Clock Backlight Stopped working...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
Clock Backlight Stopped working...
Ugh always something new with this car.
Just noticed tonight the clock wasn't backlit while driving home at night and all the other buttons were backlit.
Anybody else ran into this problem or know what to do to fix it?
Base 2000 TL no nav, clock itself still works.
Just noticed tonight the clock wasn't backlit while driving home at night and all the other buttons were backlit.
Anybody else ran into this problem or know what to do to fix it?
Base 2000 TL no nav, clock itself still works.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,543
Likes: 193
From: Southern N.H.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
Pro
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 582
Likes: 91
It's real straightforward. I actually just put a LED and a 500ohm resistor into the original plastic bit holding the bulb. I used a yellow bulb so I had to remove the blue filter behind the LCD, but it looks really cool now.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
Nice I wanna convert as many interior lights to LED as possible, which one did you use and how come you need to put in a resistor? If you don't mind me asking.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 582
Likes: 91
I had some regular yellow leds, you can buy em anywhere .I bought a box of them off Amazon.
You need the resistor because there's 12v coming to that bulb housing, which is way too much for an LED in this application. The actual value of the resistor can be calculated with something like ledcalc.com
Just remember if you do this that LEDs only light up when current is flowing the right way, unlike bulbs which don't care . All this means for you is you'll have to test it, and if it doesn't work just turn it around
Let me know if you want more advice. I can even post a picture of the whole LED build, I've still got a few extras at home.
You need the resistor because there's 12v coming to that bulb housing, which is way too much for an LED in this application. The actual value of the resistor can be calculated with something like ledcalc.com
Just remember if you do this that LEDs only light up when current is flowing the right way, unlike bulbs which don't care . All this means for you is you'll have to test it, and if it doesn't work just turn it around
Let me know if you want more advice. I can even post a picture of the whole LED build, I've still got a few extras at home.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 582
Likes: 91
Two LEDs in series with a 500ohm resistor, mounted in the stock bulb housing. The LEDs have been sanded to diffuse them a bit .
This isn't the one that goes behind the clock. That one only had a single LED, and it was at a right angle to the housing to shine directly into the LCD defuser. Different resistor on that one, but otherwise same idea.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 42
Two LEDs in series with a 500ohm resistor, mounted in the stock bulb housing. The LEDs have been sanded to diffuse them a bit .
This isn't the one that goes behind the clock. That one only had a single LED, and it was at a right angle to the housing to shine directly into the LCD defuser. Different resistor on that one, but otherwise same idea.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 11
From: Kansas
Wack the dashboard over the clock
I have a 99 TL and have removed and replaced several of the instrument cluster back lights. I read on this forum somewhere that if your clock back light goes out (mine did about a year ago) you could have success with just using the palm of your hand and giving the dashboard above the clock a few good wacks. Sure enough, I tried this a few weeks ago and the light has stayed on since! Also, I had one of the speedo back lights go out and it worked on that as well. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose and it might solve your problem.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 582
Likes: 91
Oh it's not bad at all. Really easy to do. I had to drill the lead holes in the socket to have some more space, and you have to really think about the order you assrmbas/solder things in. But once you've got a hand plan you can set up an assembly line for yourself and knock em all out.
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