I decided to follow mzmtg's idea and change the led in the window switch. . . It wasn't that hard at all and took maybe a half hour for the one I did tonight, I was just testing to see how good it looked. I will finish the rest this weekend probably. . . I plan on doing all the window switches blue and the locks either violet or red depending on availability of violet.

<img src="http://web.csuchico.edu/~ggross/blue1.jpg">
<img src="http://web.csuchico.edu/~ggross/blue2.jpg">

 

that looks real real nice.

 

How do you do this?
What kind of a bulb is it or an LED??

 

The lights on my AC swithces are dead wil those LEDs work in those? I wouldnt mond getting those LEDs

 

Did you not read the topic at all? It is a LED.

 

You can get LEDs at any Radio Shack, or electronics store. They run about $2-3

 

i have a 5th Gen. how did you get into the buttons? did you have to rip out the entire door assembly to get to them?... there's GOT to be an easier way (please tell me there's an easier way....)

 

You don't have to tear apart the door. . . You just have to pry out the switch box with a screwdriver or something simliar. . . You then take off all the screws and unclip the box so you can get to the board. . . It isn't hard to do. You just have to use a soldering gun or something similar to take out the old one, which looks different, and put in the new one. . . I will post pics when I do the rest.

As for the bulb itself, I used a 5V Blue LED from Radio Shack. . . It ran about $3, but it is cheaper than the other colors I want to use. The voltage that the bulb takes is only 3.5V, but I don't think the lower one will work, I like having a little bit of error allowed. It does put out a very bright blue though.

 

No these won't work on those bulbs. . . The bulbs behind the dash are somewhat different in the way they are put in. . . It looks like bulb with a condom in it that screws in. . . I am working to try and get something that will work there, but there are only 3 bulbs behind there and they radiate light at almost 180 degrees and LEDs put out light at maybe a 60 degree radius. . .

 

Sweet!!

Is there a page or something with some instructions on how to do this...maybe with some pics?

That'd look good in my upcoming 4th Gen!!

 

I'll try and come up with one this weekend. . . I know Mzmtg's brief instructions in his original post. The only thing you really need to make sure of is wich side is positive, and which side is negative on the LED. . . Otherwise it won't work.

 

Sounds good...be sure to link us to it when you get the instructions!!

Enjoy your blue LED's!!

 

yeah, its really easy. the lights BEHIND the buttons on the AC are lit by bulbs, but the little lights UNDER the buttons are LEDs.

 

Awesome, Definately tell us how to do it. I looked at the leds today and things are in there good. I mainly need to know how you got them out.

 

You guy might want to hold of in this until I confirm it is safe, I know one other person did it and so far nothing seem to be wrong with his car, but for some reason, NOT on the same door I did this mod on, the window regulator (or something like that) went on my car. I don't think that it was a result of what I did, but I just want to check and make sure it wasn't before anyone else tries this. I don't think the front door circuitry has anything to do with the rear door circuitry, but I thought I would put this out, I am pretty sure this is just a weird coincidence.

 

Changed mine today. Took me 20 min to do 3 of them. I left the drivers side door alone cause i had to go out and plus there is 6 bulbs to do. The install was easier than i thought. They look sick at night and make a big difference. Match up to my guage lights/shifter light and coming soon the climate control lights. I bought some transparent paint today at a Hobbie shop to paint the LED's in the climate contol blue. I first tried it on the green led for the door switches and it really didnt look to blue, more of an aqua color. If you have a soldering gun a a little bit of time i reccomend doin it. Personally i like having everything blue at night on the inside. The only damn thing thats still green is my Eclipse radio BUT!! im gonna try to change them too eventrually.

 

Let us know if you have any probs with yours. . . I just want to make sure mine was a fluke.

 

Congratulations on your install! My question is how do you find out what side is negative and what side is positive on the connector? Cuz i dont want to solder the led on and then find out that i connected it the other way around or does it matter which way i connect it.please give us some more detailed info on this mod as soon as possible so i could do this in this weekend....thanx in advance!!!

 

can you post up some pics of them installed on your car?

 

To test to see which is postitive and which is negative, the best way is to take everything apart and then plug the board into the connectors and use a volt meter to see which way the voltage is flowing. I think it was left (+) to right (-) with the LED facing you.

When replacing the LED, the new one will have a longer lead, this is the positive side. Make sure you keep track which is positive and which is negative as when you bend the leads is isn't always obvious. I fit it is the stock LED holder, just had to cut off the nub, as the new LED is bigger, and everything fits perfect, just a little trimming on the leads is necessary.

I have also found out that my problem isn't a result of this, so don't worry about that. . . When I get my car back, I will I will finish all the rest of the LEDs. . .

 

Ok, I have sorta finished mine. . . I will not post pics of it yet as the blue LEDs I got from the IEEE chapter here suck and they are way to pale, so I didn't exactly finish the driver door yet. . . I ended up doing white for the lock buttons and blue for all window buttons. . . Some advice:

1. Unless you really know how to solder, don't try the driver's door. It is really small spaces between the solder points and the solder on the board isn't reusable, so you have to replace it.

2. The positive side is the left side of the LED holes with the board facing in the correct direction (as how it would be in the door). The driver's door is different though. . . <img src="http://web.csuchico.edu/~ggross/board.jpg">
See the triangle with the vertical line at the point? The side with the line is the NEGATIVE side for the LED. It is different on each side, so pay particular attention to it.

other than that it is pretty much cake. . . Just make sure to get the 5V, Water clear, LEDs from Radio shack. Part number: 276-311

I have pictures of the side installs, but the driver side one is more of a pain to take pics of and do at the same time. . . So When I finish I will try and have someone photograph it. . . I will try and do a write up if I get more time this weekend, but it may not be for another week. . .

