Instrument cluster, clock, and AC controller LED upgrade
03-19-2002, 10:09 PM
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Instrument cluster, clock, and AC controller LED upgrade
hi,
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. Plus all the SELECT/RESET, HAZARD, FOGLIGHT, TCS/CRUISE, and SUNROOF/MOONROOF buttons with withe LEDs.
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.
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. Plus all the SELECT/RESET, HAZARD, FOGLIGHT, TCS/CRUISE, and SUNROOF/MOONROOF buttons with withe LEDs.
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.
03-20-2002, 05:43 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm just wondering how easy on the eyes these super-bright LEDs are...I mean, yeah they may look sweet, but after looking at them for quite some time, is there any potential for them to start hurting the eyes?
03-22-2002, 12:25 AM
#4
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yes please post pics. I'm especially interested in how the superwhite LED instrument gauges will look. Nate hasn't done that with his TL, unless I'm mistaken. If the gauges come out in that nice Lexus/Mercedes superwhite backlight effect, then it'll be surely worth it's weight in platinum.
:wow:
:wow:
03-23-2002, 11:07 AM
#7
Banned
Thread Starter
you don't need to desoldering the bulbs. It's a twist-n-push type socket. You need to solder LEDs and resistor on the PCB to make them secure and reliable. I will post a pics. I am telling it is not easy. You need a good soldering iron with every fine tip. It took me a while to find a way to mount the LEDs and resistors propperly. I used 1 watt instead of 1/4 resistor. One watt resistor is bigger than 1/4 but it's dissipate heat better and that is what you want when you have a 12/14V power supply to drive your LEDs. The heat given off from a 1/4 watt resistor is very HOT!
Trending Topics
03-23-2002, 03:16 PM
#8
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Aug 2001
Age: 41
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by hchhon
you don't need to desoldering the bulbs. It's a twist-n-push type socket. You need to solder LEDs and resistor on the PCB to make them secure and reliable. I will post a pics. I am telling it is not easy. You need a good soldering iron with every fine tip. It took me a while to find a way to mount the LEDs and resistors propperly. I used 1 watt instead of 1/4 resistor. One watt resistor is bigger than 1/4 but it's dissipate heat better and that is what you want when you have a 12/14V power supply to drive your LEDs. The heat given off from a 1/4 watt resistor is very HOT!
you don't need to desoldering the bulbs. It's a twist-n-push type socket. You need to solder LEDs and resistor on the PCB to make them secure and reliable. I will post a pics. I am telling it is not easy. You need a good soldering iron with every fine tip. It took me a while to find a way to mount the LEDs and resistors propperly. I used 1 watt instead of 1/4 resistor. One watt resistor is bigger than 1/4 but it's dissipate heat better and that is what you want when you have a 12/14V power supply to drive your LEDs. The heat given off from a 1/4 watt resistor is very HOT!
JON LERD
ECE MAJOR
03-23-2002, 07:10 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 807
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by asiankidd
HEAT your kidding right? heat isnt given off because of the voltage, its given off on how much load you put on it other words wattage, the leds you use probably draw in some where in the 25-40 millamps convert than to amps you get like .025-.04 times the voltage its taking in which is like 3.5-6 volts so lets say you have the extreme of leds 6 volts and a .04 amp draw the wattage its eatting is only .24 watts thats not even the limits of the resistor yet so you should be fine.....your wasting your money on 1 watt resistors that you dont need
JON LERD
ECE MAJOR
HEAT your kidding right? heat isnt given off because of the voltage, its given off on how much load you put on it other words wattage, the leds you use probably draw in some where in the 25-40 millamps convert than to amps you get like .025-.04 times the voltage its taking in which is like 3.5-6 volts so lets say you have the extreme of leds 6 volts and a .04 amp draw the wattage its eatting is only .24 watts thats not even the limits of the resistor yet so you should be fine.....your wasting your money on 1 watt resistors that you dont need
JON LERD
ECE MAJOR
-josh
03-24-2002, 03:06 PM
#11
Banned
Thread Starter
Blue LEDs behind the clock and AC LCD look HOT at night!!!
Super white LEDs behind the buttons and instrument cluster make your interio look like a Lexus or Mercedez at night (maybe even better)!! Damn I love drving this car night now!!
PICS are coming soon!!
