sotiri

Does anyone know what type of lights are in our instrument gauges?
Specifically, I want to change out the backlights, with red led's.
I know that we have 5 1.3 watt guage lights, and 3 1.14 watt odometer/tripmeter lights.
Are they T1, or something else?

thanks in advance!










2002 tls
Aegean Blue
new, bought Jan 2002 2K miles
No tranny problems.

hchhon

sotiri,

I am in the process of just doing that but with super white LEDs.
I took apart the instrument cluster and noticed lots of light bulbs of difference sizes. I even bought each type of these bulbs that are used in the instrument cluster from the dealer just to find out what they look like. Here is a complete listing of all the bulbs inside the instrument cluster:

part # QTY Unit Price
35505-SJ4-003 (14v, 1.12w) 7 1.12
35505-SA5-003 (14v, 1.4w) 14 3.90
78181-S0K-A21 (9.5v, 1.14w) 4 5.12
78181-S30-003 1 5.18
78181-SS0-003 (14v, 1.12w) 9 5.46

There just five bulbs (part # 35505-SJ4-003) that are actually lit up the gauges: 2 bulbs behind the RPM guage, 2 bulbs behind the MPH guages, and 1 behind the GAS/TEMP gauge. I will replace these bulbs with super white LEDs from LEDtronics. I just tested with one white LED behind the RPM guage and look totally awesome. The RPM legend looks super white with a hint of light light blue and it is really bright with just one LED. I am planning to replace each blub with 5 or 7 LEDs. By the way these LEDs are expensive. They are almost $3 dollars each. I am still waiting for the LEDs to come in. I am also testing with this LED on the AC controller knots and buttom. I can't believe what I see! Again it looks super white with a hint of light blue and 10x brighter the the orignal! While I was playing with the AC controller I place the white LED behind the AC LCD and DAMN! The AC LCD looks like a blue sky!! I can't wait to get the rest of my LEDs. Oh, most forgot to tell you about the clock! I put a ultra red LED behind the clock LCD and it give a very nice ruby red! I will post all the pics before and after!!

If you want I can do it for you for a fee!
I will charge you $150 for clock (with ultra red LED behind the LCD) and the AC controller (white LEDs behind all the buttons and the two knobs.

I don't have a price for the instrument cluster light upgrade yet. After I have done with mine I will tell you. My guess would run you about $250.

You have to send me youd parts to do these. You can't do it yourself because instrument cluster, clock, and AC controller have to be opened apart and incoporated with these LEDs.

hchhon

Oh, by the way red and blue LED behind the guages look too dim. I tried it already. Only super white LED will work best.

FreDroRN

hchhon,

I was also looking to change the backlights for the gauge cluster since my gf told me it looked kinda dim She loves the look of the metallic gauges durng the day though. Anyways, I was searching through the LedTronics website and i think i found the Super white LED's you were talking about, but the part numbers are different from the ones you listed in the earlier post(unless i'm looking in the wrong area). If you can please share the knowledge, and let me know which bulbs and part # to order of the website so that I can also add this mod

Thanks in advance.

hchhon

Here:

LF200CW6K-27

http://netdisty.net/ds/l200cw6kb/

Austin519

hcchon:
"Oh, by the way red and blue LED behind the guages look too dim. I tried it already. Only super white LED will work best."

That's actually not true...you can get red LEDs that are quite a bit brighter than superwhites...not blues though. I plan on replacing with blues...and although I don't think LEDtronics or the other places you are going have them...I have access to some pretty high power ones...when I order mine I can order anyone else's.

Austin519

sotiri

please... by all means, let me know!

TLS aspec

Hey Everyone,

Regarding gauges light, I don't quite understand what hchhon is trying to say about "replacing each bulb with 5 or 7 LEDs".

I am going to replace the lights at the back of the gauges, but I would just want to swap the stock bulbs and put in a super white bulbs (without modifying anything with the stock ones). If someone can explain to me a little more as to what bulbs (specifically) and how many behind each cluster? Also, how can I change the trip computer to have super white bulbs?

thanks in advance.

@cUr@-TL

ok, id like to put hyperwhite leds behind my rpm, speedo and gaz/temps gauges, how can i do that. if there are fives bulbs, i need 5 LEDs or what? why do u say you are gonna replace each bulb with 5 leds?! and i guess i have to solder the leds but do i have to solder a resistor too or anything else?!

thx

@cUr@-TL

Tatewaki

One risk with just changing ONE bulb with ONE led is the possibility of having hot spots. hchhon did it by putting lots of leds behind the gauge.

TLS aspec

Sorry, Tatewaki, but I still don't get it. Ok, the bulb behind the instrument panel, is it like a wedge bulb? How do I put lots of leds per bulb?? Do I have to put them in series per bulb like the following. Where and how does the resistor come into play?

+ - (neg)
--- led1 --- led2 --- led3 --- led4 --- led5 ---

If that is correct, HOW can all 5 leds replace the bulb, in terms of physically fitting onto the bulb socket? Or do I let them hang in the instrument cluster?

I am TOTALLY confused. I really, really would like to put some super white bulbs, so please, can anyone explain a little more in detail how it works?

Tatewaki

The problem is that:

1. the bulbs are not standard wedge bulb like 168, etc
2. the bulb diffuse like 360 degree, led is directional. Results: hotspots
3. you can't fit more leds than bulbs without heavy modding your gauge cluster

Here is the album for hchhon. Check it out and you'll see what I mean

http://www.acurainspired.com/gallery...umName=album79

example of what you need to do to the speedo

TLS aspec

Holy!! I don't think I'll be doing that to my speedo. Any other simple ways of just replacing the bulbs (maybe not using leds).? Thanks for the info, Tatewaki.

BlueTL

For those of you who are installing these LEd lights and if you happen to make any mistake and damage your cluster, i do have a spare, for sale $200 , just an offer. Or if not you can experiment.