Led Gauge Cluster

[cherrington17]

Since so many people have asked...

If you can't get your gauge cluster out... DON'T DO THIS MOD. With that being said, here we go...

Materials:
A small screw driver
Soldering gun
Needle Nose pliers
5 flat tipped Leds (in these picture i just used one i laying around. it IS NOT sanded)
5 resistors (appropriate ohm to work with 12V)
Two colors of wire (optional)


1) This is what your circuit board should look like. The one pictured just has all the lights removed, except one. (the shift light strip is kinda pointing to it, its on the middle right.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020319Medium.jpg

The back picture below, is what your going to be looking at the most. Ignore the little ones, those are hazard lights. The bigger ones are the gauge lights. They just twist, and pull out.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020320Medium.jpg

2) With your light removed, push the little tabs so they are facing up. This will help at a later step.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020324Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020325Medium.jpg
3) Push the light out from the bottom with the screwdriver. A little pressure is needed, but it'll just slide right out.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020326Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020327Medium.jpg
4)Now you can see the little clips that were connecting the light. Use the needle nose plyers to remove the metal clips. With the tabs folded up, you have something to pull on. Slightly more pressure then it took to remove the light, is needed. This is where i will branch off and split this How-To into two different methods...
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020332Medium.jpghttp://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020335Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020336Medium.jpg
Method A
5a) You can bend the leads on the led to put them out each side. You will need to cut one lead (either one, it doesn't matter) and solder the resistor on BEFORE the metal leads go out of the gray twist in connector. THIS IS NOT SHOWN IN THE PICTURE, I did not use this method, so I don't have any experience with it. It can be done, however.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020341Medium.jpg

6a) Get the Led into the right form, so the leads fit out the connector, but do not touch each other, inside of it. Remove the led/resistor and put some silicone or hot glue down into the connector, then reinsert the led/resistor. This will keep the connectors from shorting, and hold the unit in place. (since the led is smaller then the old bulb)

7a) Now you can simply twist the connector back in. Just make sure the glue/silicone is dry, trim the leads so they aren't sticking out really far, and make sure the leads are touching the metal strips around the rim of the connectors slot.

IF your led doesn't light, its either a bad lead to strip connection, or a polarity problem. Take it out, and twist it in the other way, from what you just had it.

Method B
(Method I used with 2 different color leds in the connector)

5b) Test your led and figure out which lead is your ground. (or negative lead) Bend the positive lead and slide it out one side of the connector, while the negative goes out the bottom hole, you just used to push the old bulb out.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020342Medium.jpg

6b) Follow the same steps as the last method, to secure the bulb in place. (silicone or hot glue)

7b) Solder a wire to each lead. Do Not Touch your Circuit board with the Soldering Gun! That would be bad, and you risk destroying important connections.
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Car%20Pics/P1020343Medium.jpg

8b) Run your ground wires to a small distribution block (so you only have to connect them to a single ground) And repeat with your Positive wires.

I connected those wires to a small distribution block I have connected to the wires on my center console cubby lights. That way your gauge cluster turns on at night, when your headlights do.

[steve-o]

very nice write up.

[Justy311]

Nice, but you can do this so much easier if you buy LEDs that are 194 Inverted (can find them on ebay for pretty cheap). They are a direct plugin on the light, just remove the old glass ones from their housing and plug back in. If you get 12V ones there is no need to solder a resister to it either, have mine done in blue and it took me 20 mins to do. Very easy and extemely noticable.

justin

[cherrington17]

...but you can't do 2 color with that method. :p

[Justy311]

Sure you can, just get two different colored bulbs. They sell them in many colors, just get a replacement LED that fits your need. I haven't changed all mine just yet, only the bigger lights, and they work great. Look at various ebay auctions for http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10-pcs-194-168-LED-Blue-Inverted-LEDs-SideLight-Bulb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33713QQihZ002QQite mZ120215932193QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

check it out. unless I am completely confused, this should work.

[adam337]

yes. they work.

