Can anyone tell me how to replace my old interior lights with LEDs and if it's even worth it? Also, it would be great if someone could explain how to take the dash off, I tried earlier and the vents didnt wanna come off.

 

lolz.. search is ur best friend... it has been discussed to death on here.. and there are even pics of the job on the database courtesy of dom (96TL)... just search it and u will find it..

 

thanx

 

did you take out the 2 screws beside the steering wheel? once those 2 screws are out, you just have to take out the whole gauge thingy. be careful with the vents, i broke mine out while taking out the whole panel. you just have to grab a hold of the top part of the gauge and pull it out but do it carefully b/c the vent flaps are attatched to the whole panel as well. it took me hours to actually take that **** out...i was so pissed too. my hands were numb from trying to pull it out. good luck

 

Yeah i took the screws out, the ones at the top of the cluster, right? So I just use my hands to get the dash off? I remember someone saying that you should use some kind of tool. I tried using old credit cards so I didn't scratch it, but they just bent. So I should basically just grab a hold right by where the screws used to be and then just slowly work my way around from there?
Also, can you point me to a link on how I can change the cluster lights to LED? I've looked at a few and most of the pictures are not working, and the links never work. They all seem to be old. Thanks for the help

 

what u should do to pry out the cluster is put a flat screwdrive and wrap it in a t-shirt or something...

 

Make sure you lower the steering wheel all the way and look behind the rubber flaps on both sides of the wheel. There are 2 philips screws hidden behind the flaps. BTW, I’m the one that did the LED mod. You should find PLENTY of info on this board.

I was never able to make the cluster bright. I just used 194/168 LEDs. There’s 5 behind the cluster. You can’t do the clock and the climate control display. You could only do the buttons. I got the LEDs from www.ledtronics.com but they’re expensive. You need 5mm LEDs ($8.00 each) and 3mm LEDs ($6.00) each.

 

can you point me to your post on the led mod?

 

http://www.acura-tl.com/forum/showth...light=progress

 

can you explain how to actually install the LEDs and the resistors after the dash and everything else is out of the way? Also, where do you get the resistors? Thanx for the link, it helped a lot.

 

The bulb socket is a twist and lock type socket. Its basically a plastic round circle with a groove that the bulb sits in. There are 2 little holes on the bottom of the socket for the leads coming out of the bulb to pass through. The leads then wrap around the sides of the socket so when the socket is locked in place on the board, they make contact. Once you get the bulb out and slide the LED in place, you'll have 2 long leads coming out of the bottom. Cut the power lead so that only a little bit shows, then solder a resistor on that. Now you'll have one lead from the LED (ground) and one lead from the resistor. Twist these around the socket the same way as it was done from the factory and snap the socket in place. Done! If it doesnt light up then you just need to take the socket out and snap it back in the other way. The polarity was just reversed. It wont damage the LED. Like I said if you see the actual socket you'll understand much better. Take out the climate and look for yourself. Its not hard to do.


Also, I know this question is coming so here ya go:

Cluster removal:

1. Remove the 2 screws on top under the dashboard lip that goes over the guages.

2 . There are 2 more on each side of the steering wheel. Just lower the wheel all the way down and there are rubber flaps covering the screws.

3. Once you get those out the whole dash piece just pulls out. Don't be afraid to pull it but be gentle. Be careful around the vents. Especially the drivers side. Once that comes out you have to unplug the hazard switch and clock.

4. Once you have that out there are 2 screws around the cluster. Be careful when you take it out because the plastic over the guages scratches easily. You can put some masking tape over it to be safe. Also, be careful to not scratch the steering wheel column cover. You can tape that up also. The cluster barely fits through the hole so you have to maneuver it a little bit. Be patient. Good luck!


