cmd26

iTrader: (6)

Neo4 HP whatever color you want for the climate controls

paxan600

Mine in red

paxan600

SeedyROM

Certainly looks bright enough. How close to real life would you say those pics are? Perhaps a bit overexposed or pretty close?

ShocknAwe

iTrader: (3)

just friendly advice for those who are thinking of adding in LED's. DONT OVERPAY!!! a set of 2 194's should be no more than $10

SeedyROM

This thread is mainly about gauge cluster lighting but you're talking about 194s for the interior. That said, while LEDs are more money they are far brighter and dump more light than even the best 194s...and I've tried dozens of them over nearly a decade in my vehicles. Everything from $5 knockoffs to the entire catalog at Auto Zone to $60 ultras from Japan and not a single one compares to a quality LED.

So yes, if your budget is a strict $10 and you want to slightly improve your interior lighting then by all means hit the local auto parts store. If you want to drastically improve your lighting, customize colors and not have to buy new ones every year or two: Spend a few extra bucks and get some LEDs.

RR5

iTrader: (6)

All that and more! Quality LEDS will outlast incandescent bulbs by a far margin and as an added bonus; don't create as much heat!

02whitemaximase

iTrader: (38)

I'm surprised no one has used a different color for the lcd screens on their gauges.

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

Do you mean a color other than stock? If so, you may have missed a couple posts while you were reading through the pages.

Alex01

Sincerest thanks to SeedyROM for this thread. I got my interior (instument panel, CC, and all other lights) done minus the map light which is on it's way, and the interior of my car looks incredible!

Now to figure out a way to get the lights for the radio controls fixed.

LongoTE

The radio control lights are very frisky from what I've read. A difficult job for any non-expert on LED swapping. But there's always a time to learn I guess

As for the map lights what size were the bases? ba9?

Stason

Holy crap, those bulbs are REALLY STUCK in their bases. Ruined one completely, ruined the second one partially. Dealership - $5 each. FML

Gonna go break the bulbs and pull them out. BAHHHH

RR5

iTrader: (6)

Here's some info on what looks to be a replacement bulb for the OE bulb http://forums.maxima.org/8048831-post332.html I haven't bought these yet.. still wondering if there's any huge interest for me to get some comparison photos.

LongoTE

Has anyone checked out the V-LEDs? I have been wanting to replace my warm white cluster with the cool white bulbs so I compared the competition. SBLED rates their HP3 bulb at 8200k and VLED has two cool white versions at 5000k and 6000k. Those might be a better alternative for those who want less blue hue.

The 8200ks might act as if they are slightly brighter because they produce a more blue light so more of the light is passed through the blue tint on the backside of the gauges.



EDIT: Found other bulbs.

These new bulbs i found on ebay have two more SMDs on the side of the bulb than SUPERBRIGHTLEDs or VLEDs do. They come in a cool white color but there is no "K" kelvin rating on them. I figured the extra light will make the guages brighter and less hot spotted.
(for future reference to make any future installs less painful, Take a 9v battery to the LED and mark down which side of the bulb is positive with a red marker. When you install the LEDs in the gauges, after you twist the holders in, make sure the positive side of the bulb is facing upwards toward the windshield and all the bulbs should light up first try)

Here is what the new bulbs look like compared to SuperBrightLED WarmWhites (3mm longer)



Here is what the warm whites looked like installed. (I tried to take the most color correct photos an iPhone can provide.)

More closely resembles the lighting on the stock BOSE buttons.



And what the new bulbs look like installed. Compare the guages in this photo to the clock and radio screens of the previous photo.

Closer color to the clock mod but not absolutely perfect. Only slightly dim spots i can find are at 20Mph and 7000RPM. I cant want to see how they look in the early morning and afternoon light tomorrow.



The clock and BOSE screens were color modded using one layer of the same pink PVC that Rochester found. The ACC is using cool white NEO4-HP from SuperBrightLEDs. The SuperbrightLEDs gauge lights pushed the contacts of the bulb holders outward so they didnt hold they new, skinnier, bulbs securely. With a small screwdriver you can correct this by gently pushing the tabs into place to hold the bulb.


The eBay listing is called "2x T5 74 5-SMD SMT LED White car bulb"
Here's a link to the current Buy It Now.
The seller is in California, got the bulbs to me very quickly with tracking, and ships worldwide (except to Nigeria).

MintVQ35

iTrader: (1)

This is still one of my favorite mods done on the cheap, the cool white makes the cluster look like it should have from the factory! I ended up using the same method on my 93 Mustang and it was also a pretty dramatic difference.

smokin5s

ordered the lights last night, they are on their way :-)

amixamse

iTrader: (2)

ordered mine last night too, my cheap azz went the ebay route 4 bucks shipped they are t5 leds ill post pics when theuly get here

props to seedy and tunermax for ultimate lighting hook ups

RR5

iTrader: (6)

Get pics of the before and after!

smokin5s

so I know I'm really bad at looking through posts, but does anyone know where the instrument cluster removal instructions are? When I went to the how too section, it directed me to some scratch post instead.

