Drop-in LED instrument cluster lighting for 5.5 owners. Finally found one that works!
05-08-2011, 08:05 AM
#241
05-08-2011, 08:19 AM
#242
You know, I have a large hobbie store within walking distance.
[edit] I just now looked at the cluster again, and to my surprise I find the cluster is absolutely blue... during the daytime. And yet at night, it looked more white than blue. There are things at work here beyond simple color.
Last edited by Rochester; 05-08-2011 at 09:14 AM.
05-08-2011, 11:04 AM
#243
The clock comes out easy enough, although I lost one of the metal side clips into the bowels of the dashboard. 
Now that the clock is apart and in my hands, I see now why you would be using cellophane. Hmm.
Now that the clock is apart and in my hands, I see now why you would be using cellophane. Hmm.
Last edited by Rochester; 05-08-2011 at 11:28 AM.
05-08-2011, 11:22 AM
#246
Just hating man, carry on
Please let me know where you got that man! I desperately need exactly that.
05-08-2011, 11:40 AM
#247
05-08-2011, 11:51 AM
#248
05-08-2011, 02:05 PM
#249
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05-08-2011, 05:32 PM
#250
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Well the max & I got re-antiquated a good bit this weekend. Changed the oil, the gear oil in the trans and brake fluid. Installed ES Motor Mounts & clutch bushings I've had for several years. And finally changed the cluster & ACC bulbs.
Here's close ups for the cluster & ACC:
The blinkers are blue too.
And here's a couple from the back seat:
All in all I think they look pretty good. The ACC has the hot spots but it did stock too.
The camera is just a Canon PowerShot A570, pics look grainy...
Here's close ups for the cluster & ACC:
The blinkers are blue too.
And here's a couple from the back seat:
All in all I think they look pretty good. The ACC has the hot spots but it did stock too.
The camera is just a Canon PowerShot A570, pics look grainy...
Last edited by MaximaMan77; 05-08-2011 at 05:39 PM.
05-08-2011, 06:03 PM
#251
It's glaring at me in that second to last image.
05-08-2011, 06:42 PM
#252
Well the max & I got re-antiquated a good bit this weekend. Changed the oil, the gear oil in the trans and brake fluid. Installed ES Motor Mounts & clutch bushings I've had for several years. And finally changed the cluster & ACC bulbs.
All in all I think they look pretty good. The ACC has the hot spots but it did stock too.
All in all I think they look pretty good. The ACC has the hot spots but it did stock too.
05-08-2011, 06:54 PM
#253
True. The radio control illumination is not as much of an eyesore after I did the cellophane mod to the LCD. It blends in as long as the radio is on. I didn't have the courage to take it apart any further last night.
05-08-2011, 07:49 PM
#254
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With regards to the radio, it's more trouble than it's worth. When the cash flow gets better I plan to go aftermarket. I want a radio with bluetooth connectivity.
With what you guys noticed I'm surprised no one has given me any crap about the mileage...
05-08-2011, 08:02 PM
#255
05-08-2011, 08:18 PM
#256
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I tried cellophane on the clock in the past but could never get it to look right. I hope it goes better this time.
05-09-2011, 02:33 AM
#258
I did this on my 2000 Maxima WAY WAY WAY back in the day.
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...-complete.html
I also did my Climate control and door switches, all very easy stuff. If you screwed up, it wasn't a bad thing, didn't blow anything up for me, just simple electronics
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...-complete.html
I also did my Climate control and door switches, all very easy stuff. If you screwed up, it wasn't a bad thing, didn't blow anything up for me, just simple electronics
05-09-2011, 07:34 AM
#261
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05-09-2011, 07:53 AM
#262
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Sony Xplod MEX-BT3900U:
Compatible Bluetooth® Profiles : A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)1.2
AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile)1.3
HFP (Handsfree Profile)1.5
OPP (Object Push Profile)
PBAP (Phone Book Access Profile)
Not bad for $150.
Back OT
I've got the Lee sample book on the way.
05-09-2011, 07:54 AM
#263
Zero is on-board!
