Installed superbright red LED's in my cluster and switches

[rodent]

That not good. Maybe I won't be doing the mirror... Bulb must of been stuck.

 

[chinojuice]

Don't get me wrong, they still work perfectly. They just weren't suppose to come out like this, only the bulb was. I just decided I would like to see how it was held in there and pulled them til they came out.

 

[SeaveeDSM]

Finished mine a couple of nights ago - gauge cluster and the switches combined took about 2 hours. Tomorrow I tackle the HVAC lights. Going to order the lights for the kick panels and also the hatch (is the hatch light the same bulb as the kick panels?).

Thank you Rodent for the info on this. Its an inexpensive and relatively easy mod that really updates the look of the dash. The overall red color is far more attractive than the hideous "orange-ish" Mitsu OEM. Probably better on one's night vision as well -although with the headlights, etc. thats probably irrelevant.

Something very important I want to point out for those considering this mod:

The pictures absolutely DO NOT look like it does in real life. The pictures unfortunately look hazy, washed out and with dead spots and lack of uniformity of the light across the gauge(s). That is not at all how it actually looks to the human eye - it looks great and "OEM factory" actually.

For some reason the LED lighting is not being picked up and reproduced correctly by a camera. With the red LED lights there is ZERO wash out, absolutely NO dead spots, the light is uniform throughout and again, it looks OEM quality.

I suggest ordering 2-3 EXTRAS of each of the bulb types. I messed up one of each removing and replacing due to having the wrong polarity. They broke not because of a short or anything but because the fit is at times tight and the twisting and prying broke 2 of 'em. No biggie because they are cheap but probably impossible to get locally if you screw it up.

Oh, Thanks to a referral from Paul @ JNZtuning (I cant' speak highly enough about how aesome those guys at JNZ are) I just ordered WHITE gauge face overlays. Got them from Import Intelligence Custom Gauges faces, performance auto service and repair - West Chester, Pa Will post pics when they arrive and after install too.

These are NOT the "indiglo" style gauge face overlays that completely cover the existing instruments and have their own lighting. Those would of course defeat the new red LED cluster lighting which shines through the stock gauge lettering/numbering. Rather, these are overlays with cutouts for the existing OEM letters and numbers so the backlighting still comes through. I ordered both the gauge faces and the HVAC overlay in white. This should look awesome with my car being white. See:

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[chinojuice]

The kick panels and hatch bulbs aren't the same. The hatch uses something close to 27mm in length, the same type (not length) of bulb in the dome(rear-view mirror) light. rodent posted the type of kickpanel bulbs in post 49 - the WLED-WHP9.

Import Intelligence is a great place. Got a pair of white HVACs about 2 years ago. Holds up great, but I regret buying the white because my OZ edition has silver flake, . Idiot me...

 

[rodent]

Thanks SeaveeDSM! Glad you're happy like I was with the results. Great input too!

The kick panels and hatch bulbs aren't the same. The hatch uses something close to 27mm in length, the same type (not length) of bulb in the dome(rear-view mirror) light. rodent posted the type of kickpanel bulbs in post 49 - the WLED-WHP9.

Import Intelligence is a great place. Got a pair of white HVACs about 2 years ago. Holds up great, but I regret buying the white because my OZ edition has silver flake, . Idiot me...

We should post all the bulb numbers of the following so there's no confusion-
kick panels (2 bulbs)
mirror (2 bulbs)
kick panel (1 bulb)

 

[azdave]

just for some reference i guess. but i kinda pulled out the connectors holding the bulb in the mirror. it didn't feel like coming out so i ripped em from their little glue companion. pictures not clear. but idea is there.

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The old plastic is brittle up inside the mirror and it is a common problem that the push-in retainers pop loose from the slot when you try to change the bulb. I used RTV to fix them as it takes the heat and also stays flexible.

If you are into making your owm LED substitutions here are two sizes of festoon bulbs I have made using 5-chip white LEDs and a few simple parts. There is more info in HIDplanet in this thread if you want to know more.
LED Festoon Bulb

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[rodent]

Great info Dave!

I already purchased this 3022 bulb for the hatch area:

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Cost was 7 bucks. I assume the mirror uses the same 3022 bulb or is it different? I tried to go to that link but it needs a login. I may have to sign up.

I just wanted to say again you've done some impressive electrical work on your car!

 

[talon_swift7834]

The LEDs look good. Might have to do that to mine.

 

[azdave]

Great info Dave!

I already purchased this 3022 bulb for the hatch area:

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Cost was 7 bucks. I assume the mirror uses the same 3022 bulb or is it different? I tried to go to that link but it needs a login. I may have to sign up.

I just wanted to say again you've done some impressive electrical work on your car!

rodent,

The trunk bulb is different than the mirror bulb so either of the two I showed in my post do not fit in the trunk receptacle. The trunk light requires the little pointed tips, as shown in your post, to fit the holder tension clips. I make my own super bright LED trunk lights too so I completely remove the OEM holder.

 

[chinojuice]

wow. great posts. definitely thanks for the info on the bulbs and the forum.

 

[SeaveeDSM]

I installed the HVAC light today along with my brand spanking new OEM sunroof glass. Took a bunch of sequential step-by-step pics of getting to the HVAC light and will post later tonight so its maybe easier for the next person.