02whitemaximase

iTrader: (38)

http://shiftice.com/chrome_rings.html

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

nelledge

iTrader: (6)

TunerMaxima3000

iTrader: (4)

^LOL

02whitemaximase

iTrader: (38)

Haha, I love this forum. It is amazing what I've learned inadvertently by searching.

smokin5s

LOL!

Got them installed tonight, the install was kind of a PITA because the pins needed to be bent around in order to get it to light up.. I only did the gauge cluster and the climate control... I would be interested in doing the map lights and maybe the dome light depending on what the cost is... hell, maybe even the door lights... anyone know what the part numbers are or what it would take to do? BTW, I picked up the warm white color.







Also, anyone put any thought into figuring out a way to get the steering wheel controls to light up? Either with some really good long lasting glow in the dark stuff or a way to wire LED's in there? I hate that my steering wheel controls don't light up.

TunerMaxima3000

iTrader: (4)

Yes minor thought. it's just too much work.

amixamse

iTrader: (2)

ive been up for 5 hrs trying to get these to work.. can only get one bulb to work, half the time.. my interior is in 100 pieces, and now i dropped a bulb inside the cluster and tried to get it out abd my tachneedles flew everywhere and i csnt get it back together . im ready to take a bat to my car

SeedyROM

Yikes, sorry it went so poorly. There's been a report here and there of a bad LED and more of bad/damaged holders...but to have only 1 out of 4 work is quite strange. Hopefully you didn't damage the holders on removal. If you haven't already, find a hole/holder that works and try each LED both directions (to find the right polarity) to see exactly where you stand. That way you can identify what's really bad. If it's the LEDs, they should replace them quickly and free of charge. Good luck!

JonBlz

iTrader: (11)

cockpit all done :

TunerMaxima3000

iTrader: (4)

Sounds like this may not be the project for you. If your needles actually came off, you're in trouble. Only guy on here on a regular basis I know that's removed and installed needles sucessfully is Knight_yyz, and you have to calibrate them before and after removal or they won't work.

Might be shopping the wreckers for a gauge cluster. Might also want to consider enlisting a friend with some experience or just paying someone to fix this, it can only get worse if you're frustrated with it, Gauge clusters are very delicate, get rammy with that and you're in very, very hot water fast.

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

If anyone new actually reads all the way through this thread and gets to your post, I'm thinking you just scared the bejeesuz out of them. Why would your needles fall apart? Did you violently shake the cluster trying to get the loose bulb out?

Sorry for your frustrations, amixamse. IDK why there's such an issue... bulb comes out, bulb goes in. /done

Rochester

iTrader: (3)

TunerMaxima3000

iTrader: (4)

^LOL

And Rochester he was probably pulling up on the gauge face to try and sneak the bulb out, and pryed to hard (if i were to guess)

amixamse

iTrader: (2)

pryed too hard im about to go back outside and mess w it. bulb comes out bulb goes in my *** the bulb holders are worthless

amixamse

iTrader: (2)

yup so put the needles back in and they are way off wtf

MintVQ35

iTrader: (1)

You can't just put the needles back on in some random spot and expect them to be accurate, not sure how you'd solve that problem really.

TunerMaxima3000

iTrader: (4)

wtf? Really? Did you even read the post I made above in response to your little problem?

The easiest way is go buy a gauge cluster from the wreckers. The 2002/2003 are the same you just need to get one with the same options as your car. (model, auto/manual, ABS, etc)

Then swap the mileage chip over. I can post the pic of where it is for you if you go this route.

02whitemaximase

iTrader: (38)

I have had my cluster recently facing all direction and pulled the clear cover off and the rear black cover and my needles didn't move at all. I have no idea what you did.

By the way, to keep your clock from dimming when you turn the headlights on, cut the RED WIRE I believe it has a grey stripe by nonetheless it is the only red wire in the clock harness. Back on page six of this thread the wrong wire is mentioned.


Just for a newbie searching:

dashboard clock dimmer lights CUT THE RED WIRE (I have a 2002 SE if that makes a difference)

cjandura

iTrader: (3)

The only way your going to fix this is like Tuner said trust me i know first hand i tried to install CCFL rings behind mine got pissed when one broke in my hand and dropped the panel RPM needle popped off was never good after that!
So here is some spoon feeding on some cheap replacements.
http://www.lowmileageparts.com/2003-...ter-86270.aspx

amixamse

iTrader: (2)

yea tuner i read ur posts i was just making sure they were garbage be4 i pay 100 bucks for a cluster that originally costed me less than five to replace