Shift Indicator Needle Blues
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Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 719
Likes: 21
From: Miami Fl
Shift Indicator Needle Blues
So its been 4 years my needle broke on my 98 A4 today i finally fixed it for good.
The stock one can probably win an award for the worse engineering.
It was so easy to fix I almost amazed myself, simply cut a thin piece of aluminum flashing and bend it just like the factory one. I didn't really like the aluminum look so i then stuck a piece of red vinyl used for vehicle decals, but i am sure some red electrical tape does the job too. The hardest part was making the rounded off part that gets inserted into the shifter rod. But with some really thin needle nose pliers it can be done.
I also added some led lighting to give it an exotic car feel. GM and their indascent bulbs
Led is the way baby!
The positive= your shift indicator needle with never break ever again
The negative= the gear which the car is on at night shows up black because the needle is aluminum instead of semi transparent red plastic.
Enjoy the pics
The stock one can probably win an award for the worse engineering.
It was so easy to fix I almost amazed myself, simply cut a thin piece of aluminum flashing and bend it just like the factory one. I didn't really like the aluminum look so i then stuck a piece of red vinyl used for vehicle decals, but i am sure some red electrical tape does the job too. The hardest part was making the rounded off part that gets inserted into the shifter rod. But with some really thin needle nose pliers it can be done.
I also added some led lighting to give it an exotic car feel. GM and their indascent bulbs
Led is the way baby!The positive= your shift indicator needle with never break ever again
The negative= the gear which the car is on at night shows up black because the needle is aluminum instead of semi transparent red plastic.
Enjoy the pics
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Nice job. I've never really looked at how the needle attaches to the shifter, but was wondering if it would be possible to take something like a piece of clear plexiglass, cut it to fit then drill a hole in it and mount it to the shifter? Just a thought. That way the light might show through.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 719
Likes: 21
From: Miami Fl
Nice job. I've never really looked at how the needle attaches to the shifter, but was wondering if it would be possible to take something like a piece of clear plexiglass, cut it to fit then drill a hole in it and mount it to the shifter? Just a thought. That way the light might show through.
You know what might work expoxing a piece of redish plexiglass to aluminum up where the P RND321 areas are.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 719
Likes: 21
From: Miami Fl
Thanks man!
Here are some night shots with the led strip. Looks freaking awesome!
I also pulled apart the a/c cluster and peeled away the front panel ( and managed to crack it )and removed the blue coating over the symbols and stuck an led strip along the top.
PROGRESS SHOTS
Here are some night shots with the led strip. Looks freaking awesome!
I also pulled apart the a/c cluster and peeled away the front panel ( and managed to crack it
)and removed the blue coating over the symbols and stuck an led strip along the top.PROGRESS SHOTS
