LED Bulb Replacement Writeup for Gauge Cluster and Interior

[shaeff]

something people should note, that i forgot to post about the gauge cluster in my truck:

if you have a pre '89 gauge cluster, and convert it to red, you'll have a very hard time determining what the redline is, as it basically disappears when illuminated at night. (experiencing this on my truck, but it doesnt matter on that because i dont redline it )

i've got good news and bad news. i'm not installing my 89+ cluster in it's stock form. i'm removing all gauges from it except for the speedometer and tachometer, and replacing them with defi gauges. then i'll have them all illuminated in red. so i guess i'll never know how my '89+ gauges work with all red LED's.

-shaeff

 

[robeats91t]

I'm very interested in finding an extra cluster and performing a complete switch to red. In addition to the bulb replacement, I'd like to replace the green led clock with its red counterpart. Does anyone have a part number for this?

Also, I'm guessing that by converting to leds you lose the ability to dim? Please correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[CRE]

I'm very interested in finding an extra cluster and performing a complete switch to red. In addition to the bulb replacement, I'd like to replace the green led clock with its red counterpart. Does anyone have a part number for this?

Also, I'm guessing that by converting to leds you lose the ability to dim? Please correct me if I'm wrong...

You can still dim them, the adjustment is just finer.

 

[DyslexicSquirrel]

I just got my red LED's installed and its kickass. They look awesome with my red touch screen Panasonic ghost HU.

http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?i=gauge%20(1).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(10).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(11).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(12).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(2).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(3).jpg
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(4).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(5).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(6).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(7).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(8).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge%20(9).JPG
http://7mpwr.com/pictures.7mp?g=&i=gauge.jpg

I was wondering which LED's that you used...

 

[born2drv]

Just an FYI : Me and a car audio installer guy have been messing around with the gauges now and it keeps buring out.

When it lights up, it's beautiful, but the problem is that it keeps burning out the circuits in the back and we keep repairing them.

We didn't just replace the gauge lights, we replaced every single light, even the check engine light, door open light, ABS light, gas indicator light, turn signals, you name it. So I got sick and tired of repairing the circuits and I got another gauge cluster. I'm going to just do the gauges this time, and the turn signals, nothing else. If it burns out again, we're going to just hardwire every single light in there.

So if anyone reads this and doesn't want to destroy the circuitry on their dash cluster, don't go nuts and replace every single bulb back there like I did.

 

[RedEleven87]

Has anyone experienced any problems from just changing what's said in the write-up? [Besides the engine oil gauge]

Just wondering 'cause I'm gonna get the LEDs soon and I only have one cluster to work with!

 

[CRE]

Had to repair a burnt trace for my turn signals yesterday.... that sucked. I find it hard to believe the LEDs are drawing too much current.... anyone here have an idea what the problem is?

 

[Allan_MA70]

something is way wrong there how did you calculate your required droping resistor?

 

[CRE]

I came up with a ~150 Ohm quarter watt resistor for 2 5v LEDs w a 30mA draw. That's given a supply of 14.4v. I thought that would give me enough room..... or was it the 1/4W that did it in?

EDIT: Oh, and they're in series.

 

[Allan_MA70]

run them invidualy and measure the current draw with a multi meter

 

[born2drv]

CRE - I had that problem too, only 1 circuit after another everywhere burning out. We kept repairing them and they kept burning out. So we're not going to use the factory circuits anymore. We're mounting the LEDs in there but hardwiring them directly to the dimmer.

I'll let you guys know how it works out, we should be finished in the next 2 days. I am using BLUE LED's by the way... perhaps they draw more current then other colors?

 

[born2drv]

PS - If someone wants to practice doing this before touching their gauge cluster, I have a canadian cluster (metric gauges) with no boost gauge or clock in it, you can pick it up for free if you live in socal. I was planning to just throw it away.

 

[CRE]

Blue LEDs do draw more current than a lot of the other LEDs out there, but it's nowhere near what a lamp draws. So I take it no one using the store bought guage replacements are experiencing this problem?

 

[born2drv]

They're incredibly bright when it is on though, it's really beautiful, no hotspots at all... too bad it doesn't stay lit... hopefully once I get everything hardwired it will be fine.

 

[RedEleven87]

They're incredibly bright when it is on though, it's really beautiful, no hotspots at all... too bad it doesn't stay lit... hopefully once I get everything hardwired it will be fine.

What's hardwiring? ... Oh, and where in L.A. are you located? I might be interested in picking up that gauge cluster so I could mess with it.

 

[born2drv]

What's hardwiring? ... Oh, and where in L.A. are you located? I might be interested in picking up that gauge cluster so I could mess with it.

when they no longer get power from the trace cirucuits on the back of the cluster........ and just get power by being re-wired directly to the power source.

i'm in santa clarita..... canyon country near costco.

 

[DyslexicSquirrel]

i love the use of " country" and "costco" in the same sentence there.... priceless.

 

[Satan]

I have 3 pre-89 climate controls that I can donate to someone who wants to experiment some more, and provide us some more detailed write-ups. I have ordered some blue LEDs and am lining things up to do my 89+ CC and the fiance's CC in her MKIV.... I've got to get both of these right, the 1st time. Thanx.

Email me for those climate controls; Include address, SM name, and timeframe you'll be taking. g099521@yahoo.com

PM

 

[RedEleven87]

Anybody else have trouble with the LED replacements?

 

[Gargoyle]

This is what I have so far, no lighter assy. in car ......waiting for one from ebay- only issues now are the clock, tems, and cc display (all still green). What do you think? I'm doing my other car in amber.