Dakota Digital RTX gauge cluster

[Silver Square]

Has anybody with the Dakota RTX series gauge cluster noticed that the gas gauge is not centered in the circle like the other 3 gauges are? Mine is offset significantly to the left. I just noticed it now, ordered back in June or July, so it's probably too late to get them to do anything about it. I won't be installing it until spring, I was just trying to get all the parts I needed for my interior assembled and ready to go before starting the project.

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[legopnuematic]

I just looked at mine that I've yet to install, its offset to the left aswell. Check with your gauge bezel in front of it and see how it looks.

 

[Silver Square]

I just looked at mine that I've yet to install, its offset to the left aswell. Check with your gauge bezel in front of it and see how it looks.

I did hold my bezel over it to see, but it still looked crooked. I did not actually install it with the provided hardware, maybe that will make it look correct. Thanks for the reply! Maybe there was a bad batch of them. I ordered mine in June, when did you order yours?

 

[legopnuematic]

December 2022 is when I ordered mine.

 

[Silver Square]

December 2022 is when I ordered mine.

Well, I doubt they'd still be selling defective ones 18 months later. I'm sure somebody else would have noticed it during that time lol. Next time I'm in the mood I'll try installing it in the bezel and see how it looks. I'll let you know what Dakota says, I'm going to call them on Monday and inquire about it.

 

[gmbellew]

maybe it is intentionally off center and at an angle to allow better viewing of the lower left gauge spot from the drivers point of view.

 

[Silver Square]

maybe it is intentionally off center and at an angle to allow better viewing of the lower left gauge spot from the drivers point of view.

That very well could be. I posted this in several FB groups too, and so far everyone is saying that theirs are the same way. Never even considered that it was intentional. My mind always goes to doom & gloom first lol. My glass is broken, not half full or half empty haha.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I think these are the vhx's. This is last spring ish.

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[Silver Square]

I think these are the vhx's. This is last spring ish.

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I see your oil pressure gauge looks to be offset just like my fuel gauge. Well, that cinches it lol. I guess i'ts supposed to be that way. Now that folks have mentioned it, and I think about it, I guess it does make sense for that one to be offset. It would be hard to see the right side if it wasn't, being recessed so far into the binacle.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I see your oil pressure gauge looks to be offset just like my fuel gauge. Well, that cinches it lol. I guess i'ts supposed to be that way. Now that folks have mentioned it, and I think about it, I guess it does make sense for that one to be offset. It would be hard to see the right side if it wasn't, being recessed so far into the binacle.

You're all good to go.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I see your oil pressure gauge looks to be offset just like my fuel gauge. Well, that cinches it lol. I guess i'ts supposed to be that way. Now that folks have mentioned it, and I think about it, I guess it does make sense for that one to be offset. It would be hard to see the right side if it wasn't, being recessed so far into the binacle.

I figured since you're looking at all the Dakota digital threads I would throw these up. The wire ferrules are game changers, perfect for these applications.

I've got almost 800 hours on my DD's haven't had a single issue. The lcd displays need warm up in heavy cold, but that's really pretty much it.

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[Silver Square]

I figured since you're looking at all the Dakota digital threads I would throw these up. The wire ferrules are game changers, perfect for these applications.

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Yeah, I just inquired about those in the other one thread lol. Wasn't sure if the original poster had used the hexagonal or square ferrules. Do you know which ones are right? I see the other guy hasn't been active on here in a few months, not sure if he's still around. I never even knew those existed, I could have used those for so many previous wiring jobs. Thanks!

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Yeah, I just inquired about those in the other one thread lol. Wasn't sure if the original poster had used the hexagonal or square ferrules. Do you know which ones are right? I see the other guy hasn't been active on here in a few months, not sure if he's still around. I never even knew those existed, I could have used those for so many previous wiring jobs. Thanks!

Doesn't matter, I believe it's mostly preference. The squares worked fine. I honestly didn't see any of those, the only difference should be the crimping tool.

 

[Silver Square]

Doesn't matter, I believe it's mostly preference. The squares worked fine. I honestly didn't see any of those, the only difference should be the crimping tool.

Yeah, it looks like the crimper is the only thing that's different. At least in the pix on the other guy's Amazon link. I'll get the square ones if they worked for you. I'm glad I decided to look for install threads for these. I found the BIM mounting bracket, a factory instrument cluster wiring adapter, and now these. Gonna make it much easier and neater to install. How did we ever get anything done before the internet lol. I'm kinda looking forward to it, but dreading it at the same time. I'm putting these in along with a Painless wiring harness, and a complete new interior with a power window/lock conversion. Keyless entry too. And a new stereo. Going to be a huge project, never tackled anyting like it before.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Yeah, it looks like the crimper is the only thing that's different. At least in the pix on the other guy's Amazon link. I'll get the square ones if they worked for you. I'm glad I decided to look for install threads for these. I found the BIM mounting bracket, a factory instrument cluster wiring adapter, and now these. Gonna make it much easier and neater to install. How did we ever get anything done before the internet lol. I'm kinda looking forward to it, but dreading it at the same time. I'm putting these in along with a Painless wiring harness, and a complete new interior with a power window/lock conversion. Keyless entry too. And a new stereo. Going to be a huge project, never tackled anyting like it before.

Squares are very easy to wire, other than some of the backwards antiquated crap they do. Like using the "same circuits" or bridging circuits for multiple different outputs. New vehicles usually all have separate circuits and wiring for everything. The gauges will clean up a lot of the mess under there by themselves.

But it's easy with a couple diagrams and figuring out those quirks. Starting from scratch will be a task, but that's a glorious thing to be able to route everything perfectly and neatly and finalize everything correctly. Nothing worse than fighting and searching through a rats nest harness, that has had 50 years of hackery. As well as making your own alterations. Mine isn't terrible but I still cringe looking at it, but I have some ocd issues lol.

The Dakota manual is fantastic, don't throw it out after either. Has setup and calibration info. Didn't have a single install or operation problem. I've always been impressed with the painless products and they've never done me wrong.

That cluster has been one of the best upgrades. Just knowing I have precise instrumentation, not always having that thought in the back of your head "is that gauge actually reading correct??" is a game changer for a daily.