Make under dash lights brighter

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Old Jan 22, 2012 | 09:23 AM
  #81  
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Thanks OP. Need to take time to do this mod.
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Old Jan 22, 2012 | 12:10 PM
  #82  
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I did it finally. Here is a picture , you could notice you could see the blue light that fall on the middle near the cup holder cover. I have winter floor matt.

I think the second one is closer to reality. it depends how your monitor is calibrated or not.




Last edited by sebounet2005; Jan 22, 2012 at 12:19 PM.
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Old Jan 22, 2012 | 12:32 PM
  #83  
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Since those pictures, i have enlarged the hole in the driver side to avoid the shadow you could see.

What acura was thinking by putting this close black plastic car above the blue led ?. It was almost impossible for the light to go through this
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 11:38 AM
  #84  
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I'm glad someone brought this thread up. Just did mine today, took less than 10 minutes. Driver's side was easy. Passenger's side took a little bit longer cause I was scared to pull the plastic out. Followed the advice in here I worked at the side near the door first then pulled hard to detach the clip.
The light was definitely not too bright at all. Everyone with a 4G should do it. Great mod.
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Old Jan 27, 2012 | 11:52 AM
  #85  
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Looks good. Keep up the good work. You should also do the back seat as a suggestion.
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Old Jan 29, 2012 | 03:27 PM
  #86  
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To the Op,thank you for this sweet and simple mod,i was aware that a light was there but always wished it was brighter,now that i have done it it's perfect.
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Old Feb 2, 2012 | 01:02 PM
  #87  
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Hi guys, I'm trying to retrofit this on my RL however. I don't understand why the led light has a cap, so where the lights out if the cover stay there without making a hole. Sorry ricky dum dum here!!! What diameter hole have you guys done to get a decent brightness.

Here's a photo how it comes from factory

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Here's after I removed the cap

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Old Feb 2, 2012 | 05:43 PM
  #88  
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I will do a hole equal to the lens size or a little more
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Old Feb 2, 2012 | 05:43 PM
  #89  
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^^^^^ I drilled a 5/16" hole on mine,you could go a little bigger,just make sure that you don't damage the area that twist locks into the panel.
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Old Feb 2, 2012 | 05:53 PM
  #90  
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I also just removed the cap. Did not want to drill. Just right IMO.
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Old Feb 13, 2012 | 01:11 PM
  #91  
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tagged4later
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 02:08 PM
  #92  
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I removed the cap and taped the led back in place. Tried it for a while and put the cap back on. Too bright, and washed out blue for my taste.
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Old Feb 14, 2012 | 06:52 PM
  #93  
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That's why people drilled through the cap. So they can custom size the drill hole to adjust the amount of blue light coming out.
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Old Feb 15, 2012 | 08:30 PM
  #94  
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Did it today After work... Took Less than 5 mind...i was wondering Does anyone make white led replacements ??? Blue isn't my color
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Old Mar 7, 2012 | 08:07 PM
  #95  
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I also just did it after work, tool about 15min for both sides; I made holes the size of the lens. Looks great, thanks for the write up.
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Old Mar 12, 2012 | 04:33 PM
  #96  
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I have done this mod as well, I am not to found of the blue light either. I was wondering if i covered the LED with a white vinyl piece or something that would allow the light to shine through. Which should give it a whitish look
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Old Mar 12, 2012 | 09:35 PM
  #97  
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I will attempt this mod in the very near future. Now, does anyone know how to modify the Blue over head lights shining down on the center console??
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Old Mar 12, 2012 | 11:34 PM
  #98  
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Originally Posted by cobra611
I will attempt this mod in the very near future. Now, does anyone know how to modify the Blue over head lights shining down on the center console??
I have been wondering the same thing, if the foot lights had a cover i am sure the overhead lights do as well.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 04:25 PM
  #99  
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i finally got around to doing this... still not dark yet, so i'll have to wait to see how it turns out...

Before:


After:


i also countersunk the hole on the outside to keep the spread as wide as possible (not sure if it'd actually make a difference, but whatever, took 10 sec to swap bits and give it a spin)
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Old May 15, 2012 | 06:15 PM
  #100  
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Originally Posted by Teddybear
...i also countersunk the hole on the outside to keep the spread as wide as possible...
That's an interesting thought. I fully intend to do this mod, but was thinking of a plain, straight hole. But now that you mention it, I've got just the right bit to make it more workable.
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Old May 15, 2012 | 11:33 PM
  #101  
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^i honestly dont know if it realistically does anything, but i figured it couldnt hurt. also looks a tad cleaner since it matches the countersunk bevel on the actual led itself.... not that anybody would ever see the part itself LOL
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Old May 16, 2012 | 04:18 AM
  #102  
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I originally posted this about the tl but I traded my tl for a zdx and did it on my zdx too. My bro did it on mdx too. So I bet all acuras are the same if it has the led under the dash. I'm glad everyone likes the mod.
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Old May 17, 2012 | 06:43 PM
  #103  
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Wow. Easiest mod ever.
Thanks!
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Old Aug 20, 2012 | 06:59 PM
  #104  
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Did this mod in no more than 10 minutes like everyone else. Definitely worth it, that light was killing me with how dim it was. I chose not to drill because 1) i wanted it bright anyway and 2) did not want to drill holes through just in case i ever wanted them back on and 3) tape worked perfectly regardless.