[cherrington17]

Sure you can, just get two different colored bulbs. They sell them in many colors, just get a replacement LED that fits your need. I haven't changed all mine just yet, only the bigger lights, and they work great. Look at various ebay auctions for http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/10-pcs-194-168-LED-Blue-Inverted-LEDs-SideLight-Bulb_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33713QQihZ002QQite mZ120215932193QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

check it out. unless I am completely confused, this should work.

i know they sell various types, but i have one of each color (red/blue) led in that bulb holder. how are you going to fit one of each 194 bulb into that holder? as well as wiring would be a pain, since they connect differently then led.

if your doing a single color, hell yes buy the led replacements. its MUCH easier. But some members have alot of left over leds, and wanted a "how to" so they can use up, product they already have on hand....

[silverbullet81]

I have the white face gauges on my car which are pretty bright but i can't see my needles too good. if i replaced these bulbs with red led bulbs would my needles glow red?

[cherrington17]

yes, or you can do what a fellow member already did, and take the needles out, drill tiny holes in the bottom and put a couple micro leds in them.

[silverbullet81]

ya i read that but i would probably screw something up doing it that way.

[YALEROYNOT]

/\ that was me and its not that hard just have to take your time and DONT rush it let me know

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh198/YALEROYNOT/12250700191.jpg

[greenbastard]

just those five gray ones light up the speedo and stuff? i don't know anything about leds. if someone shows how to wire them up that would help alot of people like me. also YALEROYNOT how did you do that with your needle? thats exactly what i want for gauges cuz it would look nice with my ractive blackout gauges
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444329 7721&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672478&bmUID=1201972777737&deptid=1408474396672395&ctgrid=1408474396672403&subctgrid=1408474396672478

[YALEROYNOT]

just those five gray ones light up the speedo and stuff? i don't know anything about leds. if someone shows how to wire them up that would help alot of people like me. also YALEROYNOT how did you do that with your needle? thats exactly what i want for gauges cuz it would look nice with my ractive blackout gauges
http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444329 7721&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672478&bmUID=1201972777737&deptid=1408474396672395&ctgrid=1408474396672403&subctgrid=1408474396672478



look here :

http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20410&highlight=glow+needles

[silverbullet81]

are all of the bulbs back there 194 bulbs?

[kevin1114]

in the picture, is it the stock gauge background cuz mine is kinda greenish so i never changed to leds cuz i didnt know if it would turn out right through the green.
Is there a tutorial on how to remove the cluster and circuit board?
Thanx

[cherrington17]

someone on site figured out that the green is only a film, and it comes off.

and if you just look... you should be able to easily figure out how that board comes out. everything snaps together, so therefore, it must just snap apart.

i've taken mine out a couple of times. its really easy.

(that one is a spare i have sitting around. donated by albinomonkeyrat)

[kevin1114]

LOL ,
When i sit in drivers seat ... (NOOBY) i still dont get where to pull to unsnap cluster

[cherrington17]

step 1: Remove the two bolts above the speedo/tach gauges, that are inside the bezel that surrounds the entire gauge assembly.
step 2: Remove the bezel.
step 3: Remove the 4 bolts that hold the entire gauge assembly in place. (on in each corner)
step 4: pull gauges, out, and disconnect wire harness in the top right corner

[kevin1114]

can that create problems with the needles of my gauges
I think i ve heard that somewhere

[cherrington17]

removing the needles.. yes. but you don't need to go that far in, to put in led bulbs.

just gotta get to the back of the board, which is easy to do.

[kevin1114]

KOOL!
I'm definitly gonna check that,
The 2 bolts yur talkin about in step one, its on the black plastic part holding the see-thr plastic guard for the gauges?

[cherrington17]

yes. they are in the top of that. really easy to overlook, if your never below your steering wheel. :lol:

[kevin1114]

LOL!!!
i found them
Kool now i need to get some LEDs to replace the bulbs.
On the picture of the circuit board, could you point out which bulbs light up what PLZ... easier to plan the bulbs i need and the quantity
Thanx

[cherrington17]

there are 5. (the big holes)

they are 194 bulbs... or you can use my method and use raw leds.

[kevin1114]

Is there a place for the light under the needle ( to light up the needle more and a different color)?

[cherrington17]

There's light kinda under it, if ur following what yalero did, that's a whole different setup

[kevin1114]

what did Yalero do different?

[cherrington17]

he stripped the needles out, right down to where the motors mount in, then drilled holes into the surrounding plastic, put small leds into those holes, so they ONLY lit the needles.

i'm pretty sure there is a link in the thread for that project...