I wonder how many people have swapped bulbs this since SeedyRom made this thread? It feels like a whole lot of Org members, and then double or triple that for people who just lurk and don't post.
This is really neat to have caught this wave. Man, I love the Org.
I wonder how many people have swapped bulbs this since SeedyRom made this thread? It feels like a whole lot of Org members, and then double or triple that for people who just lurk and don't post.
This is really neat to have caught this wave. Man, I love the Org.
I will post a thread regarding the rings as they are a new product by The Tuning Shop for our 5.5s.
Now it's just to install the HVAC bulbs and do the clock lighting. I might stop by the crafts store today for some purple cellophane.
05-09-2011, 07:58 AM
#264
Along those lines, I think nelledge should start a clock-mod thread.
05-09-2011, 09:14 AM
#265
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I have a 2002 Altima which uses approximately 13 bulbs, if you want to include the high beam indicator. I swapped out only 12 of those originally with a plain LED that had major hot spotting with the gauge layout I had created.
I decided to go with the "warm white" as suggested and couldn't be happier. The only issue I have had was taking a screw driver and pushing the contacts closer. I did this on the majority of them and now have THREE that don't seem to work. I looked inside and it looks like on all three one of the contacts is missing.
I know someone posted a question about these bases earlier. They have Toshiba - V2 I believe written on them (can't recall right now as I am away from my car or home). Is there any place we can obtain replacement bases?
I decided to go with the "warm white" as suggested and couldn't be happier. The only issue I have had was taking a screw driver and pushing the contacts closer. I did this on the majority of them and now have THREE that don't seem to work. I looked inside and it looks like on all three one of the contacts is missing.
I know someone posted a question about these bases earlier. They have Toshiba - V2 I believe written on them (can't recall right now as I am away from my car or home). Is there any place we can obtain replacement bases?
05-09-2011, 09:37 AM
#266
It looks like they'll cost you about 25 cents a piece. (edited for accuracy)
OAN: Knight, drop the resolution on that photo a bit.
Last edited by nelledge; 05-09-2011 at 11:03 AM.
05-09-2011, 10:14 AM
#267
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I can do a write up thread if people would like. I'm sure there's already one out there. Although, I didn't find it quickly with the search. I'll have to bold and italicize the caution note for the clip.
Of course you can get them the same place you buy the bulbs. Click here for the page. It looks like they'll cost you about a buck a piece. .25 on Amazon if you're not already purchasing from SBL.
OAN: Knight, drop the resolution on that photo a bit.
Of course you can get them the same place you buy the bulbs. Click here for the page. It looks like they'll cost you about a buck a piece. .25 on Amazon if you're not already purchasing from SBL.
OAN: Knight, drop the resolution on that photo a bit.
The link to Amazon you posted is for a T-10 base, the bases are T-5. Found it!!! - http://www.amazon.com/T5-Wedge-Base-...sr=1-1-catcorr
Last edited by Polished2002; 05-09-2011 at 10:17 AM.
05-09-2011, 11:03 AM
#268
The link to Amazon you posted is for a T-10 base, the bases are T-5. Found it!!! - http://www.amazon.com/T5-Wedge-Base-...sr=1-1-catcorr
05-09-2011, 04:54 PM
#269
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ur-gauges.html
05-09-2011, 05:53 PM
#270
On the way home this evening, I picked up some cellophane from the hobby store, in pink and purple. And I experimented just now with the clock.
This is so cool!!!
I'm thinking 1 strip of purple, and 2 strips of pink will work really well to match the cool-white LED's in the cluster. It's all just experimentation right now, because I have to wait until week's end to get the replacement clips that got sucked into my dashboard. And I still want to cut the wire to allow for the clock to stay bright 100% of the time. (Red wire with black stripe, right?)
Thanks for the tip, nelledge. This thread is awesome.
This is so cool!!!I'm thinking 1 strip of purple, and 2 strips of pink will work really well to match the cool-white LED's in the cluster. It's all just experimentation right now, because I have to wait until week's end to get the replacement clips that got sucked into my dashboard. And I still want to cut the wire to allow for the clock to stay bright 100% of the time. (Red wire with black stripe, right?)
