Has anyone replaced the factory bulbs behind this unit? If so, how many bulbs are there altogether, not including the LED switches? Was it a hard process? Exactly, what type of bulbs are they? Can these be bought at Radio Shack? I am very knowledgeable about taking this whole center console apart, so I would appreciate any serious responses.

 

Ya anyone im trying to do this mod as well

scott

 

I am in the same pool. Want to replace those LEDs as well. I also want to replace those LEDs on the power window buttons etc. so I took apart the unit. As I saw it, it is gonna required quite neat soldering job.

Edited 2 hours later.

I read somewhere a thread that one guy was soldering and accidently without knowing closed some contacts and burned all the circuit when tested new LEDs.
Anyway, my point is that I will greatly appreciate the advice of those who did it already!!!!.. don't wanna mess up anything..

 

I know the power buttons are just 3mm green LEDs, I'm replacing them with Blue, they're in the mail right now. I haven't taken the Climate Control apart, but I'm assuming they're 3mm LEDs too. I got a deal for about 30 3mm Blue LEDs on ebay for like $4, I figure hey...it's worth it. Just gonna take a little simple soldering.

While you're at it, make your clock white insted of the ugly green. Just take the clock apart all the way down to the circuit board, and go to a party supply store and buy a really small amount of red celophane (if possible). You just need enough to cover the clock with one layer. Cut out a small peice of the celophane to cover the face of the clock, place it in, carefully put it back together making sure the celophane didn't move or fold and walla! White clock.

 

Could please give specificatons on the bulbs (model # or something )you ordered or the way I can find out which ones I need (I am shopping for red). Also do those LEDs have plus and minus or it does not matter how you solder them in.

Thanks!!!

 

for the window switches, use 3.7v 5mm if you have a 95-96, radio shack has them. When installing the shorter wire on the LED is going to go into the hole that shows a +. be sure to test the circut after installing each LED. its really not hard if you take your time and keep your hands still.

Scott

 

Hey Scott, thanks for the tip. I visited few places rigth after work, including Radio Shack, but noone had them. Maybe I was stating my question wrong, saying I need LEDs for power window button on a door of the car. Anyway, will try to shop on Internet.

 

if you go to the radio shack web site.. and search for 5mm blue LED get a part # and go to the store

 

I got the reply from the guys selling the LEDs online:

So I got confused, do I need 3.7V LEDs, (I will check radio shack again), do I need to use any resistors, BTW when I tool the block apart, there were some resistors on the circuit next to LEDs.
Guys, please advise!!!

 

The only stock lights in the manual CC that are LEDs are the indicator lights under the location buttons(face, feet, defroster, etc) and the temperature selecter that slides left and right.
All the other bulbs are tiny incandescent bulbs and therefore run at 12v which would require resistors on the LEDs to run at 12v (otherwise they burn out almost instantly).
The temperature selecter is very tricky to get in there as the LED must be ground down to a tiny square shape and fit in there perfectly (the small button cap has be snap on over it). The location selector is also very tricky as the LEDs have to be ground down to a certain flat shape and all in the row must be soldered in almost at the same time because of the way they fit in there. The 1-2-3-4 dial wasn't lit up enough with 1 LED, so I soldered in 3 LEDs there and aimed them in a few even directions to light up the whole dial.
Overall, it's a very tricky job but can be done by anyone who can solder and grind with a dremel.






-Tony

 

Hey that some sweet info, but when you grinded talk about grinding them down did you need to gind down a 3mm or a 5mm LED? also what type of a resistor (size) did you need for the LEDs below the location switches...
Scott

 

I used 5mm LEDs so some of them needed to be ground down quite a bit. The resistors are 330ohm I beleive but I'm not sure because they came with the LEDs when I bought them off ebay.


-Tony