[kevin1114]

theres a chance the needles dont work right after that...

[cherrington17]

no. the motors just pull straight out, as to the needles. you just need to get them back into the right spots.

(mark where your gas is, speedo/coolant will be 0, and know where your tach is when its idling.)

[C_EICK]

Just did the led gauge in blue yesterday, im lovin it. I used the 194 bulb leds, and it was the easier mods i've done.

[99alerogirl]

i know nothing about LEDs. are those 194's just plug and play? i assume not... since everything i want to do always seems to be more complicated than i think. dangit.

[cherrington17]

194s are.

should probably get the "wide angle" ones... to avoid "hot spots"

[99alerogirl]

holy shite, awesome. i wanna do that today. maybe i can find some around here haha. and will they say wide angle on a package or what? haha, i'm a nooooob.

[cherrington17]

www.superbrightleds.com

dont' rush to get some, you'll get crap.

[99alerogirl]

shweet. then i have to do that whole sanding deal right?

[C_EICK]

I got "WLED-xHP High Power" LED bulbs from Super Bright;)

You shouldn't have to sand anything.

[cherrington17]

wide angle = no sanding.

[99alerogirl]

cool.. i hate sand, too messy.

[xXManwhoreXx]

HELP ASAP!

Ok well I decided to change my lights in the gauge cluster, but I just used replacement 194 bulbs

http://www.victorautomotive.net/pdfs/vic/vabs2.pdf

Those, I pushed my old ones out and popped in the new ones but they don't work :-(

luckly I only changed one light and decided to try it first so I still have the other 4 working haha.

anyways.. the bottem of my lights dont have that hole that he pushed his out of, they have a wide slot. Any Suggestions, when I pulled out the light there were two little wires still on the inside, I imagine they need to hook up to my light but they are so small and I can't get to them.

[lonnie]

HELP ASAP!

Ok well I decided to change my lights in the gauge cluster, but I just used replacement 194 bulbs

http://www.victorautomotive.net/pdfs/vic/vabs2.pdf

Those, I pushed my old ones out and popped in the new ones but they don't work :-(

luckly I only changed one light and decided to try it first so I still have the other 4 working haha.

anyways.. the bottem of my lights dont have that hole that he pushed his out of, they have a wide slot. Any Suggestions, when I pulled out the light there were two little wires still on the inside, I imagine they need to hook up to my light but they are so small and I can't get to them.My first question is did you test the bulbs first to make sure they are fine? Second did you try putting the old bulb back in to see if that would still light up? I'm confused because you said first you pushed all the old ones out and popped the new ones in but they didn't work, then you said that "luckly" you only changed one and tried that first so the other 4 are working...my question here is which one is it? Either you tried all of them and something is wrong with the instrument cluster or you tried one and something is wrong with the bulbs...I find it hard to believe that your luck is that bad and all of the bulbs are bad. Maybe the wrong bulbs?

[xXManwhoreXx]

My first question is did you test the bulbs first to make sure they are fine? Second did you try putting the old bulb back in to see if that would still light up? I'm confused because you said first you pushed all the old ones out and popped the new ones in but they didn't work, then you said that "luckly" you only changed one and tried that first so the other 4 are working...my question here is which one is it? Either you tried all of them and something is wrong with the instrument cluster or you tried one and something is wrong with the bulbs...I find it hard to believe that your luck is that bad and all of the bulbs are bad. Maybe the wrong bulbs?

I misstated that sorry haha I only popped out one bulb, I guess I was getting ahead of myself haha

No they are the 194 bulbs that it said I should use :-/

I shall trying hooking the bulb up to a battery

[Misuseofyou]

Pull the wires through the bottom of the plastic holder and wire them up.

[lonnie]

I misstated that sorry haha I only popped out one bulb, I guess I was getting ahead of myself haha

No they are the 194 bulbs that it said I should use :-/

I shall trying hooking the bulb up to a batteryUHMMM ok then I would have tried another bulb or try it in another spot...if it still doesn't work then something is wrong with the bulbs...You did put the old one back in after you tried the new one right? Did it work? If not then try the old bulb in another spot to make sure the bulb is still goodl. If after all that crap then its safe to say that the bulb socket is fubared.

