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

[CookieRoe]

In the interest of keeping this thread updated:

final product:

I ended up using 12v LED (white) from [MENTION=210043]Johns06yota[/MENTION] 's LED kit. What he did was get 2 LED (3mm I think), join the positive ends with a wire and left the negative lead on the base so it makes contact with the bulb "socket" on the circuit board. Anyway, this positive wire I connected with the radio's power. They dim nicely with the rest of the dashboard lights.

Because this HVAC assembly is heavily modified, the bulb contacts had too much solder on them from the last time (5-6 years ago) so I soldered the bulbs to them and finished securing them with hot glue (easily removed).

Driving view in the sunlight.

last picture is with my windshield suncover on, but this is a huge improvement on when this was done the last time (5 years ago). The LEDs used then were amber and were bearly visible during the day. THEN, I installed LED strips and those were amber. Those results were bad, but wasn't reverseable b/c the assembly had to be dremeled to accomodate the strips. So, several months back, i got a donor HVAC to fix mine. Oh well, this is the price of "modding", right? urghhhh.

Anyway, happy with the results even though the color is a little off. Remember that white LEDs are way brighter than amber ones and the brightness is what counts when doing the reverse polarization screen mod.

final pic (with footwell LED i installed for ambient light).

Find them here: Bike LEDs | Prewired LED Modules | Super Bright, Plug and Play comes in 2 sizes and many colors available. They are perfect brightness. I even installed one inside my center console.

 

[boejucci]

Wow i just finished reading all 111 pages, or at least mostly, that was a feat in of itself.



I am interested in having someone do my cluster in the next month or so. I see that sparky is taking a break. Is there anyone else actively taking orders. Yosh are you still doing it?



I am in California.



Also, for the LCD screen. I see that some of these LED's may work. Does anyone know which one in particular will work, i know it needs to be T4 and not 12v.



Neowedge Instrument Panel Gauge Colored Led Bulbs Lights Lamps | Autolumination

Did you ever figure this out? All the old links point to dead pages, and I can't figure out exactly what I need to pick up. The LEDs are now listed as 3mm, 4mm, etc and I have clue what's happening [emoji28]

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

 

[chrisbagnell]

Hoping someone can help me with this. I saw another user with the same problem... I swapped LED in my instrument cluster and they all work, but now that I am reinstalling it, the temperature gauge has a mind of it's own. I managed to set all the other needles back to their correct position and even the temp gauge after turning the car to on, off, and letting it reset to the off positions. The temperature gauge seems to move up, then back further than the start position, and it will just repeat this and every time I turn the car from on to off, it lands in a different spot than before. Hopefully someone can assist, I have a 2004 sport edition... It doesn't look like it's stuck on the back or anything but it does not move as fluid as the other needles, it shakes forward to the on position and shakes back when off

 

[kcastner]

LED selection question

Lots of great information, and I didn't want to start a brand new thread for this question.

So thank you for bring up the 6v vs 12v...you saved me from buying the completely wrong items.

So my plan is now to remove the HVAC console and upgrade those lights first as they don't require soldering and I'm not the best solder at all. My plan is to remove the dead and existing lights and re-use the bases for ease of fitting. Based on everything I've read, I believe that these will work:

Amazon.com: DiCUNO 1000pcs 3mm Light Emitting Diode LED Lamp Assorted Kit White Red Yellow Green Blue Lights Round Head and Clear Len Bulbs (5 Colors x 200pcs): Home Improvement

Can I just get a 2nd pair of eyes on this to verify?

Thank you,

 

[himeeto69]

Great write up! It really makes me want to get my solder station up and running again!

I have a question though. While checking out your pictures, I noticed in the following picture that the bulb has a colored bulb cover on it. Did you happen to simply remove the cover and check it out before proceeding with replacing them all with LEDs?
I was just curious since this was how I always modified my older Alpine radios. The bulbs used in the faceplates had bulb covers on them, so I would either remove them, or install different color covers to change the illumination.

This may save some work replacing LEDs. Working on the gauge cluster looks interesting enough!

I have to do my heater & a/c bulbs. Hopefully it will go smoothly.

 

[S p a r k y]

Hoping someone can help me with this. I saw another user with the same problem... I swapped LED in my instrument cluster and they all work, but now that I am reinstalling it, the temperature gauge has a mind of it's own. I managed to set all the other needles back to their correct position and even the temp gauge after turning the car to on, off, and letting it reset to the off positions. The temperature gauge seems to move up, then back further than the start position, and it will just repeat this and every time I turn the car from on to off, it lands in a different spot than before. Hopefully someone can assist, I have a 2004 sport edition... It doesn't look like it's stuck on the back or anything but it does not move as fluid as the other needles, it shakes forward to the on position and shakes back when off

Pull the cluster, start the car, turn off car. Remove needle from cluster. Put cluster in car without needle. Let the needle post cycle without needle. Turn off car. Push needle on, not all the way, test needle again with car on. Once you fee it’s good, push needle on down.