Super white LEDs behind the buttons and instrument cluster make your interio look like a Lexus or Mercedez at night (maybe even better)!! Damn I love drving this car night now!!
PICS are coming soon!!
03-24-2002, 09:33 PM
#12
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Downey,CA
Age: 44
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
yeah i think we all want to see pics, when i saw what nate did i was planning to go to a store and finding all those Led's that we need, and if for your price includes the leds too , then you might get my business.
03-25-2002, 07:22 AM
#13
Banned
Thread Starter
DVS RICE.
The prices I qouted you include those hard to get LEDs. All you need to do is take your dash apart and pull out the buttons, clock, and AC controller. You can still drive your car without the clock, FOGLIGHT, TCS/CRUISE, SUNROOF/MOONROOF, HEAT SEAT,and SELECT/RESET buttons. You can't drive the car with the HAZARD buttons disconnect because signal light will not work. If you want to drive the car without the ability to controll the AC/heat unit you can take out the AC controller too.
I will show you the pic how I modified these buttons to mount the LEDs and resistors. to These LEDs are special. They are very bright with very wild angle of viewing. You're going to like driving your car at night! I guranttee it!
The prices I qouted you include those hard to get LEDs. All you need to do is take your dash apart and pull out the buttons, clock, and AC controller. You can still drive your car without the clock, FOGLIGHT, TCS/CRUISE, SUNROOF/MOONROOF, HEAT SEAT,and SELECT/RESET buttons. You can't drive the car with the HAZARD buttons disconnect because signal light will not work. If you want to drive the car without the ability to controll the AC/heat unit you can take out the AC controller too.
I will show you the pic how I modified these buttons to mount the LEDs and resistors. to These LEDs are special. They are very bright with very wild angle of viewing. You're going to like driving your car at night! I guranttee it!
03-25-2002, 09:48 AM
#15
Banned
Thread Starter
Tommy,
I have tried all ultra red, super blue, and super cool white LEDs and here is what found out:
Instrument cluster guages:
Tried super blule and ultra red LED ( both have viewing angle of 160 deg.) The illumination is not very bright. It is too dim. Super blue LED has the lowest illumination intensity and the red needle became dark ( blue light behind red legend = no illumination). Ultra red LED illumination intensity is a little brighter than blue LED but it is still too dim ( dimmer than the orginal bulb) and red needles do not have a glowing bright red. The reason that blue and red LEDs do not work well is because the guages has a light blue filter built which it purpose is to block the yellow light from the incondescent light blubls. This filter block a lot of light. Unfortuanately you can't remove the filter, it is part of the molded gauge face plate. Super white LED is the only choice. Super white LED will give you very bright white illumination intensity with a hint of blue sky color ( produce by the buit-in blue filter). The red needles is bright red. The brightness intensity of the instrument cluster guages is about 3 to 4 times brighter than the original with super white LEDs. I love the way it looks at night!
CLOCK LCD:
I have tried with ultra red and super blue LEDs and both look great at night. I had ultra red LED on and drove my car for a few night and switch back to super blue LED because it is much cooler to have blue light in your car at night. I have to say that blue LCD background is a little hard for your eyes at night. I am working on to have a switch button button to switch between blue and red LCD background. If red and/or blue LEDs are the choice a blue filter behind the LCD has to be remove for the true LEDs color to be shown. This is so cool! I love both color. White LED behind the LCD will give you very bright blue sky color and in this case you don't need to remove the blue filter.
AC LCD:
It can be done the same as CLOCK LCD but you need more LEDs. No big deal. Again it be done with switchable red or blue background with a switch button This is need!
AC knobs / buttons and FOGLIGHT, CRUISE/TCS, MOONROOF/SUNROOF, SELECT/RESET, and HEAT seat buttons:
Without going into detail as for the same reason given by the instrument cluster guages. White LED is the choice. I would you used red LED behind the indicator when you push the button and the light lits up. Great looking at night!
As for the buttons on the side door I need to take them apart and figure out how to mount the LEDs and resistors. I will definately use white LEDs on these buttons.
Well I hope this will give an ideas. As I have promised I will post all the pics when this project is completed. I am waiting for my LEDs!
P.S.
I just got one customer in my area when I visited my local Acura dealer. I showed my unfinished work and he still like the way it look!
