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How To Install a Shift Light in the dash of a 1G DSM - PART 1 10/12/16
This is an article that will show how to put a shift light (and other “tell tale” lights) into your stock instrument cluster. I wanted a shift light in my 1g DSM because there is just so much going on in the cabin when I am at the track that the light would tell me I needed to shift all while watching the track, the Wideband, the Tree and everything else that goes on in the blink of an eye. What I didn’t want was a light that would almost blind me when it came on so I came up with this idea.
This article will be helpful if you are thinking about doing or wanting the same. Total time after you remove the cluster from the car is about an hour, maybe a hour and a half.
This next article link talks about and tries to show you how to remove the gauge cluster (and dash but you won’t need that part). It wasn't written by me but may help you get the cluster out. It is just a few screws underneath the trim pieces for the cluster and then you just pull straight out on the cluster with the steering wheel moved to its lowest position.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/1g-gauge-cluster-and-dash-removal.188723/
Follow steps 1 thru 3. We are just wanting to remove the cluster from the dash and then remove the Lens (clear part) and the Bezel (black part) and leave the gauges where they are, they won’t need any attention.
First off, I didn’t want to ruin an expensive shift light (if there is one) so I went to eBay. I was able to find a generic, tube type shift light. It was bulky and I sure didn’t want to mount it in my car in that fashion. I ordered a cheap light ($20 I think) and when it came in, I took it apart to see how I could make it work in the dash. I tested the LED and it was something like a 1.5 volt LED that was in the shift light that I bought so I couldn’t use a regular 12 volt LED, I was going to have to use the one on the shift light’s circuit board so I unsoldered it and soldered wires onto the board where the LED was mounted, making sure to keep the polarity the same…most LED’s are polarized so this is important or it won’t light. Make your extension wires long enough to reach where ever you decide to mount the circuit board and knob for adjusting your shift lights “ON” point. I placed mine under the dash, just barely sticking out, on the right side of the dash cluster. Easy to reach and adjust but out of the way so I don’t bump it since I am relying on it to tell me when to shift. Also, reinforce the new wire connections where the shift light LED used to be with some hot glue.
You can easily (or at least it was for me) peel the label for the shift light off (it is a washer with the label attached so remove the whole washer with the label) of the end of the “tube” like this, after you have removed the knob, nut and star washer from the end of the shift light. It is glued to the tube but with my pocket knife it was fairly easy to get unstuck. This will allow you to remove the circuit board from the shift light tube and reuse the label which is really just a close guess but you might as well use it for reference!
Next I found a drill slightly smaller than the LED to make a hole in the instrument panel with.
Next it was time to find the proper place to put the light. I wanted it close to the tach and close to the end of the scale. When I took the dash apart, I had forgotten ONE screw and when I was taking it apart, that screw busted the leg that it attached to off, but I was lucky and it was even in the proper place for my light so good for me (and LUCKY too).
Also luckily the screw and peg are not needed when you reassemble the dash!
I took this opportunity to find a place to mount my Water/Meth indicator also which is a smaller LED than the Shift Light LED so I checked it with my drill set and drilled a mounting hole for it at this time. ALWAYS make sure that you use too small of a drill bit and get gradually bigger so you don’t accidentally drill to large of a hole, they should push fit into place. I didn’t have to use any glue or adhesive to hold mine in but if you feel better about it then a dab of superglue on the back portion of the LED’s is ok, I wanted to be able to replace mine if they ever gave out so I did not use glue, just press fit.
Here is what your dash bezel will look like with the LED(s) in place.
Now looking at the gauge cluster, this is where the LED wires will come out of the back. If you decide to put some “accessory” LED’s in like my Water/Meth LED then you will need to carefully slit the circuit board ribbon on the back side to allow the wires to poke through.
Here is the neat thing about installing the shift light, the appropriate connections are ready for you on the back of the gauge cluster, just loosen the screw enough to fit your wire under the correct one and retighten and the wiring is all done!
Now go to the article: "How To Install a Shift Light in the dash of a 1G DSM - PART2" to finish up.
Here----> http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/how-to-install-a-shift-light-in-the-dash-of-a-1g-dsm-part2.506889/
This install was picture heavy so I had to split it into 2 articles, sorry about that!!!