 

I have finally done the write-up for this. . .
http://web.csuchico.edu/~ggross/LED.html

 

Hey G-Dawg how in the **** do you do the back doors? I got the fronts finished and they look sharp but the back doors don't have the same type of LED? let me know how to do these if you know that is. Thanks for your help the other day though I was just stupid and didn't think to switch the bulbs around.

 

wow. this is really cool

do you mind if i link this to my How2 Site on MaximaDriver.com?

also. if possible. i'd like to see the driver side. just to make it more complete.
i'm pretty confidence with my soldering (freakin 5 EE labs so far..) so let me know

thanks again

--Cheston

 

Ok, the rear doors are the same as the front passenger side door, so if you did the front passenger side door correctly, then it should be the same, just make sure the board is set up how you would have it in the car so you can tell the polarity of the LEDs, if unsure, I would recommend using a voltmeter to check it after you get the board completely apart . . . You can then plug it back into the plug in the door and see which side is positive and which side is negative. The only door that is real different is the driver side door though.


And Cheston, go ahead and post the instructions for this on your site. . . I replyed to your email with the address. as for a picture of the driver side, it isn't completely finished yet becuase I am waiting for the blue LEDs, but here is a good idea of what it looks like finished.
<img src="http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~ggross/bulbs.jpg">
Sorry for the crappy picture, but my camera isn't that good at night. I would recommend doing the "auto" switch as a brighter color to make it match in intensity. . . You probably noticed it isn't as bright as the other bulbs, but everything so far matches the other doors.

[Edited by Adidas_Boy on 03-08-2001 at 05:27 PM]

 

I would ckeck on the 97 models because the led in my rear switches is not a led bulb it's just a little square that is clear that lights up green when you plug it in it is not like the front door at all.. Make sure about this before putting it on your site you may not be able to do the back windows of a 97 without getting the rear switches from a 95-96.

 

I did this a while back to match the face of my Alpine. Its been about 3 months now and everything is fine. I'm not too sure about the 97+, mines a 96. Defiently a big improvement over the green!

 

Thanks for letting me know. . . If you have a picture of this could you post it? It still might be possible to switch it out, although I would have to physically see it to try it. I also wonder if the board from a 95-96 would work in a 97+.

 

That's not a bad idea G-Dawg, I will try to get a picture up and then go to a junk yard to get the board from a 96 and see if it will fit.

 

I'm posting the picture of the rear LED from a 97
The LED is just under the "LED2" print on the circuit board


and also the picture where 4 of 6 LEDs are done on Drivers door (I only did the 6 LEDs on the drivers door cuz the backs can't be done anyways)



make sure you solder the new LEDs close to circuit board because they don't fit the hole for the buttons like the old green ones... also the backside (side with solder) should not stick out too far. The first time I did it, the drivers door rolled down with the ignition off! Maybe we can finally hook up an aftermarket alarm to roll up/down the windows without additional modules...

ONE QUESTION... On the passenger door.... I only have 11 of those plastic pieces but there are 12 holes for them. I'm assuming the one hole on the automatic driver roll down control only uses 3 of the 4 holes... anybody help me on this one... I'm almost sure I didn't lose any of these pieces...

[Edited by Chunger on 03-10-2001 at 07:20 PM]

 

Yeah, the LEDs not fitting in the hole is part of the reason why I didn't recommend doing the LEDs on the driver side of the car. . . I had to use a drill bit to make the holes larger so that they would fit into the stock holes (That is where my White LED's are). . . As long as you don't go too far and go through the switches, you are fine. . . I think I had to use a 1/4" bit.

As for the 11 pins but 12 holes, there are only supposed to be 11, the auto roll down feauture needs 2 of then, but since the car doens't have auto roll up, that one only needs one of them although I don't remember which side it goes in, I think it is the left side though. I was wondering if we would have auto roll up though if we added a second pin to the window. . . I was going to try it when I get the rest of my LEDs just to see if it works, doubt it though.

Also, about the 97+ picture, is that LED soldered into the board? I think that would be the main thing that would determine if it is possible to use it. . .

[Edited by Adidas_Boy on 03-11-2001 at 12:46 AM]

 

now what about us 5th gen guys? Anyone tried it?

In my i30, I have auto-up, auto-down, etc. It looks as if I could do it, but I'm wondering if anyone's done it in a 5th gen yet...

/aac

 

I am going to look at my mom's 2K when I get home to see if it can be done. . . I have spring break starting next weekend, so I will let you know probably next sunday or monday. . . Unless anyone else has tried it.

 

1) No it wouldn't work... cuz i put a piece into that hole and it doesn't even move with the switch...

2) The stock LED is flush mounted (soldered) onto the circuit board... it was that little square under the "LED2" print... It looked like it had 4 solder points. I really wouldn't try it...

BTW... the "lockout", "doorlock" and "auto" button LEDs were all dimmer than the other door ones... I think it was designed that way... resistors?

 

There is only 11 of those, just move the AUTO switch around and you'll see that one hole is not used. I installed blue LEDs in the driver and passenger side door, but didn't connect yet, my car is totally apart for chroming, polishing purposes, I will post pics on my site soon.
Adam

 

That is weird that yours are less bright on the driver side. . . Mine are a little bit dim, but on the whole about the same brightness as the passenger side at least. . . If anything, on my car the back are slightly brighter than the front. . . But the resistances would more than likely be the reason for the driver side being more dim.

 

2K setup is totally different. I gave it a shot this weekend...

 

Only (the named)3 of the 6 on the Driver's Door are dim when I tested the circuit board before reassembling... I didn't do any of the other doors... Sorry for the confusion