Climate control removal:

Take a flathead screwdriver, wrap it in an old rag or T-shirt, gently pry off the wook trim. I always start from the passenger side and work my way in. The whole wood trim comes out with the climate control attached to it. Then to open the actual climate there are 4 philips screws holding it together. Once you take those screws out it snaps open. There are some tabs holding it together.

 

Also, Radio Shack sells resistors.

 

hey dom.. making sure again what lvl resistors did u use???

 

ok, thanx. the instuctions should help a lot.

 

1/4 watt 470 ohm resistors

 

I know, I got that from your other thread

 

Also, what intensity did you use?

 

What do you mean?

 

I went on ebay to look for better prices on LEDs and I found that they all said the intensity. The ones I bought say 8-10k mcd (luminous intensity).

 

8000mcd is more than bright enough. Intensity isn’t really what’s important. Not for dash buttons. Mine were only about 300mcd or something like that. The viewing angle is what’s important. Most LEDs have a 15-30 degree viewing angle. The LEDtronics LEDs are so expensive because the viewing angle is 160 degrees. That makes the buttons and knobs light up evenly. If you don’t use wide angles LED you’ll have a “spotty” look. In other words the buttons will have hot spots. I’ve heard if you take regular LEDs (Radio Shack) and sand the top flat the viewing angle becomes much wider. I’ve never tried this myself. Truthfully I think this mod was a waste of money and would never do something like that again. I think I wasted about $200.00. I’d rather invest that towards an HID kit or something that you’ll actually get use of.

 

Oh, one more thing, make sure you save each bulb and remember where they all go since the wattages are all different. I wish I did. Those bulbs are about $5.00 each at the dealer. I had to replace every single one.

 

Why did you have to replace them?

Craig

 

Well when I first decided on buying a new car I was gonna trade my TL in so I made everything stock again. I ended up leasing the BMW and giving the TL to my mom.

I wish I would've saved all those bulbs though. I only saved a few and I wasn't sure which one was for what. I just threw them away and bought all new ones.

 

Damn, if I would have known intensity doesn't matter I could have gotten way more LEDs on ebay for the same price. I think they have a 30 degree viewing angle. Now I see why it really matters to get good ones. I didn't want to get thos because I'm only 16 and right now I don't have a job, so I'm running low on cash. I don't think that the ones I bought will be bad for the climate control buttons, though. There is only a little space where the light can shine through. I should be getting the LEDs soon, I'll post some pics when I'm done with the climate control.

 

96TL - Would a dealer really refuse a trade-in with the lights looking like that? I guess it really doesn't look stock then?

Craig

 

I don’t know if they would completely refuse trade-in. But its obvious it isn’t stock. The radio won’t match (if its stock), the climate control display and clock display will also never match. Plus the cluster doesn’t come out perfect. If I went to see a car and I saw those dash buttons and it was obvious it wass custom work I wouldn’t buy the car. Who knows what other kind of “custom” work was done to it? When you go out and purchase a vehicle you want it to be bone stock, not modified. Its a cool mod I gues but like I said, just keep the stock bulbs and remember where they go.

 

96TL

When you used your dimmer, does the cluster, climate controls, and etc still dimm with the LEDs?

 

Yes the dimmer works the same. Don't let people tell you otherwise. I was told it wouldn't dim LEDs.

 

I finally got the LEDs in the climate control, except the dial cuz I need to get some 3mm LEDs. It looks great though. Now it's on to the buttons on the left side of the wheel and the cluster. I'll have pics up shortly.

 

jons543-

How did the 30° LEDs work out? I assume you used 5mm LEDs? Post pics!

Craig

 

The LEDs worked fine. They're not spotty at all. I need to get my hands on some 3mm's now, so I can do the rest of the buttons and the knob. I have some pics of the dash when I was working on it but none at night. Hopefully I'll take some tonight. I should have them up tomorrow.

 

Finally I got around to taking some pics. They aren't great, I couldn't get my camera to focus on the buttons. Also, the LEDs don't seem to look as bright as other ones I've seen now.