LED conversion complete
10-02-2006, 12:28 AM
#43
03 CL-S
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sacramento
Age: 37
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gaping46and2
I did buy a new gague cluster, but for reference purposes. I didn't want to take my car apart before I knew what I was getting into. I did not use the new gauge for the conversion, just for the record. My mileage shown is correct, and hasn't been changed. I know there are services on the internet, I believe one of our sponsored sellers TVandNav2go, do change mileage to be correct. Check out their website, I'm sure they can help you out.
10-02-2006, 11:24 AM
#45
Originally Posted by Sun Diego CL-S
it looks like it's really bright in there. but it's something i should definitely do. my interior looks lame with the stock lighting.
It's really not as bright as it looks, I had to use a low shutter speed for them to come out so you could actually seem them in the picture. Come stop by and take a look in person if you'd like.
10-03-2006, 07:15 PM
#51
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Age: 44
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i plan on doing mine, what he told me makes it sound so ez, and i couldnt believe this is all u have to do, just rub off/take out the blue filter. did a led conversion in a 99tlp be4, gonan do this on my tl type s asap....
clear ur pm box plz!!
clear ur pm box plz!!
10-03-2006, 07:21 PM
#52
Originally Posted by jonjacob
i plan on doing mine, what he told me makes it sound so ez, and i couldnt believe this is all u have to do, just rub off/take out the blue filter. did a led conversion in a 99tlp be4, gonan do this on my tl type s asap....
clear ur pm box plz!!
clear ur pm box plz!!
Just be carful not to mess up the gauges, that can be pretty easy to do aswell. When clearing out the blue filter off the fuel/temp gauge, you'll probably have to cut the clear light diffuser behind it to get to all the indicators, that's what I had to do (a dremel is a great thing to have handy). It's a pretty tight fit. I found that the small terry cloth hand towels work the best when clearing out the blue paint. I got a bunch of them from target a while ago for about $5. Try not to bend the gauges too far apart because if you bend one of the needles, thats the end of it, and you'll most likely have to purchase a new gauge cluster and replace it.
10-03-2006, 07:32 PM
#53
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Age: 44
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gaping46and2
Just be carful not to mess up the gauges, that can be pretty easy to do aswell. When clearing out the blue filter off the fuel/temp gauge, you'll probably have to cut the clear light diffuser behind it to get to all the indicators, that's what I had to do (a dremel is a great thing to have handy). It's a pretty tight fit. I found that the small terry cloth hand towels work the best when clearing out the blue paint. I got a bunch of them from target a while ago for about $5. Try not to bend the gauges too far apart because if you bend one of the needles, thats the end of it, and you'll most likely have to purchase a new gauge cluster and replace it.
i learned from the past, installed one of those cheap indiglo gauges, didnt fit good, got stuck, fucked up a needle on the temp gauge, and yea....my first tl was my tester car lol...i just pmed u.
10-04-2006, 12:47 AM
#54
Kang Ho
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJ, CA
Age: 41
Posts: 2,872
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damn the LED is pretty hot. Isnt it a little bit bright? But doesnt that become a little bit annoying at night? If I was driving beside you and wasnt paying attention at night, I would think your a ghost (due to those blue led). 
10-04-2006, 01:40 AM
#55
Everything is overexposed in the pictures because that's the only way they would show up in a photo. You'd have to really see them in person, because they're not as bright as they seem. Get into any of the newer Honda/Acuras and the interior lighting is about the same brightness. I haven't had any problems being blinded by any of the lights, thought the led shining down on to the shift gate took a little while to get used to.
10-04-2006, 02:53 AM
#56
03 CL-S
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sacramento
Age: 37
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
so you also did your gauge, what bulbs is that that goes into the blue socket, and the red socket?
btw what sup with ur srs light? did this conversion cause it to go on?
because mine also go on when i took off my dash... who knows why the heck it light up for.. ; (
btw what sup with ur srs light? did this conversion cause it to go on?
because mine also go on when i took off my dash... who knows why the heck it light up for.. ; (
10-04-2006, 09:42 AM
#57
Originally Posted by truexh
so you also did your gauge, what bulbs is that that goes into the blue socket, and the red socket?
btw what sup with ur srs light? did this conversion cause it to go on?
because mine also go on when i took off my dash... who knows why the heck it light up for.. ; (
btw what sup with ur srs light? did this conversion cause it to go on?
because mine also go on when i took off my dash... who knows why the heck it light up for.. ; (
The bulbs I used for the gauges (blue sockets) are #196 WLED-x5 LED Wedge Base Bulbs from superbrightleds.com. You'll need to shave the sides of the wedge down to fit into the #74 size socket. The red sockets (for the speedo) you can use a single led #74 size bulb, so it you be just P&P no need for any modification.