Thanks for the tip, nelledge. This thread is awesome.
05-09-2011, 06:16 PM
#271
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and I got the instructions from a thread on here from a bunch of guys doing it to there 5.5
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ur-gauges.html
http://forums.maxima.org/5th-generat...ur-gauges.html
We have it much better now.
05-09-2011, 06:21 PM
#273
See, now that looks blue. And the 10:00 and 2:00 hot spots are very noticeable in that picture. IDK... there are so many subtle differences in all these photos. It's a very difficult thing to represent with continuity.
The only thing that can be said with certainty is that this inexpensive little mod is better than the OEM bulbs, hands down.
The only thing that can be said with certainty is that this inexpensive little mod is better than the OEM bulbs, hands down.
05-09-2011, 06:36 PM
#274
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05-09-2011, 06:37 PM
#275
I suspect that there is a voltage drop with some gauges, I have been monitoring the voltage as I've been checking different gauges and it seems to range. Some clusters only get around 10v. Some get the full 14v
The results are obvious. It's quite possible this is a fluke, but would explain the different pics somewhat... besides just the obvious different cameras and gauge faces between years.
We know the 2002/2003 SE has a different blue tinting so that may make some difference also.
The results are obvious. It's quite possible this is a fluke, but would explain the different pics somewhat... besides just the obvious different cameras and gauge faces between years.
We know the 2002/2003 SE has a different blue tinting so that may make some difference also.
05-09-2011, 08:09 PM
#277
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Location: Watertown, MA
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See, now that looks blue. And the 10:00 and 2:00 hot spots are very noticeable in that picture. IDK... there are so many subtle differences in all these photos. It's a very difficult thing to represent with continuity.
The only thing that can be said with certainty is that this inexpensive little mod is better than the OEM bulbs, hands down.
The only thing that can be said with certainty is that this inexpensive little mod is better than the OEM bulbs, hands down.
05-10-2011, 06:18 AM
#278
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 56
It's a waste to take pictures of them, it never shows the color as how it is.
Stock lighting, not my car:
This shot was with severe hot spotting (before warm white):
If I take a picture now after the warm white, you would be hard pressed to see the color changes on the camera. The colors are orange and red. I'll add the picture with the warm white a little later today.
I realize for this LED lighting, because it's so bright, you have to see it in person. The only way I can take a proper picture with the right color, is probably to dim the lights and then that takes away from the brightness.
UPDATED: "warm white" - Gauge faces are actually ORANGE and RED. So a white gauge face would look white - I'll have a white and blue up by this weekend. Areas marked with red boxes have no light; bad LED was a dud and I mangled two of my T-5 bases.
Stock lighting, not my car:
This shot was with severe hot spotting (before warm white):
If I take a picture now after the warm white, you would be hard pressed to see the color changes on the camera. The colors are orange and red. I'll add the picture with the warm white a little later today.
I realize for this LED lighting, because it's so bright, you have to see it in person. The only way I can take a proper picture with the right color, is probably to dim the lights and then that takes away from the brightness.
UPDATED: "warm white" - Gauge faces are actually ORANGE and RED. So a white gauge face would look white - I'll have a white and blue up by this weekend. Areas marked with red boxes have no light; bad LED was a dud and I mangled two of my T-5 bases.
Last edited by Polished2002; 05-12-2011 at 07:27 AM.
05-10-2011, 09:14 AM
#279
Then clip the red wire with a black stripe, and the clock will stay in bright-mode all the time, regardless of the headlights being on. With the cellophane filters, it's slightly dimmer than normal (just barely), which is perfect for night-time. (I'm assuming here... need to check later tonight.)
After my clips come in later this week, I'll take pictures with the clock fully reassembled. But right now, I'm feeling pretty good about this little mod.
Last edited by Rochester; 05-10-2011 at 09:35 AM.
05-10-2011, 10:32 AM
#280
...except there are two. One is red with a black stripe, and one is orange with a red stripe. So I took a 50:50 leap of faith, and snipped the red w/black stripe wire.
And that worked.