This is an article that will show how to put a shift light (and other “tell tale” lights) into your stock instrument cluster. I wanted a shift light in my 1g DSM because there is just so much going on in the cabin when I am at the track that the light would tell me I needed to shift all while watching the track, the Wideband, the Tree and everything else that goes on in the blink of an eye. What I didn’t want was a light that would almost blind me when it came on so I came up with this idea.
This article will be helpful if you are thinking about doing or wanting the same. Total time after you remove the cluster from the car is about an hour, maybe a hour and a half.
This next article link talks about and tries to show you how to remove the gauge cluster (and dash but you won’t need that part). It wasn't written by me but may help you get the cluster out. It is just a few screws underneath the trim pieces for the cluster and then you just pull straight out on the cluster with the steering wheel moved to its lowest position.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/1g-gauge-cluster-and-dash-removal.188723/
Follow steps 1 thru 3. We are just wanting to remove the cluster from the dash and then remove the Lens (clear part) and the Bezel (black part) and leave the gauges where they are, they won’t need any attention.
First off, I didn’t want to ruin an expensive shift light (if there is one) so I went to eBay. I was able to find a generic, tube type shift light. It was bulky and I sure didn’t want to mount it in my car in that fashion. I ordered a cheap light ($20 I think) and when it came in, I took it apart to see how I could make it work in the dash. I tested the LED and it was something like a 1.5 volt LED that was in the shift light that I bought so I couldn’t use a regular 12 volt LED, I was going to have to use the one on the shift light’s circuit board so I unsoldered it and soldered wires onto the board where the LED was mounted, making sure to keep the polarity the same…most LED’s are polarized so this is important or it won’t light. Make your extension wires long enough to reach where ever you decide to mount the circuit board and knob for adjusting your shift lights “ON” point. I placed mine under the dash, just barely sticking out, on the right side of the dash cluster. Easy to reach and adjust but out of the way so I don’t bump it since I am relying on it to tell me when to shift. Also, reinforce the new wire connections where the shift light LED used to be with some hot glue.
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You can easily (or at least it was for me) peel the label for the shift light off (it is a washer with the label attached so remove the whole washer with the label) of the end of the “tube” like this, after you have removed the knob, nut and star washer from the end of the shift light. It is glued to the tube but with my pocket knife it was fairly easy to get unstuck. This will allow you to remove the circuit board from the shift light tube and reuse the label which is really just a close guess but you might as well use it for reference!
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
Next I found a drill slightly smaller than the LED to make a hole in the instrument panel with.
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
Next it was time to find the proper place to put the light. I wanted it close to the tach and close to the end of the scale. When I took the dash apart, I had forgotten ONE screw and when I was taking it apart, that screw busted the leg that it attached to off, but I was lucky and it was even in the proper place for my light so good for me (and LUCKY too).
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
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]Also luckily the screw and peg are not needed when you reassemble the dash!
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
I took this opportunity to find a place to mount my Water/Meth indicator also which is a smaller LED than the Shift Light LED so I checked it with my drill set and drilled a mounting hole for it at this time. ALWAYS make sure that you use too small of a drill bit and get gradually bigger so you don’t accidentally drill to large of a hole, they should push fit into place. I didn’t have to use any glue or adhesive to hold mine in but if you feel better about it then a dab of superglue on the back portion of the LED’s is ok, I wanted to be able to replace mine if they ever gave out so I did not use glue, just press fit.
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Here is what your dash bezel will look like with the LED(s) in place.
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Now looking at the gauge cluster, this is where the LED wires will come out of the back. If you decide to put some “accessory” LED’s in like my Water/Meth LED then you will need to carefully slit the circuit board ribbon on the back side to allow the wires to poke through.
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
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Here is the neat thing about installing the shift light, the appropriate connections are ready for you on the back of the gauge cluster, just loosen the screw enough to fit your wire under the correct one and retighten and the wiring is all done!
You must be logged in to view this image or video.
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Now go to the article: "How To Install a Shift Light in the dash of a 1G DSM - PART2" to finish up.
Here----> http://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/how-to-install-a-shift-light-in-the-dash-of-a-1g-dsm-part2.506889/
This install was picture heavy so I had to split it into 2 articles, sorry about that!!!
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