All civic Si hatchbacks and CRXs came with clusters that had tachs. Fortunately for us, any of those clusters will fit into your DX or standard without any trouble. That's right, they bolt/plug right in and everything works provided you get the cluster that is right for your year. The wiring and shape is the same for 88 and 89s and is the same between 90 and 91. So, if you have an 88 you can get a cluster from an 89 Si or an 88-89 CRX. Then if you have a 90 you can get a cluster from a 90-91 civic Si or CRX. Just don't mix the years, the wiring and shape is much different. If you end up with the wrong year cluster the tach wont work, some of the lights will come on at random times and you will probably blow fuses. If you are thinking "I wont end up with the wrong year" then I think I should let you know that I have twice. The people at the junkyard are dumb and keep giving me 90-91 clusters when I ask for an 89 Si cluster. I took some pics comparing the two so you don't get the wrong one.
�
�
�- phillips screwdriver
- flat tip screw driver
- 19mm socket, extension, and ratchet (if you wanna take off the steering wheel)
- an Si or CRX cluster
- 1 hour max, longer if you have to take the wrong year cluster back to the junkyard because they are dumb
First, you need to decide if you want to take out the steering wheel. If you do, do it now. Next, the black part of the dash needs to come out. To do that you need to take out four screws with your phillips screwdriver and attempt to not break 6 clips. Two of the screws are on either side of the steering column on the bottom of the black plastic, and the other two are directly north of the first two on the under side of the cluster bezel. Once you get those out you move onto the clips. There are three brittle plastic clips above the middle vents, another plastic one above the driver side vent, one metal clip below the drivers vent, and one metal clip below the passenger side middle vent (is that confusing?). I only worry about the plastic clips because they are easy to break and when they break you will get little rattles that'll drive you nuts. I shove a flat tip screw driver in between the black plastic and the dash above the vents and press the clips down while pulling out the black thing (maybe we'll just call it the "dash bezel" from now on because I am sick of typing "the black thing"). Its a pain and I end up getting frustrated with holding them down and just pull. Whatever. Try the screw driver first. When pulling out the bezel make sure and unplug the electrical stuff like the dimmer, the defroster and the clock (even if you don't have one the wiring is there).
Once you get the dash bezel out you have to take off the part of the dash directly above the cluster. We're going to call it the "cluster hat" or just "hat" because I don't know the real name for it and I cant think of anything more creative and/or fitting for this little beast. If you are a masochist or don't know what I am talking about then you probably don't have to take it off, but I would imagine that it would be a giant pain in the ass to unplug the speedo cable and plugs if it were left on. On we go. There are 2 screws and 3 clips that hold the cluster hat in place. The two screws are close to the windshield and under dash colored covers. Pop off the covers with your flat tip and bust out the phillips again to get the screws. If you want, you can use a shorty phillips because they are kind of close to the windshield but I was fine with a normal sized one. Anyway, after you get the 2 screws out you have to pop the clips on the top of the cluster hat panel. Once again I used the flat tip.
Now you get to unplug. Remember where the cluster hat was? Reach your hand in there and unplug the speedo cable and the electrical plugs on both sides of the cluster. All of them have little tabs that you depress with your stubby little fingers and then pull. Easy as pie, cake, 1-2-3, or a-b-c.
To physically take the cluster out you need to take out 4 more phillips screws. But here you have a choice. The cluster is bolted to two metal brackets which are bolted to the dash. So, you can either unbolt the cluster from the brackets or unbolt the brackets from the dash then transfer the brackets to the new cluster. I have only done the latter. The top screws holding the cluster to the brackets look like they would be tough to get to so I never tried it.
�
�
�
�
�
