Drop-in LED instrument cluster lighting for 5.5 owners. Finally found one that works!
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Are the bulbs the same across the model years? I don't want to snag one if it may not fit. Also I was wondering how easy this one is to get to. The HVAC sort of turned me off given how much crap it involved but if the shifter is the same or easier than the cluster, I'd take a swing at it
The bulbs for the HVAC are the same for all years (00-03). Its really pretty simple, personally I think its easier than the cluster. While your at it, you can put the cellophane over the screen to match.Originally Posted by SeedyROM
Two quick questions for you or anyone that knows. Are the bulbs the same across the model years? I don't want to snag one if it may not fit. Also I was wondering how easy this one is to get to. The HVAC sort of turned me off given how much crap it involved but if the shifter is the same or easier than the cluster, I'd take a swing at it
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What I meant was the bulbs for the shifter, I was just saying I skipped HVAC because of the hassle even though it's not terrible. Any idea if shifter bulbs are the same across?Originally Posted by MAXXED_816
The bulbs for the HVAC are the same for all years (00-03). Its really pretty simple, personally I think its easier than the cluster. While your at it, you can put the cellophane over the screen to match.
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The shifter bulb size on the 2000/2001 is T10 Wedge (194, etc). I don't know if the 2002/2003 is the same, it's not listed anywhere in the FSM or online that I can find. I'd assume it's a T10.
The gauges are a T5 wedge.
As for getting it off, it was a bit of a pain but not too bad, and no fear of circuit board damage
The gauges are a T5 wedge.
As for getting it off, it was a bit of a pain but not too bad, and no fear of circuit board damage
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TunerMax could you give a brief instruction on removing 00/01 auto shifter to access the bulb?
This LED movement has really given my bland interior some well needed taste, now for AE door sills and 350z dead pedal!! But anyways, heres what I have as of right now...a lot of which inspired by the org.
I still need one more LED for the small screen on instrument cluster
Not sure why HVAC looks so dim in 2nd photo, the first one does just justice. But I recently changed color of the HVAC screen. Two sheets of purple cellophane.


Changed the clock as well, two sheets of purple.

I just finished up soldering up all connections for these today. They are 9" strips of 24 blue wide angled LEDs. Tapped into 12v outlet and wired to a blue LED switch. I drilled a hole through the bottom, and filed down the edges of the coin holder to fit the switch. Then I painted it to black to match. They are EXTREMELY bright, although they aren't visible from outside the car cuz of my dark tint, which is good lol


This LED movement has really given my bland interior some well needed taste, now for AE door sills and 350z dead pedal!! But anyways, heres what I have as of right now...a lot of which inspired by the org.
I still need one more LED for the small screen on instrument cluster
Not sure why HVAC looks so dim in 2nd photo, the first one does just justice. But I recently changed color of the HVAC screen. Two sheets of purple cellophane.


Changed the clock as well, two sheets of purple.

I just finished up soldering up all connections for these today. They are 9" strips of 24 blue wide angled LEDs. Tapped into 12v outlet and wired to a blue LED switch. I drilled a hole through the bottom, and filed down the edges of the coin holder to fit the switch. Then I painted it to black to match. They are EXTREMELY bright, although they aren't visible from outside the car cuz of my dark tint, which is good lol


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00/01 you have to lift the silver bezel over the black tabs that look like they clip in to hold it down. Theres 2 tabs on both sides and they were pretty tough on my friends car. Then you have to pull up on the entire silver piece and hope it doesnt snap (theres two long silver "arms" sticking out front and back that will bend enough in order to pull the silver part up) and turn it sideways to access the bulb, The silver piece will remain around the shifter arm the whole time. The 00/01 has a T10 base and the 02/03 has a T5 baseOriginally Posted by MAXXED_816
TunerMax could you give a brief instruction on removing 00/01 auto shifter to access the bulb?
this link has a picture of the tabs you need to pop out http://home.comcast.net/~kcmurphy72/i30/HVAC.pdf
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this link has a picture of the tabs you need to pop out http://home.comcast.net/~kcmurphy72/i30/HVAC.pdf
Thanks man appreciate it. Thats what I figured, just wanted to confirm before I started yankin' on stuff lol. I just gave it a test run, my pry tool worked perfect to undo the tabs. Now I wait for my bulb...Originally Posted by LongoTE
00/01 you have to lift the silver bezel over the black tabs that look like they clip in to hold it down. Theres 2 tabs on both sides and they were pretty tough on my friends car. Then you have to pull up on the entire silver piece and hope it doesnt snap (theres two long silver "arms" sticking out front and back that will bend enough in order to pull the silver part up) and turn it sideways to access the bulb, The silver piece will remain around the shifter arm the whole time. The 00/01 has a T10 base and the 02/03 has a T5 basethis link has a picture of the tabs you need to pop out http://home.comcast.net/~kcmurphy72/i30/HVAC.pdf
Haha, I have that same Eris phone and the low light pickup is terrible which is why the difference even bigger than some past pics. That said, it's still a damn huge jump in brightness.
Glad it worked out for ya!
Glad it worked out for ya!

