Changing colour of dashboard lighting...

[Sick Puppy]

Hi guys, considering what I imagine will be a minor mod, but before I go crazy with the screwdriver and do something I shouldn't, I figured I should ask you guys...

I want to change the cloour of the speedo colour from the insipid green it is to a BMW style orange/red (just like the AE82 FXGT I used to drive, only the detailing is white).

So, is it just a case of changing some bulbs inside, or is there like a backing sheet? Are there any tips or special tools I'll need (other than a multi tool lol)? Any help would be apreciated- thanks everyone!

- Andrew

[slighty_sykotic]

Nah, just rip out the screws, and replace the bulbs with coloured ones (or those led ones from super cheap, but be warned... they are not bright..)

--Sykotic

[Sick Puppy]

Sweet, will give it a crack this weekend... so, the bulbs are (soon to be 'were') green then?

[20v_rollaboy]

Ive replaced my dashlights with Narva Arctic white items. They work very well, giving a bright white light.

Im guessing you should just see if they sell orange bulbs (wedge type) and replace yours. There might be some on TM, but not sure.

Sorry what car you got?

[Bling]

ones i've replaced have had plastic covers on clear bulbs, and I just got replacement covers from repco

[aesc]

I would suggest not using LED's behind the dash, the narrow direction of the light they put out will cause the illumination of the dash to be uneven/patchy. Like BZG said, get some of those coloured rubber condom type caps that go over the ends of the clear bulbs. I'd recommend buying a new set of bulbs while your at it too, 5W ones work well as factory I think they are only 3W so will give additional brightness.

[cespenar]

My old car had covers as well, I replaced them with red repco ones but they eventually faded to orange. When I get some spare time I want to do the supra, I've got some RGB LEDs that i'll file down to diffuse the light, then try and arrange them so I can get more than one LED per lightbulb hole, then hook them up to some circuitry or a micro-controller and then I can get any colour of the rainbow

[20v_rollaboy]

Ive tried those caps. It made my lights look green and not very bright.

[Quint]

AS far as i know they stopped selling those little rubber light bulb condoms.

[Sick Puppy]

Yeah, I had read about the LED's and their shortcomings, and had read about the bulb covers.

20V Rollaboy, I've got a Curren ZS, and like most Toyotas it has that insipid green tinge to it- the orange beemer look has always done it for me, so out with the green and in with orange- woo-hoo!

I was on the way home today and I realised that I should ask about the bulb specs, and then there was a somewhat larger task that I have to do- the aircon and the ignition key surround. Its a bit more than just four screws, so is there a way of prying open the control panel, or is there an order that I have to unscrew stuff? I still have nightmares about replacing the bulb on the auto box selector of an AE82 FXGT!

(edit- Boomer?! Ahh, Beemer! )

[cespenar]

I also changed the colours behind the aircon lights and dials (the backlights, not the green ones that tell you what setting the vents are on - face, feet, window etc...), and changed the led inside the window switch. The aircon ones are a bit tricky to get to - I think there are two types in there - normal 5mm wedge and these twisty ones with the bulbs moulded into plastic bases (and I don't know where you can get replacements from), they are also really small (I think 3mm) so the smallest covers you can get at repco need to be glued on.

Taking off the dash and stuff it quite straight foward just a few screws and some plastic clips.

It was a while ago that i did this, I think you take the panel off that's behind the steering wheel just under the speedo, thats clipped on and there may be a couple of screws which should be visible from the underside. To get the aircon/stereo facia off I think you need to take off the panel surrounding the gear stick - from memory this clips off - then theres a couple of screws at the bottom of the facia which you need to undo. You also need to take off the black plastic on the underside of the top dash I think (the bit with screws facing upwards), because that hides a screw at the top of the aircon facia that needs to be taken out. Then you can pry it off by going down the right hand side of the facia and then just pulling it out, there are a few plugs you need to disconnect just remember where they go. Then just have a look on the insde and see if you can figure out how to get to the bulbs. Sorry if i've missed something out or confused it with my other car, its been over a year since I did it, and I don't have it anymore. As long as you don't apply excessive force and check you've undone all the screws you should be fine.

Window switch was quite easy, need to take the door panel off though, that just involves taking out all the black plastic things, taking out the screws and lifting it vertically upwards.. Then replaced the little dilapadated green led inside the master switch with a standard 3mm red one from dick smith. If you do this be careful to match up the tabs on the sliders with the switches when you put it back together otherwise windows wont work.

I didn't do the ignition surrounding light, but I imagine it would be similar to the aircon lights.

[Sick Puppy]

Thanks Cespenar, I'll give all this a crack when I get the time (and I think some booze too- by the time I finish I think I'll need it!).

[Sick Puppy]

Then just have a look on the insde and see if you can figure out how to get to the bulbs.

And I was doing so well...

I have removed the dashboard fascia above/each side of the steering wheel, and to get a bit more access, removed the plastic cover and the black plastic surround for the dials. Now I can see the white plastic surround, but I can't pull the bugger out (excessive force anyone?), and I can't feel my way or get enough leverage to undo it, and since the speedo/fuel/temp cables are attached I can't hit it from the front either. In short, I'm stuck! Suggestions from those who have done this would be appreciated- thanks!

In the meantime, I managed to get the LED's out from the ignition and lighter sockets, so I'm off to Ripco or DSE to get either replacements or covers- preferably the latter.

(Before anyone says anything, yes, I know I should have done this yesterday, rather than the day before I need it to get to work!)

[Bling]

I have removed the dashboard fascia above/each side of the steering wheel, and to get a bit more access, removed the plastic cover and the black plastic surround for the dials. Now I can see the white plastic surround, but I can't pull the bugger out (excessive force anyone?), and I can't feel my way or get enough leverage to undo it, and since the speedo/fuel/temp cables are attached I can't hit it from the front either. In short, I'm stuck! Suggestions from those who have done this would be appreciated- thanks!

can u take pics.....

i may have read it wrong, but not sure you're going the right way to get the cluster out

[Sick Puppy]

can u take pics.....

i may have read it wrong, but not sure you're going the right way to get the cluster out

Sorry, the camera phone and/ or digital camera are still on my to buy list!

As to whether I'm going about it the wrong way, I figure y'all have a better idea than I would! I followed Cespanar's instructions, and have his the point I quoted in my last post, where I've hit a wall... the way I see it, I have two options:

1. Go in from the front- remove the tacho/ speedo etc needles, then the dials. I hate this idea (and don't think it will work anyway), since they're firmly attached and I imagine they will be a pain to reattach (plus I imagine they'll fall out when I'm driving, which wil be a real pain )

2. Remove the instrument cluster by detaching whatever clips/wiring loom behind it I can, and then removing bulbs from the back. Since speedo/ tacho cables are attached, if I can't remove the cluster entirely by detaching everything, at least remove enough to be able to get at the bulbs.

Went to Repco & DSE- nothing in stock/ at all- where's Mr Revheads addy...

[snwtoy]

You are right in saying going in from the front will not work.

Remove the panel under the steering shaft, and see if you can reach up behind the cluster to disonnect the speedo cable. You will probably need to contort your body into a very strange position to do this, but it may be the only way.

[Bling]

2. Remove the instrument cluster by detaching whatever clips/wiring loom behind it I can, and then removing bulbs from the back. Since speedo/ tacho cables are attached, if I can't remove the cluster entirely by detaching everything, at least remove enough to be able to get at the bulbs.

yeah much better than option 1, as said above, will not work.

whats the whole cluster held in by? have you undone all the screws holding the cluster to the dash? if ya have, try just pulling one side out and getting a hand in behind it to remove the plugs etc.

i probably missed where u said what car it is, but what car?

mine didn't have any speedo cable, all electric.... so u may not have one either, just had to get at plugs

[Sick Puppy]

Yeah, I've undone all the screws and I can feel the wiring looms behind the cluster, but I can't feel the plugs well enough to know how to detach them- bugg*r...

I'll give it another shot next saturday- I've put everything back bar about half the screws (the clips are holding it firm, and I won't be doing that much driving this week anyway). In the meantime, I'll look around to see if I can get some replacement bulbs or WHY... Thanks BZBling!

[cespenar]

Yeah sorry I can't be more clear it has been a while since I did it. You just take the whole instrument cluster out, the plugs at the back are the rectangle type with the little tab on one of the long sides that you press down to be able to pull the plugs out. I seem to recall it wasn't too difficult to get the cluster out, just remove all the surrounding panels, there's a couple of screws at the bottom of the cluster, the hardest part is finding the right way to twist the cluster out. I managed to get it out enough so I could reach behind and unplug it, the bulb holders are sitting right there on the back so you just twist them out. I think there may be some tabs at the top of the cluster that you need to press to get it out too.

Be careful if you get LEDs, the lights in the cig lighter (and I'm assuming ignition) are actually bulbs, that run on 12V. If you are going to use leds (which typically have about a 2V drop, depending on colour) you need like a 560 Ohm resistor or something or I think you can get 12V leds that are in the shape of wedge bulbs that have the resistors built in.

And yes, as the others have said, going in from the front won't work as aside from the fact you'll probably need to calibrate the needles afterwards, you won't be able to access the bulbs with any ease.

Um I also think I misread your question entirely as the instructions I gave before were for changing the lights behind the A/C dials, and I don't think I said anything on taking out the instrument cluster... sorry

And if you've taken out the hazard light plug remember to put it back in before yo ugo driving otherwise your indicators wont work.

[Sick Puppy]

No worries Cespenar, I figured that, but thought nothing of it since I had asked! I managed to unclip the cluster from its mounting points, but as I said before, there isn't that much space to work in and I couldn't work out how to unclip the wiring looms. It was getting dark, so I put it all back...

While you mention it though, when I was trying to get to the aircon fascia, I detached the gear stick panel and unclipped the bottom and left hand sides of the aircon panel okay, but the right and upper sides held firm- I'm assuming this is because of the screw you refer to, where you talk about the underside of the dash?

You also need to take off the black plastic on the underside of the top dash I think (the bit with screws facing upwards), because that hides a screw at the top of the aircon facia that needs to be taken out. Then you can pry it off by going down the right hand side of the facia and then just pulling it out, there are a few plugs you need to disconnect just remember where they go.

I had this part out to do the dash lighting too, but when I had a look on the left side of the cluster, I couldn't see any screws (but then it was dark, and I was using a multitool and a torch- I wasn't kidding!). Where exactly is the screw please?

BTW, thanks for the heads up re: bulbs vs LEDs and hazard lights- I know what I'm like! I just figured on either putting covers on the ones I have (that is, once/ if I can find them) or finding the same bulbs that are coloured red/ orange. They can go on the list with the indicators I'm looking for (see other posting- have some shopping to do!)... Being careful in the meantime- taping the screws together for each part and listing on the tape where they came from, will do the same for wiring looms once I get in there. Thanks for the advice!

Andrew