[xXManwhoreXx]

got 3 of em in 2 more to go, I had to drive my gf home so i had multi colored dash lights tonight :-) sweet!

soo yea thanks to everyone for helpin me haha I needed to get little wire and hook it up to the little clips sticking out.

[cherrington17]

I'm adding this post to my FAQ... figure i'd put it here too...


HOW TO REMOVE THE BLUE TINT:
compliments of jeenysrider07 (http://www.aleromod.com/forums/member.php?u=6100):
http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showpost.php?p=376649&postcount=35

i got the blueish tint off the speedo. All you have to do is peel the black piece with the numbers off of the clear plastic (just peel slow) Then You need to get the glue stuff off of the back where the blue is. I used a flathead screwdriver. Then wherever the blueish tint is you have to sand off. Then its cleared. The last pic has a white led flashlight behind it.

[Nate's Alero]

mmm, i would love my liquid white cluster... might do it today,

tips on getting my needles back on correctly?

[cherrington17]

i started the car, put a piece of tape where they all pointed. Did the mod, put the cluster back in (w/o the front plastic) started it, put the needles back where they were.

i did have to adjust the tach/speedo. didn't take much (espicially if you know exactly where you idle, for tach) speedo is easy... put it at zero. :lol:

my gas gauge is still off by a smidge. but its nothing bad. I'll have to readjust it when i do red needles.

[Nate's Alero]

i started the car, put a piece of tape where they all pointed. Did the mod, put the cluster back in (w/o the front plastic) started it, put the needles back where they were.

i did have to adjust the tach/speedo. didn't take much (espicially if you know exactly where you idle, for tach) speedo is easy... put it at zero. :lol:

my gas gauge is still off by a smidge. but its nothing bad. I'll have to readjust it when i do red needles.

yeah, my temp is off, and so is my tach..

[cherrington17]

...but you can't do 2 color with that method. :p

For two color... you need to do something more similar to this...

Note different bulb holder from original pics! I didn't know different years has different bulb holders, until chipmunk sent me his old ones...

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Interior%20Re-lighting/Dualcolors.jpg

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/Interior%20Re-lighting/Dualcolors1.jpg

I had 3 blue leds die (i'm pretty sure it was due to shotty soldering on the resistors) so i was remaking these. Figured I should take a pic since i was doing it. (also gave me a reason to play with my dad's new Canon Rebel XS. :drool: )

Tips will be sanded. I had to go to work/ran outta time.

[Ttop191]

You have poop on your thumbnail!!! Use 2-ply dude!

[cherrington17]

um... no. its very faint dried blood... from a scratch lower... but thanks for playing.

[Ttop191]

damn, and i was so close to a whole new definition for thread crapping :D

[cherrington17]

new shots... better camera. :D

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/IMG_0118.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/IMG_0117.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w246/cherrington17/IMG_0116.jpg

I never have both on at once (last pic) but everyone seems to like to see what it would look like...

[kingjames64]

If i buy this from superbrightleds.com.... http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/leds.htm#fivemm

RL5-B12120 Blue LED
$ 0.59

* Blue Super Bright LED
470nm / 1200 mcd / 120 Degree Viewing Angle Flat Tipped 5mm LED

What resistors will i need?

[Ttop191]

Puuurdy :D

[cherrington17]

If i buy this from superbrightleds.com.... http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=/leds.htm#fivemm

RL5-B12120 Blue LED
$ 0.59

* Blue Super Bright LED
470nm / 1200 mcd / 120 Degree Viewing Angle Flat Tipped 5mm LED

What resistors will i need?

blue? uses 470 ohm


WARNING: if you do the needles, as per yalero's "how to" THE MOTORS ARE NOT INTERCHANGABLE! I just had this problem. They fit into the recepticles for each other... but the gas/coolant motors will not move the tach/speedo!!!

[kingjames64]

yes blue, so this?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062320&CAWELAID=107599019

[Nate's Alero]

my white gauges are SEX )if 13 of the 35 LED's didn't die.. i'd take pics...

Tom saw them flickering.. and going haywire..

[cherrington17]

yes blue, so this?

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062320&CAWELAID=107599019


1/2W is kinda high.. go with 1/4W. 1/8W is possible... but a PITA to prevent the leads from snapping.

[JLw7123]

ya i am thinking of getting some red LEDs for my gauges and my lights inside.

[kingjames64]

alright thanks so much for all the help!