I have tried all ultra red, super blue, and super cool white LEDs and here is what found out:
Instrument cluster guages:
Tried super blule and ultra red LED ( both have viewing angle of 160 deg.) The illumination is not very bright. It is too dim. Super blue LED has the lowest illumination intensity and the red needle became dark ( blue light behind red legend = no illumination). Ultra red LED illumination intensity is a little brighter than blue LED but it is still too dim ( dimmer than the orginal bulb) and red needles do not have a glowing bright red. The reason that blue and red LEDs do not work well is because the guages has a light blue filter built which it purpose is to block the yellow light from the incondescent light blubls. This filter block a lot of light. Unfortuanately you can't remove the filter, it is part of the molded gauge face plate. Super white LED is the only choice. Super white LED will give you very bright white illumination intensity with a hint of blue sky color ( produce by the buit-in blue filter). The red needles is bright red. The brightness intensity of the instrument cluster guages is about 3 to 4 times brighter than the original with super white LEDs. I love the way it looks at night!
CLOCK LCD:
I have tried with ultra red and super blue LEDs and both look great at night. I had ultra red LED on and drove my car for a few night and switch back to super blue LED because it is much cooler to have blue light in your car at night. I have to say that blue LCD background is a little hard for your eyes at night. I am working on to have a switch button button to switch between blue and red LCD background. If red and/or blue LEDs are the choice a blue filter behind the LCD has to be remove for the true LEDs color to be shown. This is so cool! I love both color. White LED behind the LCD will give you very bright blue sky color and in this case you don't need to remove the blue filter.
AC LCD:
It can be done the same as CLOCK LCD but you need more LEDs. No big deal. Again it be done with switchable red or blue background with a switch button This is need!
AC knobs / buttons and FOGLIGHT, CRUISE/TCS, MOONROOF/SUNROOF, SELECT/RESET, and HEAT seat buttons:
Without going into detail as for the same reason given by the instrument cluster guages. White LED is the choice. I would you used red LED behind the indicator when you push the button and the light lits up. Great looking at night!
As for the buttons on the side door I need to take them apart and figure out how to mount the LEDs and resistors. I will definately use white LEDs on these buttons.
Well I hope this will give an ideas. As I have promised I will post all the pics when this project is completed. I am waiting for my LEDs!
P.S.
I just got one customer in my area when I visited my local Acura dealer. I showed my unfinished work and he still like the way it look!
03-25-2002, 10:12 AM
#17
Banned
Thread Starter
dvs rice,
My car is a 2002 TL without navigation system and my work is based on this. I assume the clock is a separate unit from a navigation system right? If it is than it can be done for the clock. As for the AC controller I think it is buil-in with the navigation system LED. It can't be done. But as for as for the buttons like FOGLIGHT and TSC/CRUISE buttons it can be done.
My car is a 2002 TL without navigation system and my work is based on this. I assume the clock is a separate unit from a navigation system right? If it is than it can be done for the clock. As for the AC controller I think it is buil-in with the navigation system LED. It can't be done. But as for as for the buttons like FOGLIGHT and TSC/CRUISE buttons it can be done.
03-25-2002, 10:16 AM
#18
Racer
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Downey,CA
Age: 44
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
they clock and the ac are build on the screen but there are buttons on the side and i'm pretty sure there's an LED right there so is there anyone with Navi who changed there LED's?
03-25-2002, 10:21 AM
#19
Banned
Thread Starter
dvs rice,
For the buttons like heat seat and sunroof/moonroof and clock they are not a problem. As long as they are not part of the nivigation system. I will check a car with a navigation.
For the buttons like heat seat and sunroof/moonroof and clock they are not a problem. As long as they are not part of the nivigation system. I will check a car with a navigation.
05-15-2007, 03:35 AM
#27
Put the shoes back on in
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: St. Pete, Fla.
Age: 44
Posts: 192
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
J/k. I just have always wanted to do that..
But seriously, got any pix yet? I am not the only one that is anxious to see.. How do they compare to these?
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=152993
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Yumcha
Automotive News
4
09-15-2015 06:44 PM
14v, 14w, 35505, 35505sj4003, 78181, 78181s0ka21, 78181s30003, 78181ss0003, blue, bulb, clock, cluster, instrument, led, lexus, s0k, ss0