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Glad it worked out for ya!
Originally Posted by SeedyROM
Haha, I have that same Eris phone and the low light pickup is terrible which is why the difference even bigger than some past pics. That said, it's still a damn huge jump in brightness. Glad it worked out for ya!
Gonna tackle HVAC next. OEM bulbs never worked the same after I installed aftermarket headunit several (several) years ago. Had to tap side of center console to get them to work 100% sometimes.Just never took time to rip it apart...
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Warm White L.E.D.'s
Before:
Pics taken with HTC Eris (CM7 GSBv3.4)
Which LED's exactly did you buy? This is exactly what I'm looking for, just increased WHITE light, not the blue stuff.Originally Posted by nismopc
BEST 30 minute modification ever!!! 
Warm White L.E.D.'s
Before:

Pics taken with HTC Eris (CM7 GSBv3.4)
*EDIT* I'm assuming you ordered the 74-WWHP3 from here:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-b...2F74-xHP3.html
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Since we kind of jammed a discussion about the Clock color into this thread, anyone up for a segue into the little mood light over the shifter? Honestly, I didn't even know it was there until about a year ago... mine is really, really dim. This might be a 5.5 thing, or a MT thing... IDK.
Does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
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Does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
You'll find it when you pull the AC control. It uses a plastic prism too disperse the light onto the shifter. Mine had a layer of film on it which was making the light very dim. Bulb should be easy enough to swap out, but I like low light levels inside when I'm driving at night. I don't think I would want anything brighter than the AC control LEDs I installed.Originally Posted by Rochester
Since we kind of jammed a discussion about the Clock color into this thread, anyone up for a segue into the little mood light over the shifter? Honestly, I didn't even know it was there until about a year ago... mine is really, really dim. This might be a 5.5 thing, or a MT thing... IDK.Does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
SN: I received your gift. I haven't installed it yet, but I wanted to say thanks!
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Does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
I actually squeezed a cool white bulb in there, the ones we're using for the gauges. Looks good now. Clear prism thing disperses the light, no blue tint like the gauges, so it actually looks Cool White.Originally Posted by Rochester
Since we kind of jammed a discussion about the Clock color into this thread, anyone up for a segue into the little mood light over the shifter? Honestly, I didn't even know it was there until about a year ago... mine is really, really dim. This might be a 5.5 thing, or a MT thing... IDK.Does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
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Rochester, you purchased an extra (spare) T5 HP3 right? Put that sucker in there, it will fit 
FYI, all 5th gen's have that light.
Oh and another tidbit of info, those HP3's should fit in your Keyring too, albiet installation in the key ring may require you to remove the piece of plastic because the HP3 may be just a bit longer. You'll see what I mean, I haven't tried the HP3 in there yet.
I'm waiting for pictures, I"mm pretty sure you guys are going to start buying 6 instead of 4 once a picture or two gets posted.
FYI, all 5th gen's have that light.
Oh and another tidbit of info, those HP3's should fit in your Keyring too, albiet installation in the key ring may require you to remove the piece of plastic because the HP3 may be just a bit longer. You'll see what I mean, I haven't tried the HP3 in there yet.
I'm waiting for pictures, I"mm pretty sure you guys are going to start buying 6 instead of 4 once a picture or two gets posted.
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Yep. I have one extra cool-white, and now I have 3 extra warm-whites that I don't need.Originally Posted by TunerMaxima3000
Rochester, you purchased an extra (spare) T5 HP3 right? Put that sucker in there, it will fit Still haven't figured out how to remove the climate control stuff. Maybe I'm slow... took me forever to figure out the cluster removal process, LOL.
I finally got my LED bulbs and did this today. Wow, what a difference. Anyone who thinks their factory lighting is adequate needs to see this in person.
Now I need more bulbs for the climate control and the key ring. Hopefully my new headunit and dash kit get here soon too, my whole dash will be good to go
Anyone have any how-to's on the door switches or are they soldered in place?
Now I need more bulbs for the climate control and the key ring. Hopefully my new headunit and dash kit get here soon too, my whole dash will be good to go
Anyone have any how-to's on the door switches or are they soldered in place?Junior Member
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In this thread a few members have had a go at that very project, search on my friendOriginally Posted by Tatanko
Anyone have any how-to's on the door switches or are they soldered in place?
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Now I need more bulbs for the climate control and the key ring. Hopefully my new headunit and dash kit get here soon too, my whole dash will be good to go
Anyone have any how-to's on the door switches or are they soldered in place?
Yessir, we chatted about it. They are a solder in item. I offer a full conversion for $100 if you're not comfortable/able to do it yourself.Originally Posted by Tatanko
I finally got my LED bulbs and did this today. Wow, what a difference. Anyone who thinks their factory lighting is adequate needs to see this in person.Now I need more bulbs for the climate control and the key ring. Hopefully my new headunit and dash kit get here soon too, my whole dash will be good to go
Anyone have any how-to's on the door switches or are they soldered in place?
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I stopped keeping up with this thread back on like page 4, I've missed a lot! Originally Posted by bred
In this thread a few members have had a go at that very project, search on my friend

