DIY: How to replace your dash bulbs with LEDs

Breza · Post by **Breza** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:29 pm

Was seriously considering doing this..........

But discovered an easy option..........for those not technically minded.

http://www.jcom-services.co.uk/fto/interior/led.htm

Cheers

Chris

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 2:49 pm

They're just using normal angle LEDs which you can buy locally. An even easier option would be to get T5 wedge LEDs from somewhere like Autobarn.

But because they are using normal angle LEDs there will be brights spots. Have a look at the picture of their dash:

The only way around these bright spots is to use wide-angle LEDs

Breza · Post by **Breza** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 10:03 am

Spotted that on the web site..........

Have already mailed them to find out what type of LED's they use and if there are any evident bright/dim spots.

Be interesting to see what response I get back.

Cheers

Chris

mrStumpy · Post by **mrStumpy** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:44 pm

Breza: The leds on that site sound expensive. I got the whole pack Ruchi talks about in the guide for 50 pounds with P&H.

At the moment Im trying out some leds I bought from Jcar in Aus. And its looking good. They require soldering for 12V resistors, but considering that I have never soldered before and I am managing well, its a piece of cake

.
In the end they cost the same as the ones I ordere from ultraleds in the UK.
This led is the basis of my configuration.
http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.a ... &SUBCATID=

By the end of the long weekend Ill be finished with my project and if it works I'll sell the LEDs I got from Ultraled (Ill post it up on the parts for sale section.)

GTG back to work now

G_A_V · Post by **G_A_V** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:20 pm

my needles have dimmed a lot lately (just the tacho needle) has any one else had this happen to them ? is it most likely just a bulb ?

mrStumpy · Post by **mrStumpy** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:07 pm

The trial of my LEDs from jaycar I mentioned in my previous post worked out perfectly!!

Its all even light for my dash!!!!

But I have a problem... My LCD screen attachments in the midconsole are stopping me from taking my console apart. And it is screwed inn from the sides. The issue is (if I havenâ€™t misunderstood) that in order to take your side panels of the midconsole off you have to take off the front panel first.... And I need to take the sidepannels off in order to get to the screws of the LCD screen attachment. It doesnâ€™t make sense.

Is there something Iâ€™m missing here?

(btw if I sound confusing is due to my lack of sleep lately...

)

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 9:22 pm

I think what you are trying to say is that you have no idea how to get to the air con control unit?

If so, you just rip the gear surround off and then the bit of plastic that forms the bottom half of the centre console. There will then be four screws holding the air con control unit in place.

mrStumpy · Post by **mrStumpy** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:11 am

I know how to take it off. Its just that the holder for my LCD is sticking out and to the sides so blocking the pannel from comming out..

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:21 am

I'm totally baffled by what you are saying, perhaps you could try wording it differently.

The LCD display is part of the air con control unit. The air con control unit is in the top half of the centre console. Before you can remove the top half of the centre console you have to remove the bottom half (the bit that goes around the stereo and gear shift).

Do a search for the instructions on how to install the white dials as this shows you how to remove all these bits as you need to do it to get to the clock and volt meter.

fto617 · Post by **fto617** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 12:44 am

i neva knew the air con unit was LCD????
i think he was refering to his in dash tv...
i miht be wrong

mrStumpy · Post by **mrStumpy** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:17 am

LOL

had a feeling I didnt express myself correct.

anyways here goes.

I know how to remove the console pannels both bottom and top, but underneath my stereo I have an LCD screen (in the bottom half of the console). I cant seem to get the LCD screen (with the holder) out the same way I get the stereo out. It looks as though it has been screwed inn from the sides. And the problem is that the holder (which the LCD screen slides inn and out from) sticks out to the sides (about 0.5cm), thus blocking me from removing the bottom half of the center console (because as I pull it off it is blocked by this bit).

So... I was wondering if its is possible to take of the side pannels of the bottom console part before you remove the bottom console pannels?

...

ruchi · Post by **ruchi** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:24 am

aha! OK that makes more sense, you're talking about a LCD display (e.g. TV / DVD display), I thought you were refering to the LCD display on the air con unit.

onnzo · Post by **onnzo** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:19 pm

http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm
Scroll down to "Instrument cluster and Guage backlights"

or
http://www.ultraleds.co.uk/product_info ... 38b14979fa

Are these the new drop in replacement's that you refer to Ruchi?

Are they bright and wide angle enough for our application?

Michael

fto617 · Post by **fto617** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:22 pm

just a question ruchi
in those websites how do you know if they are T5 or T10 or t10 wide angle???
i went to supercheap auto and autobarn today and i ask them what LED they have that is T10 or T5 they have no idea
they just showed me a heap of LED they had in stock and i have no idea which is i need...

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:28 pm

Hmmmmm i thought the pics are already at the original post................maybe you should check page one.

fto617 · Post by **fto617** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 1:56 am

somebody please help me !!!i dunno how to descirbe the bulds that i need to the guys at autobarn/supercheapauto etc...

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 8:18 am

Well you can always just print out the pics from the first page, & show it to them. If they still don't understand, then you really had gone to the wrong place.

fto617 · Post by **fto617** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 4:18 pm

hey guys ok i finally bought the LEDs
and i opened up the climate control
i pull the bulb with the holder out from the circuit
how do i pull the light bulb out of the holder ???

mrStumpy · Post by **mrStumpy** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 10:37 pm

use the force....

just pull it... done be scared

fto617 · Post by **fto617** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:54 pm

ok i hope somebody could help me in this one
how do i replace the t10 wide angle?
i dont know how to remove the t10 wide angle bulbs from the housing so its just the LED with the wires?
maybe ruchi u can help me out in this?