I was just waiting for someone to ask me about the SRS. Not sure if taking the car apart actually set it off, but I got it checked out at a Honda Dealer, and pulled up a 15-2 code, which is the OPDS, and it looks like it's covered under waranty. I'd just assume it was a coincidence it came on the same time I was doing all of this.
10-05-2006, 12:51 AM
#58
03 CL-S
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sacramento
Age: 37
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
damnnnnnnn, just called tvandnav2go and the price for mileage correction for 03 acura cl-s gauge cost $250... that is a shit load of money... any 1 here know any other option??? helppppp need my mileage to be FIX for my new gauge
10-05-2006, 07:53 AM
#59
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Age: 44
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by gaping46and2
The bulbs I used for the gauges (blue sockets) are #196 WLED-x5 LED Wedge Base Bulbs from superbrightleds.com. You'll need to shave the sides of the wedge down to fit into the #74 size socket. The red sockets (for the speedo) you can use a single led #74 size bulb, so it you be just P&P no need for any modification.
I was just waiting for someone to ask me about the SRS. Not sure if taking the car apart actually set it off, but I got it checked out at a Honda Dealer, and pulled up a 15-2 code, which is the OPDS, and it looks like it's covered under waranty. I'd just assume it was a coincidence it came on the same time I was doing all of this.
I was just waiting for someone to ask me about the SRS. Not sure if taking the car apart actually set it off, but I got it checked out at a Honda Dealer, and pulled up a 15-2 code, which is the OPDS, and it looks like it's covered under waranty. I'd just assume it was a coincidence it came on the same time I was doing all of this.
yea i taken my dash apart many times and no srs light came on, so i bet its the recall, if u havent done it yet..
orders my parts, for the gauges and the cliamte ctrl, not doing the radio since i plan on removing that soon.
10-05-2006, 11:27 AM
#60
Originally Posted by jonjacob
yea i taken my dash apart many times and no srs light came on, so i bet its the recall, if u havent done it yet..
orders my parts, for the gauges and the cliamte ctrl, not doing the radio since i plan on removing that soon.
orders my parts, for the gauges and the cliamte ctrl, not doing the radio since i plan on removing that soon.
10-07-2006, 03:40 AM
#61
03 CL-S
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sacramento
Age: 37
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hey, you know how the gauge takes #74 size bulbs? why not put a #74 LED bulbs instead of going through the trouble of shaving it down? whats wrong with the #74 led?
im confused, like they wont work or something?
im confused, like they wont work or something?
10-18-2006, 08:45 PM
#65
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Age: 44
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well finished doing the gauge today, pretty sweet, changed the blinkers with white led, and the odometer is blue, but im gonna switch it. one thing that pissed me off is one of the 5 leds blew on me when putting it back together and doing a test run, so that extra 74 bulb i bought for gear selector, i put in there, kinda gay, gonna msg superbrightleds and see if i can just buy 1 more of those. other than that its pretty sweet,
i would recommend going with 196 bulbs, because that 74 bulb i put in, is very dull, not near as bright as the others. thx for all the help gaping
i would recommend going with 196 bulbs, because that 74 bulb i put in, is very dull, not near as bright as the others. thx for all the help gaping
10-18-2006, 08:54 PM
#66
Good deal! 
Glad it worked out for you. put up some pics when you get a chance. Yeah, I know all about the #74 bulbs, they just aren't bright enough. Maybe the 10mm ones you can get from autolumination.com might be, but I haven't tried them.
Glad it worked out for you. put up some pics when you get a chance. Yeah, I know all about the #74 bulbs, they just aren't bright enough. Maybe the 10mm ones you can get from autolumination.com might be, but I haven't tried them.
