cole_grant

Yesterday I saw a write-up that someone had done on converting all of your dash lights to LEDs, but now I can't find it. I know it's my fault for not bookmarking it, but does anyone have any idea where I can find this or something like it?

Michael

iTrader: (21)

That is my write up. The link is on Craigs page here.

Click on how to.

There are a bunch of other great things that Craig has done along with some other people as well.

cole_grant

Thanks, I had a feeling I could find it on Craig's page, just like everything else. One thing I didn't see, though, was instructions for switching over the guage and needle lights to LEDs. Any help there?

disgruntled

iTrader: (7)

gauge and needle lights to LED is not a good idea, mainly because LEDs have a narrow path of light versus the all around output of the incandecent ones, and our gauges were designed to used incandecent bulbs.

It will work, but you will have "cold" spots.

cole_grant

So are there any options for changing the guage lights to something that would look better with LEDs ("hyper-white" incandescents, maybe?), without having to put in ugly custom guage faces?

fuzzyuu

I've bought a number of prefit LED's from http://www.autolumination.com

He's an awesome guy. Stuff looks good too. Right now, (In my Honda) I have Red LED's behind the gauges and UV LED's above them. Looks pretty cool, but the red could look better.

cole_grant

You think wide-angle or diffused LEDs would work in the guages and needles?

fuzzyuu

The gauges, yeah. I don't know anything about the needle mods. Can you post info on that?

Michael

iTrader: (21)

The concave LEDs work very well for the instrument cluster. I use them and they are very even with no cold spots BUT they not as bright as I would like. They may have some brighter ones now though.

Here is where I got all my LEDs including the 194 single concave tip LEDs for the instrument cluster. http://www.superbrightleds.com/index.htm



also someone used to make a LED needle for our car. mtcookson has some. I cant remember where to get them though. Basically the needle has its own LED or something and its seperate from the rest of the cluster.

hadman

iTrader: (21)

I hope you don't mind me jumping in with a question, but it's sort of related. I replaced the regular 168 dash gauge bulbs with colored 194's (not led), and even though all the bulbs work, the speedo needle is the only one that has never lit up properly. Looks great otherwise, and better than stock whites, but this has always stumped me considering all the bulbs work.
Anyone know what might be causing this?

I can't attach files here on the org, but you can quickly download a pic of my gauges here:
http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1...X3A2VZTVQZSX25

«§»Craig B«§»

iTrader: (5)

not sure what the problem is, but just wanted to say that the stock bulbs are 194, not 168.

Michael

iTrader: (21)

Right off I see exactly what is wrong. The pointer has turned yellow (or just discolored) over time and does not allow as much light through as it used to. I have had a couple of pointers that were like that too. If you look at the ring around your lighter chances are you will see that it has turned yellow as well. I have had only one lighter ring that wasnt discolored and let the light shine correctly. I wish I had kept it.


You can either find someone that has swapped their cluster because it went bad and see if they will let you get the needle or you can try to find the LED needles I talked about earlier.

hadman

iTrader: (21)

lol Craig. It was 4am when I worte that. I was a little fuzzy. Yeah, i know. I meant to say I changed the 194's to 168. I did this swap about 3 years years ago.
Michael. Good point. Could try that. The lighter ring is still good tho.

cole_grant

Anyone ever dealt with these guys?
http://www.besthongkong.com/index.php

hadman

iTrader: (21)

Nope. What is registration for - the forums?

cole_grant

I don't know, but it's free to register and they seem to have pretty good prices.

disgruntled

iTrader: (7)

try this place here, I think its based in the states since they make reference to Radio Shack, and the prices are super cheap, personally, I wouldn't deal with sites that are based off shore, since you can get your *** into a scam and never be able to do anything about it, then again, you can do **** if its based in the US anyway.

here's the site if anyone wants to check it out for themselves :

http://www.lsdiodes.com/

cole_grant

Okay, one more question...will it make much of a difference which brightness of LED I go with? And awsm66 how many mcd are the LEDs that you used putting out, and do you have a recommendation?

Maxzilla91

IIRC i got 3000mcd 3mm blue LEDs and i put them in my switches, at first they seem to take away my attention from the road cuz they're so bright, but i got used to it, and the dimmer still works with them...

http://members.shaw.ca/sunny_cps/IMG_0084.JPG

cole_grant

Looks good. What did you use for the guages?

Maxzilla91

i got red incandecent bulbs from a local rice shop.. they're not as bright as stock, but it's decent..

cole_grant

Can the needle take an LED, or does it use the same light source as the guage face, or what? I kind of want to find out as much as I can before I tear apart my dash. BTW, is the incandescent a 194?

Maxzilla91

yes it's 194.. needles use same light from gauges. that's y i chose red, cuz' that would look good with the orange needles..

but i think it is possible to frankinstein an LED for ur needles.. just takes some work and creativity..

cole_grant

Alright, sounds easy enough, now I just have to make it work.

disgruntled

iTrader: (7)

Maxnub91, can you please tell me how you change the light of the A/C control unit? can you just basically do a led swap and bend the leds or do you have to gut the whole thing? thanks.

Michael

iTrader: (21)

I dont want to answer for him but you can just swap them in with a resistor on the back of them (because a resistor on the wire messes up the display) BUT you will have major hot spots like in his pic.

To cure this I found some plastic diffusers (for lack of a better term) that spread the light evenly. I never completely installed them but tested them on the left side of the buttons. They worked well there but the major problem is the right side and I cant remember if I tested them on that side or not because its been so long ago. One day I will get to that and post my results.

disgruntled

iTrader: (7)

shweet, I overlooked the fact that his A/C control unit is digital, mine is analog, but should be the same I guess. Thanks for the ans.

Maxzilla91

i just soldered a resistor to one leg of the LED and swaped it in to replace the old bulb. the bottom row of buttons aren't getting hot spots... it's the "Auto/Econ" cluster being cold spots. and it's a major pain for me.

they got this big white plastic diffuser behind those large buttons, i don't want to break my auto climate by doing too much frankinsteining so i just left it as is.. i'll resume working on the car when the weather gets warmer tho...

Michael

iTrader: (21)

Yeah I know what its doing...I did the same thing...hot spots/cold spots...its all how you look at it. Here is what you need to fix the problems.



Like I said I cant remember if I did it on the right side but know that it really made the light even on the left side. I would assume I tried it on the right too since that is the problems spot but its been so long since I messed with I really cant remember. I remember it was also close and barely fit behind the button without hitting. Also you have to drill the hole where the lights go in just a tad for the holder to fit in there...or you can break the tabs off of the holder and figure out how to make it work. I would say that is the best bet so that you can go back to having bulbs later if you want or if the holder doesnt turn out like you want.

I actually found these things when I was looking for LED clips to put some LEDs in my computer case. When I got them in I figured I would try them on the ACC. That is why I didnt really do much in the way of pics or a write up. I figured I would eventually get around to it but never got any new LEDs to try it out.

Michael

iTrader: (21)

MCC is totally different. The bulbs (only 2 compared to 4 on the ACC) on the MCC go strait down and will probably cause more cold spots than the ACC. You just have to play with it and see.