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Is there a write-up? I would be interested in seeing what was involved. I did a lot of LED soldering when I had my '95 way back when.Originally Posted by TunerMaxima3000
Yessir, we chatted about it. They are a solder in item. I offer a full conversion for $100 if you're not comfortable/able to do it yourself.
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Is there a write-up?
I haven't seen one done, that's not to say one isn't in existance. Have a look over the notes in this thread.Originally Posted by Tatanko
Is there a write-up?
In short though, you're best just jumping into it, once you have the LED's needed it's fairly straightforward. On the 02/03 you can use SMD's or 3mm LED's in the front boards without adding resistors (the stock resistors are integral to the board). The rears use a 3mm LED and you'll have to solder resistors onto them.
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Before I sign off.....
Found this: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479058...-maxima/page-3
Just picked up a soldering iron the other day, so I think I might take a stab at it, at least the fronts. We'll see.
Found this: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479058...-maxima/page-3
Just picked up a soldering iron the other day, so I think I might take a stab at it, at least the fronts. We'll see.
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Looking at the link that MAXXED shared, it looks really similar to the 4th gen. setups (they came with two different styles of LEDs in the switches depending on the year; my '95 had regular LEDs vs. my '98 had SMT LEDs I think). The fronts look like a piece of cake. Maybe I'll do the fronts myself and mail you the rears to do Originally Posted by TunerMaxima3000
In short though, you're best just jumping into it, once you have the LED's needed it's fairly straightforward. On the 02/03 you can use SMD's or 3mm LED's in the front boards without adding resistors (the stock resistors are integral to the board). The rears use a 3mm LED and you'll have to solder resistors onto them.

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Found this: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479058...-maxima/page-3
Thanks so much for the link!Originally Posted by MAXXED_816
Before I sign off.....Found this: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/479058...-maxima/page-3
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Just placed my order for these cant wait....seeing everybody else's like Damn it...then you drive at night like this is wack time for a upgrade....

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I also find myself in this boat. I mean MAYBE $50 tops for every single light in my interior to be LED, c'mon.Originally Posted by SeedyROM
The cheap bastard in me loves that spending just $15 improves my driving experience
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This guy. Originally Posted by luvlexus101
Look at all of you getting excited over some LEDs

For those of you who don't recognize luvlexus101... I've seen his car. LED's are everywhere. In the car, under the hood, in the trunk, etc.
We affectionately refer to Greg as "Puddlelights".
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For those of you who don't recognize luvlexus101... I've seen his car. LED's are everywhere. In the car, under the hood, in the trunk, etc.
We affectionately refer to Greg as "Puddlelights".
Originally Posted by Rochester
This guy. 
For those of you who don't recognize luvlexus101... I've seen his car. LED's are everywhere. In the car, under the hood, in the trunk, etc.
We affectionately refer to Greg as "Puddlelights".


Seriously,
am I missing?
I put in the bulb, it doesn't work. I flip it 180, it doesn't work. Am I being stupid, is there a small detail that I'm missing?
am I missing?I put in the bulb, it doesn't work. I flip it 180, it doesn't work. Am I being stupid, is there a small detail that I'm missing?
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^^sometimes the "wires" for lack of better term..that come up along the sides of the wedge base can get misaligned and not make contact with the socket.
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am I missing?
I put in the bulb, it doesn't work. I flip it 180, it doesn't work. Am I being stupid, is there a small detail that I'm missing?
Make sure you don't incidentally turn the socket 180 also. I think I did that once. Then, I discovered there was no need to pull the led back out. Just turning the socket 180 will switch the polarity. You bought new sockets, right? Are the leds tight in the socket?Originally Posted by NmexMAX
Seriously,
am I missing?I put in the bulb, it doesn't work. I flip it 180, it doesn't work. Am I being stupid, is there a small detail that I'm missing?
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T10 instead of T5? Easy mistake to make. Sucks.Originally Posted by NmexMAX
These new sockets are the wrong ones.




