DIY: Interior LED swap (cluster, HVAC, switches, window, *steering wheel)

[AuSeeker]

From what i've gathered, we'll need to remove the actual "ball" that has the buttons on it from the HVAC unit to access the LED's. My only question know is whether the bulbs are soldered onto the PCB or just tied on like the NEO3 bulbs.

Here's a list of bulbs...

And....

This thread has the info about what i'm talking about. Check the first page for removing the "ball" with the buttons, and second page with the PCB and LED's for the individual switches.

Excellant, thanks!

 

[mizak82]

I got a couple complaints about the led swap.

1. The AC dials background leds def leave some to be desired. It doesn’t illuminate evenly. Can I just use like a hyper white regular bulb instead?

2. I have to hold the mode button down on steering wheel control to fully illuminate the switches. If not it is very dim. I had white ones in it. But then I just switched to blue. Love it. But wish it was fully illuminated all the time.

Pic for attention below.

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[S p a r k y]

[MENTION=132505]mizak82[/MENTION] did you sand the led’s acrylic down before installing the background ones? Sand them down and it will help.

The steering wheel, I have been tempted to cut out the squares in the rubbery plastic thing in there, would probably really help you with the blue. If all that makes sense

 

[mizak82]

[MENTION=132505]mizak82[/MENTION] did you sand the led’s acrylic down before installing the background ones? Sand them down and it will help.

The steering wheel, I have been tempted to cut out the squares in the rubbery plastic thing in there, would probably really help you with the blue. If all that makes sense

Sand it down to dull it out? Like the top of it?

I was thinking of rigging the steering wheel mode button to always be pressed. Since it doesn’t work with my headunit. Just the volume and channel/song change buttons. And they work even if I’m holding the mode button.


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[S p a r k y]

Sand it down to dull it out? Like the top of it?

I was thinking of rigging the steering wheel mode button to always be pressed. Since it doesn’t work with my headunit. Just the volume and channel/song change buttons. And they work even if I’m holding the mode button.


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Yes, sand the top of led down. Take led out, lay sand paper on work bench, hold led by the base, rub it on sand paper. I typically sand the acrylic down to half way between the top and where the actual metal in the led starts. Makes the light go out instead of up, will spread the wealth to everything else. Will it be perfect, no! But will be much better.

 

[mizak82]

Yes, sand the top of led down. Take led out, lay sand paper on work bench, hold led by the base, rub it on sand paper. I typically sand the acrylic down to half way between the top and where the actual metal in the led starts. Makes the light go out instead of up, will spread the wealth to everything else. Will it be perfect, no! But will be much better.

should i round off the led acrylic or just scuff up the yellow top in a flat sanding motion?

 

[S p a r k y]

should i round off the led acrylic or just scuff up the yellow top in a flat sanding motion?

I do the top in a flat sanding motion, I do kinda get the edges a little bit as well, not all the way down the side, I don’t round it, but don’t have perfect 90 angles either

 

[holbert_A]

LED Swap

Hey Everyone, I'm looking for someone that would be willing to do the complete LED swap to my 2003 Toyota 4runner Sport.
I could ship the pieces that need the swapping, and give you some money for the job!
just send me a PM
thanks!
Austin
:help:

 

[theoutbackdream]

Alright, so after doing a lot of research and doing the mod on my own, i'd like to consolidate the information into this single post. I own and modified the cluster and HVAC on my 2007 v6 Limited. The SR5's seem different.

For the limited, there are a total of 27 leds required to do the swap. Took about 30minutes to do the whole thing...

Per Meter...
7x Rev meter leds
10x Speed meter leds
3x Odometer Screen backlight leds
3x Fuel gauge leds
2x Temp guage leds (There's an extra led spot, that does get power, but you won't see the light because it'll be covered...)
2x Gear shifter indicator backlight leds

For the HVAC...
The knobs themselves are running at ~12volts to the bulbs.
Bad image, but this is with the engine off, on ACC, and light not set to max.

The HVAC screen is running at ~6volts to the bulbs.

Mid project, to verify the LED's work.

 

[T81RD]

Ok new to the forum, but Ive read as much of this thread as I could. I could only find the neo hp bulbs so I need to do the 12v mod. Is there a clean way to do this by pulling off a different spot inside the actual hvac control? I've done everything else and have been trying to locate pictures of the 12v mod but can't seem to find a good example. Being able to keep them dimmable would be nice but I assume it's not likely

 

[Bluesky 07]

Thank you and yes they do scratch very easily. I wished I would have clear coated them while they were out.

Would a screen protector-style material make sense to overlay after the clear lens is polished up?

Also, I searched the thread with no luck for anyone who has changed over to red gauges. If I missed somebody, can you post a pic or refer me to the page?

 

[Jassco]

Ok new to the forum, but Ive read as much of this thread as I could. I could only find the neo hp bulbs so I need to do the 12v mod. Is there a clean way to do this by pulling off a different spot inside the actual hvac control? I've done everything else and have been trying to locate pictures of the 12v mod but can't seem to find a good example. Being able to keep them dimmable would be nice but I assume it's not likely

Yes, this is where I'm stuck. I will just use the standard white bulbs sans LED if I have to since it keeps dimming. Everything else in HVAC looks great with the Neos

 

[S p a r k y]

Just finished up a complete hvac led swap for [MENTION=200789]1FunRunner[/MENTION] tomorrow night is the cluster to match!

Hit me up if your looking to have this done.

 

[S p a r k y]

And done! Not a single amber/orange light left in this ride.

For google search - 4th gen 4runner led cluster swap hvac led

 

[4rs]

I must be the minority that likes and prefers the amber/orange.

 

[merlinrunner]

Great look on the gauge cluster...is anyone out there doing this mod commercially for those of us with little soldering skills?

 

[yosh2000]

Great look on the gauge cluster...is anyone out there doing this mod commercially for those of us with little soldering skills?

I do it and am out in wheat ridge

 

[S p a r k y]

Great look on the gauge cluster...is anyone out there doing this mod commercially for those of us with little soldering skills?

Yosh is your guy, especially that close. I do them as well, quiet a bit further away though!

 

[S0L0M0N]

Just finished up a complete hvac led swap for [MENTION=200789]1FunRunner[/MENTION] tomorrow night is the cluster to match!

Hit me up if your looking to have this done.

What bulbs did you use for the display and buttons? I'm in CA so I'm too far away to do the whole dash but I think I can manage the HVAC area if I can find the right plug and play bulbs.

 

[S p a r k y]

What bulbs did you use for the display and buttons? I'm in CA so I'm too far away to do the whole dash but I think I can manage the HVAC area if I can find the right plug and play bulbs.

Neo Wedge

takes a 2 weeks or so for them to come in, but I use these