Originally Posted by cobra611
I will attempt this mod in the very near future. Now, does anyone know how to modify the Blue over head lights shining down on the center console??
Originally Posted by Osman.S
I have been wondering the same thing, if the foot lights had a cover i am sure the overhead lights do as well.
Did you, or anyone else, figure out the easiest and safest way to remove the over head light casing? I want to change the white to probably a blue LED color. I tried to remove the casing, starting at the two areas closest to the windshield but I got scared after i got it far enough to where i thought it should have come out with a little jingle and didn't. Didn't want to crack it. Also, if anyone knows what bulbs they are, please share. Thanks. I'm guessing 194 - 168 - 158 LEDs?

Last edited by Adrian Orat; Aug 20, 2012 at 07:02 PM.
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Old Jan 16, 2013 | 02:12 PM
  #105  
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Just discovered this old thread and think I'm going to give this mod a whirl. I quickly looked at the passenger panel last night in the dark and couldn't see how I remove it. I didn't just want to pull randomly on it and break any clips etc...

Any tips on how to remove the panels on the drive/passenger side to get to the footwell leds? I suspect it's as simple as yanking on it but thought I'd ask from those who have done it first!
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Old Jan 16, 2013 | 04:18 PM
  #106  
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Originally Posted by CanadacuraTL
Just discovered this old thread and think I'm going to give this mod a whirl. I quickly looked at the passenger panel last night in the dark and couldn't see how I remove it. I didn't just want to pull randomly on it and break any clips etc...

Any tips on how to remove the panels on the drive/passenger side to get to the footwell leds? I suspect it's as simple as yanking on it but thought I'd ask from those who have done it first!
Not sure if the 2010 and 2012 is the same, but on the 2010 the passenger side is pulled down gently starting on one end,the driver side has a knob which must be turned first then you can pull apart,if you only pull on the driver side you will break that knob/clip.
That knob/clip is located on the right upper corner if memory serves me correctly.
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Old Jan 16, 2013 | 09:26 PM
  #107  
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I did it in my 2012 and it is like KarKraze said. So simple and such a difference.
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Old Jan 21, 2013 | 08:39 PM
  #108  
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Did this mod on the weekend and it was easy. I like it....
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Old Jan 22, 2013 | 10:58 PM
  #109  
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is there anyone that lives in vancouver that could help me do this? I really want the underdash light, but im too scared to drill holes into the car... (never did anything yet myself) Do you guys think mod shops can do it?
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Old Jan 22, 2013 | 11:45 PM
  #110  
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nm, i just did it lol, didnt drill the hole, just taped the light on thx!
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Old Jan 31, 2013 | 02:04 AM
  #111  
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Originally Posted by sebounet2005
I did it finally. Here is a picture , you could notice you could see the blue light that fall on the middle near the cup holder cover. I have winter floor matt.

I think the second one is closer to reality. it depends how your monitor is calibrated or not.



how did u get the picture shown so bright? i removed the cap, but when i take the picture, it looks completely dark
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Old Jan 31, 2013 | 10:54 AM
  #112  
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Originally Posted by daiyi3
how did u get the picture shown so bright? i removed the cap, but when i take the picture, it looks completely dark
I shouldn't answer for someone else's picture, but I suspect that if you've got a nighttime/low light setting for your camera, and a tripod (or stable surface), you should be able to reproduce this effect. Don't just turn off your flash, as some cameras don't automatically switch to low-light mode.

I keep coming back to this thread hoping that someone will post that they called a friend who works at the shop that makes these covers for Acura, and that they've done a special run of clear versions for A-ziners. Wishful thinking...
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Old Jan 31, 2013 | 01:33 PM
  #113  
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what you mean by special run of clear version?
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Old Jan 31, 2013 | 05:00 PM
  #114  
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Originally Posted by daiyi3
what you mean by special run of clear version?
I only meant that I'd like to get a clear (not opaque) version of the cover that "shades" the light (and which many have drilled through). It won't happen, but I can dream.
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Old Feb 15, 2014 | 08:41 PM
  #115  
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Hi Everyone

few people here were wondering about changing the color of the light. I wanted to post some pictures from my 2014 acura RLX which seems to have exact same lights but in amber/orange. At least the top cover which is clear plastic seems to be same... but not so sure about actual led base which seems littlebit slimmer. Anyway i think if anyone wants they could buy '14 RLX ones and you got yourself beautiful amber. Am posting some pictures here too



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Old Feb 15, 2014 | 08:45 PM
  #116  
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ok something went wrong with dropbox pictures here are the pictures.



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Old Feb 16, 2014 | 12:09 AM
  #117  
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ehh i like to keep it blue, my dome light emits a blue light so having it amber kinda throws off the look... but nice, you figured out some parts that are interchangeable.
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Old Feb 27, 2014 | 06:44 PM
  #118  
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just did this. awesome mod!! thanks! looks great
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Old Feb 28, 2014 | 12:16 AM
  #119  
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I'll be doing this over the weekend. Gives me something to do..lol
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Old Feb 28, 2014 | 11:38 AM
  #120  
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i believe the 2013 tsx has clear lenses on that housing. as I saw my friends 2013 tsx had clear lenses and my 2010 had black.
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