 

[rodent]

I installed the HVAC light today along with my brand spanking new OEM sunroof glass. Took a bunch of sequential step-by-step pics of getting to the HVAC light and will post later tonight so its maybe easier for the next person.

Awesome! Thanks for doing that! I think it would really help others trying to do this.

I snapped a few more of mine but as usual, the color is wrong and most of them are blurry.

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Even though they can be any color, my stereo actually has red buttons on the left, not light orange!

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My AvicD3 NAV/DVD images which you can't see in the pics that well:

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Notice how the red the Avic images look compared to my photos.

 

[azdave]

...Took a bunch of sequential step-by-step pics of getting to the HVAC light and will post later tonight so its maybe easier for the next person.

Have you seen the two step-by-step 2G HVAC LED tech articles already posted? Just trying to save you some work unless your method is different.

2G How to remove HVAC cluster

2G HVAC LED install

 

[rodent]

Have you seen the two step-by-step 2G HVAC LED tech articles already posted? Just trying to save you some work unless your method is different.

2G How to remove HVAC cluster

2G HVAC LED install

This is a great write up if you're planning on replacing the inner clear plastic with a strand of LED's but we're only talking about replacing just the HVAC bulb. You don't have to remove the HVAC or take it apart just to replace the bulb.

 

[SeaveeDSM]

Thanks for those links, saves me having to upload all the pics.

Basially once I got the top vent out, I then pulled out the A/C switch and the HVAC light socket is just below and to the driver's side. You can reach over and twist it off but its a tight fit. Small fingers work there or a small short set of needle nose pliers that you can grab the base from the top down and turn. Putting it back in is a bit of a PITA as its tight clearance to turn but it can be done.

I think I figured out how to maybe light the "blue curve" on the HVAC cold/hot side by itself with blue light....

Import Intelligence sells strands of lighted neon wire. See: Import Intelligence Custom Gauges faces, performance auto service and repair - West Chester, Pa I'm sure other companies make similar lighted strands of wire.

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Borrowing a pic from one of the how to threads:

If you separate the front HVAC face from the back inner part, you could then tape the lighted blue wire only over the back of the blue "cold" temp curve using silver reflective adhesive tape. Just cut the tape carefully so that it only covers the back of the blue section, if necessary run clear nail polish over the edges of the tape to make sure its sealed down flush. Then the neon blue wire could be powered tapping into the same wires that are powering the red LED.

Something like this is exactly how the panel switches on my boat are lighted and its done with a lighted blue wire as well.

I'm gonna hit a boneyard and see if I can find one to scavenge for cheap and test.

 

[miniturbo23]

i WANT em too! I dont like indeglos or white faces or it looks too funny just oem with that red would look nasty! now how do I order some for my cluster!? is it just the little black plastic and bulbs that twist on the back that you replace?

 

[CrazyM]

WOW! This is exactly what I'm looking into doing for my 1G right now! Anyone else done it to theirs before?

Know exactly what\how many bulbs to use?

 

[rodent]

i WANT em too! I dont like indeglos or white faces or it looks too funny just oem with that red would look nasty! now how do I order some for my cluster!? is it just the little black plastic and bulbs that twist on the back that you replace?

Yes, its the small black plastic pieces that twist on the back.

WOW! This is exactly what I'm looking into doing for my 1G right now! Anyone else done it to theirs before?

Know exactly what\how many bulbs to use?

No idea. Nobody will step up and give any 1g bulb info.

 

[Spanky2324]

So just to clarify to swap the hvac lights with LED we don't have to remove the unit but just pop out the vent part above and I'll be able to get to the lights to change? Did the cluster and it works and looks great. Awesome idea rodent.

 

[rodent]

So just to clarify to swap the hvac lights with LED we don't have to remove the unit but just pop out the vent part above and I'll be able to get to the lights to change? Did the cluster and it works and looks great. Awesome idea rodent.

Thats correct. Its a PITA to get to but can be done with some time and patience.

Glad you like the way the cluster turned out.

 

[pokerfan4990]

Ik this is old guys, but I have a question for anyone who did this...do any of you know how well this would go with "amber" prosport gauges? They are way off of the factory lighting. The gauges are almost red. I am trying to match this color as closely as possible.

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From the picture it looks pretty close but not sure since you said the red lighting looks a lot different in person.

 

[blackGSX2g]

Ik this is old guys, but I have a question for anyone who did this...do any of you know how well this would go with "amber" prosport gauges? They are way off of the factory lighting. The gauges are almost red. I am trying to match this color as closely as possible.

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From the picture it looks pretty close but not sure since you said the red lighting looks a lot different in person.

I have clear lens Amber/White Prosport gauges. If you just hook up the power and ground wires (leave the trigger wire for white & amber unplugged), there is a red LED in the gauge that lights up the needle. It matches my red LEDs in the gauge cluster perfectly. It probably wouldn't work very well if the lenses are tinted, but it works great for the clear lens ones.

 

[pokerfan4990]

Hmm ya I have the tinted ones. Did you use the same leds as in this thread? If so do you maybe have a picture of the gauges and cluster together? Thanks.

 

[rodent]

The red LED's should match that gauge perfect. Like I said, my pictures come out orange but the stock gauges are more red in person.

 

[pokerfan4990]

Ok cool. When i first saw the pics I thought that they would match almost perfect, can't wait to try it.