 

[endo1]

This is a really good post.

 

[S p a r k y]

Many have been asking. I am going to open up a few slots over the next month or so for some LED Work. If you haven't seen any posts. I can do the whole job for you. You just send me everything and pay. I do the rest. Please PM and I can share the details.

 

[S p a r k y]

Red Cluster, dont have the hvac pic unfortunately

 

[S p a r k y]

Never said I was a photographer!
white and blue is my fav.

 

[S p a r k y]

There are lots of details I want to send if you are interested. Just to share a little info before I spend time on responses. This will cost you anywhere from $150-$300 depending on model/wants and needs. All you do is package and send, I buy LED's and supplies.

To help the questions coming my way.
-I take care of all the LED's/paint/supplies etc. $25-$40 in lights alone
-I will warranty the work for as long as you own the T4r
- you pay for shipping to me, pay for a return label and include in the package
- Send to me on a Monday or Tuesday, I receive by the weekend, complete work and send back on Monday
- your T4r will drive without cluster/hvac and all buttons. Just make sure your hvac is set comfortably and you have gas!

If your willing to pay above prices, I am confident I can light up your day! ha! good one I know.

Only looking to do a few to fund my 06 Tundra mods. PM me.

 

[Daemoro]

There are lots of details I want to send if you are interested. Just to share a little info before I spend time on responses. This will cost you anywhere from $150-$300 depending on model/wants and needs. All you do is package and send, I buy LED's and supplies.

To help the questions coming my way.
-I take care of all the LED's/paint/supplies etc. $25-$40 in lights alone
-I will warranty the work for as long as you own the T4r
- you pay for shipping to me, pay for a return label and include in the package
- Send to me on a Monday or Tuesday, I receive by the weekend, complete work and send back on Monday
- your T4r will drive without cluster/hvac and all buttons. Just make sure your hvac is set comfortably and you have gas!

If your willing to pay above prices, I am confident I can light up your day! ha! good one I know.

Only looking to do a few to fund my 06 Tundra mods. PM me.

PM Sent

 

[S p a r k y]

[MENTION=640933]ClamChowder[/MENTION] thanks for sending all the way from Cali, hope your enjoying it. [MENTION=72648]Daemoro[/MENTION] look forward to getting your items soon! [MENTION=645242]anteek[/MENTION] look forward to getting your items soon as well!

For those of you that are interested in this option. I am going to be taking a break from this for a couple of months. Feel free to PM me if you want on the list.

 

[epicchaos]

Anyone else do the LED dash lights? Looking to see if someone experienced can help out. Noticed SPARKY was taking a break.

 

[cdoyle]

Sorry for the bump of an old thread, but I want to replaced the HVAC LCD with blue LEDs.

I had put white ones in there a long time ago, but now can't remember which size the HVAC LCD uses. Been reading through the thread and can't find exactly which ones these are?

On Superbright's web page, they have 3, 4, 5mm.
I thought they were 4mm, but figures they are out of stock of blue and won't get any for some time.

Is that the size I would need?

They seem to size them differently than other places? Was trying to find some on Amazon and everyone on there labels there as T4.2, some say 10mm.

any help would be appreciated.

 

[cdoyle]

anyone know what the actual size is for the HVAC LEDs?
Or another place to purchase them?

 

[S p a r k y]

Time to fire the ole LED shop back up. I have taken a few months off due to my real job. Would like to open up some spots for LED jobs. Need more money for my 1stgen Tundra!

PM me and I will share the info. I'll try and answer some questions here first. You will be responsible for shipping costs, roughly $40-60 round trip. I will buy all led's and supplies. I will warranty the work, but not shipping. Prices range from $100-300 for parts and labor. 7-10 day turn around if your shipping. I typically do work on weekend. Ship Wed, get back Wed/Thurs. T4r will drive without Cluster and HVAC. Typically do white/Blue Combo's, but any color can be done.

 

[S p a r k y]

anyone know what the actual size is for the HVAC LEDs?
Or another place to purchase them?

[MENTION=799]cdoyle[/MENTION] it is the T4 or 4mm on Superbright NEOx LED Bulb - High Power Instrument Panel LED | Super Bright LEDs

Problem with these, they need 12v instead of the 6v that the hvac gives. so you need to wire them up 12v. Easiest way is the run them to cig lighter with some wire. SB used to have some that ran on 6v.

 

[BottomDwellingT4r]

Has anyone broken their needles? I did but I was able to plastic weld it back together and all is good. Just wondering if there was somewhere to source new ones if needed?

 

[S p a r k y]

[MENTION=643868]BottomDwellingT4r[/MENTION]
yikes, only way is to get a new cluster and steal them from it. Ebay is best place to find old clusters. Sometimes you can get them cheap on there. I can't recall, are you SR5 or limited?I have some limited needles, fixing another person's issues. Let me know. I would be interested in the SR5 cluster after you rob needles if thats what you need.