I put this on another forum but thought it of use here.
I have had an Auberins Instruments electronic gauge that suits the Exhaust Gas Temperature Probe fitted to the new 2 3/4 mandrel bent exhaust and dump pipe.
Heres a link to the website;
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?ma...p_image&pID=19
The Prado has very few places to mount gauges let alone one that has no pod to sit in. But I found one - woohoo!
Disclaimer - You could seriously screw this up as there is very little room for error. If you do stuff it up I reserve the right to come to your place, point and laugh like Nelson Muntz..... But the worst you could do is wreck the trim near the dash and have to replace it from a wrecker.
The spot I found is just under the hazard light switch.
Keep in mind that due to the curve of the trim piece the gauge goes in at an angle.
Step 1. Remove the upper console RH trim where the hazard light switch is. Use a butter knife to prise it up from the very top of the dash and it pops out towards you. Flip it over and find the back of the hazard switch mounting area. Remove the hazard switch. It needs to fit really close to the mounting casting and you will need to use a Stanley knife to trim the legs that locate the trim into the dash a little. On thephoto I am talking about the leg with the silver piece not the yellow piece. Just square them up.
Spend a few minutes getting your head around how the gauge will fit into the cramped area.
Step 2. Make a cardboard template the exact size of the main body of the unit. Place it inside the trim as close to the hazard moulding as you can and as close to the trim leg as you can. Mark one corner and then drill with a small drill bit through to the other side.
Step 3. Remove the template and move it to the good side of the trim and hold down with tape. Use marker pen to trace inside.
Step 4. Carefully carefully drill out along the line. Super careful as you have very little shoulder on the gauge to cover a wayward drill. Err on the side of safety;
Step 5. Remove the tape and cardboard and file to the edge of the pen line. Slowly and check if the gauge fits. I used a stanley knife to do the short sides. This took about 30 min;
I discarded the gasket as it fits and looks better without it.
Step 6. Once you are happy refit the trim and then slowly push the gauge in. It will hit a small piece of plastic that the dash screws into. Mark where you think it will hit with the marking pen.
Step 7. Remove the trim and cut the plastic where you marked it with a coping saw or half hacksaw blade.
In the photos You can see the roughly trimmed plastic near the gauge that I refitted for the shot. If you see how close it is to the pressed steel bracket that holds the radio. Mine did not touch however if you look closely if you mark it out a few mm one way it may touch. Not a huge problem just drill a large hole where it touches. I also put tape over the end of the gauge covering the connections.
Step 8. Refit trim and test.
I pulled the LH side and it is identical so you could fit another one on that side as well.
cheers
Daz
I have had an Auberins Instruments electronic gauge that suits the Exhaust Gas Temperature Probe fitted to the new 2 3/4 mandrel bent exhaust and dump pipe.
Heres a link to the website;
http://www.auberins.com/index.php?ma...p_image&pID=19
The Prado has very few places to mount gauges let alone one that has no pod to sit in. But I found one - woohoo!
Disclaimer - You could seriously screw this up as there is very little room for error. If you do stuff it up I reserve the right to come to your place, point and laugh like Nelson Muntz..... But the worst you could do is wreck the trim near the dash and have to replace it from a wrecker.
The spot I found is just under the hazard light switch.
Keep in mind that due to the curve of the trim piece the gauge goes in at an angle.
Step 1. Remove the upper console RH trim where the hazard light switch is. Use a butter knife to prise it up from the very top of the dash and it pops out towards you. Flip it over and find the back of the hazard switch mounting area. Remove the hazard switch. It needs to fit really close to the mounting casting and you will need to use a Stanley knife to trim the legs that locate the trim into the dash a little. On thephoto I am talking about the leg with the silver piece not the yellow piece. Just square them up.
Spend a few minutes getting your head around how the gauge will fit into the cramped area.
Step 2. Make a cardboard template the exact size of the main body of the unit. Place it inside the trim as close to the hazard moulding as you can and as close to the trim leg as you can. Mark one corner and then drill with a small drill bit through to the other side.
Step 3. Remove the template and move it to the good side of the trim and hold down with tape. Use marker pen to trace inside.
Step 4. Carefully carefully drill out along the line. Super careful as you have very little shoulder on the gauge to cover a wayward drill. Err on the side of safety;
Step 5. Remove the tape and cardboard and file to the edge of the pen line. Slowly and check if the gauge fits. I used a stanley knife to do the short sides. This took about 30 min;
I discarded the gasket as it fits and looks better without it.
Step 6. Once you are happy refit the trim and then slowly push the gauge in. It will hit a small piece of plastic that the dash screws into. Mark where you think it will hit with the marking pen.
Step 7. Remove the trim and cut the plastic where you marked it with a coping saw or half hacksaw blade.
In the photos You can see the roughly trimmed plastic near the gauge that I refitted for the shot. If you see how close it is to the pressed steel bracket that holds the radio. Mine did not touch however if you look closely if you mark it out a few mm one way it may touch. Not a huge problem just drill a large hole where it touches. I also put tape over the end of the gauge covering the connections.
Step 8. Refit trim and test.
I pulled the LH side and it is identical so you could fit another one on that side as well.
cheers
Daz
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