10-25-2006, 01:08 AM
#68
3rd Gear
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: mil-town, wi
Age: 37
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
did you guys use any resistors or just give it straight power? I always thought the led would blow if the voltage wasn't correct...but if it is correct they will never burn out. Plan on doing the project, hopefully the same time I add the navi. like the work done
10-25-2006, 01:14 AM
#69
Originally Posted by jameson1686
did you guys use any resistors or just give it straight power? I always thought the led would blow if the voltage wasn't correct...but if it is correct they will never burn out. Plan on doing the project, hopefully the same time I add the navi. like the work done
You are correct, the leds will get really bright for about 1/2 second and burn out if no resistor is put between the positive anode and the power source. I used 560ohm resistors in all the LEDs I soldered.
10-26-2006, 12:22 AM
#71
Originally Posted by WillrunifChased
I was wondering where you got your gauges at and how much they cost.
10-28-2006, 02:14 PM
#72
3rd Gear
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: mil-town, wi
Age: 37
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
which led's did you put in each area? Also how did you wire the map light you put in? Is it set to be on with your headlights or always on. I just started to order parts for my navi, and would like to do that at the same time. Maybe swaping the domelight and door lights for some blue led's also.
10-28-2006, 03:51 PM
#73
The gauge bulbs are in the above post which required no soldering, but slight modification to the base. All the single leds which did require soldering were used through out the climate control, switches, and radio, which were all 3mm white leds, and I believe it was 6 5mm leds in the climate control. Once I get time, I promise I'll have a DIY, just bare with me for a while, school sucks. All the map, and door lights are #194 bulbs, and the dome light is a festoon bulb w/ 9 leds, all from superbrightleds.com. The door lights are the same as the bulbs I used in the gauges, and the map lights (also the trunk light) are 12 LED bulbs.
11-01-2006, 10:17 AM
#74
3rd Gear
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: mil-town, wi
Age: 37
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
where did you put the led for the shifter? Is it right between those 3 homelink buttons and the maplights or did you put it somewhere else. how bad was the wiring on that. Is it easy to find good power in the roof there or will i need to route it from somewhere else?
11-01-2006, 10:52 AM
#75
Originally Posted by jameson1686
where did you put the led for the shifter? Is it right between those 3 homelink buttons and the maplights or did you put it somewhere else. how bad was the wiring on that. Is it easy to find good power in the roof there or will i need to route it from somewhere else?
I put the led where the red led is for the homelink (the little house). I drilled a hole a little bigger to fit a 5mm led and a black led holder, I'll take a pic of it when I get home. I just bent back the red led that was there, and I ran the wires to the driver's side sun visor mirror lights (so whenever the light switch is turn on, the led is on). Hardest part is getting the homelink taken apart, they melted the plastic together. I used a pocket knife to widdle away at the plastic until I could pry it apart. The rest is pretty simple. You can buy one of those already made led w/ 2' +/- wires from superbrightleds.com, or can make it yourself if you got all the parts (5mm LED, black led holder, 560ohm resistor, black/red wire ~20ga. should do, and soldering skills).
11-01-2006, 01:06 PM
#76
Here's where I mounted the LED:
...and here is where I got the LED from, it's the 3rd one down in the list, can't miss it. It's just as easy to make your own if you've got most of it already. I know radioshack has the bulb mounts, but they don't have the right resistors for the application, you'll have to get those off ebay or if there's a Fry's nearby, that'd be even better. I didn't splice any wires together, I just unplugged the harness and slipped the +/- wires into the respective slots in the harness and plugged it all back in (the wires are quite small, so it's not a big deal, they won't come loose or have any trouble plugging the harness back together.) Oh, and make sure you wrap the wires up and around the visor screws, I crimped the wire between the roof of the car and the mounting and it snaped in two, so take your time putting that part together again.
...and here is where I got the LED from, it's the 3rd one down in the list, can't miss it. It's just as easy to make your own if you've got most of it already. I know radioshack has the bulb mounts, but they don't have the right resistors for the application, you'll have to get those off ebay or if there's a Fry's nearby, that'd be even better. I didn't splice any wires together, I just unplugged the harness and slipped the +/- wires into the respective slots in the harness and plugged it all back in (the wires are quite small, so it's not a big deal, they won't come loose or have any trouble plugging the harness back together.) Oh, and make sure you wrap the wires up and around the visor screws, I crimped the wire between the roof of the car and the mounting and it snaped in two, so take your time putting that part together again.
