This DIY shows how to disable (disconnect) the Bright Red 'Atari' gauges on the center stack.

Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, patience (this is not a race), gentle touch (most of this is easily breakable (expensive!) plastic trim pieces).

1. First remove the silver trim strip below the dashboard - it is held in by 5 posts and clips and simply pops out - start at the left edge and work toward the center. Below is a picture showing the posts so that you can locate them.

http://www.tompierce.com/109.JPG

2. Under the dash, locate the DLC (Diagnostic Link Connector) - this is the link to the vehicle computer. Remove the 2 phillips head screws.

http://www.tompierce.com/110.JPG

3. Next, unplug and remove the light switch. On my car, it simply pulled straight out allowing access to the connector on the rear.

If it does not pull straight out, you can leave it and remove it after step 5 when you remove the upper plastic dash piece.

http://www.tompierce.com/111.JPG

4. Remove the under dash piece nearest to the firewall. It simply unclips from the dash with post and clip retainers. Note that this is not the piece that the DLC goes thru, but is the plastic piece closest to the firewall.

Here is the back of the piece so that you can locate the clips. The top of the picture is the edge closest to the driver seat.

http://www.tompierce.com/112.JPG

5. Make a note of how the remaining underdash piece meets at the top edge underneath the silver trim piece you removed earlier. Remove the underdash piece by unclipping it from the dash. Here is a picture so you can locate the post and clips.

http://www.tompierce.com/113.JPG

6. Remove the vertical trim piece on the drivers side of the center stack. Simply pull straight down and the clips will release. There are 2 white clips that hold this piece on - they may stay with the center stack instead of coming off with the trim piece - in that case remove them from the stack and replace them on the trim piece.

Sorry no picture for this one - blame my eagerness to see what was underneath.

7. Here is what is lies beneath. Disconnect the 3 wire connector as shown to disable the center stack gauges. (The black wire directly underneath you will not have - that is the power to my radar detector)

http://www.tompierce.com/114.JPG

Reassembly is exact opposite of assembly. And boy it sure is nice not to have those damn bright gauges in your face all the time.

If this is on the drivers side of the center stack, you should be able to just pull that side piece off the console without removing anything else. I did this on the passenger side so I could wire up another ligher plug to power the XM Roady unit.

If this is on the drivers side of the center stack, you should be able to just pull that side piece off the console without removing anything else. I did this on the passenger side so I could wire up another ligher plug to power the XM Roady unit.

Agreed, I've been in there too.

yeah, I just removed the 2 lower driver panels and the connector was right there. took about 60 seconds to get it all removed, unplugged, and reassembled.