm use to getting crap about my music! I'm a grown-up, I can take it (turns and cries)...

01-05-2011, 06:01 PM	#5
matthewai Drives: it is kinda stock Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: united states Posts: 1,258	hhaahah

01-05-2011, 07:04 PM	#6
coheed Drives: 08 BB LB Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maiden, NC Posts: 785	Very original idea. I like it!!!

01-06-2011, 12:16 AM	#7
Revsson View User's Garage Drives: 2009 Meteorite Metallic LB MT Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southeast Wisconsin Posts: 810	Looks like a nice install. I would guess you don't have passengers all that often? I know when I do have passengers, they like the air blowing on them from that center position. However, most of the time, I am alone.

01-06-2011, 11:55 AM	#10
ilikerice Drives: 2010 black yaris Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: savannah, ga Posts: 2,868	wow.. i likes... mind if i steal your idea for future use with another guage? lol

01-07-2011, 12:33 AM	#14
thebarber daily driver View User's Garage Drives: the #wrecho Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 5,877	looks like it'd be too far to the right to be useful.... but its a very slick install __________________

01-07-2011, 12:55 PM	#15
Lil Abner Drives: 2009 3dr LB Manual Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 412	Man, you guy's are starting to make me wonder if it's better in the other vent. I made it so it can go in either vent, so I might try moving it to the driver's side one. Time to turn the heat on in the garage I guess...

01-07-2011, 01:54 PM	#16
cali yaris ULTIMATE View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Turbo Join Date: May 2007 Location: Canoga Park, CA Posts: 14,859	^ hehe, that's the spirit! The tach is such a useful gauge, and if it's on the driver side, you'll find yourself referring to it a lot more. __________________ Micro Image forums, online store and shop are now closed. It was a great eight year run, but it was time to focus on other things. I'm still selling parts on eBay under micro*image seller ID and customers can still make requests for anything specific.

01-07-2011, 01:55 PM	#17
Lil Abner Drives: 2009 3dr LB Manual Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Dublin, Ohio Posts: 412	Ok, you guys pulled my arm. I moved it to the other vent: Now, I need to drive with it to see, but it does look to be in a better field of view. However, the main issue I noticed is the passenger air vent does not turn far enough to the driver's side. This might become an issue during the summer when I want the A/C blowing on my face. But we will see. I also ordered a new LED to match the stock dash for the time being. Oh, and bring on the comments about the new music choice. BRING IT!! Last edited by Lil Abner; 01-07-2011 at 02:12 PM.

01-07-2011, 02:16 PM	#18
WeeYari View User's Garage Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,740	Much better. Should look great in orange. Too bad the HU is sooooo blue. and not hate'n on Beethoven here __________________

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