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

[yosh2000]

I think desoleering the screen would be the best bet for what you want to do cookieroe. I thought you were having this done already by that other dude...is he falling behind on his promised time line...?!!

 

[CookieRoe]

You can unsolder all those pins if you like. I chose to use the Dremel instead.

Hmmm, didn't even think of it b/c I'm sort of scare of "melting" everything.

I think desoleering the screen would be the best bet for what you want to do cookieroe. I thought you were having this done already by that other dude...is he falling behind on his promised time line...?!!

Hahah, well, I want to learn how to do it. I have a suspicion that installing that LED strip will generate lots of heat and b/c it's a very tight space, I'm thinking of "drilling" some holes to dissipate the heat. Realize with the NEO LEDs, there are only 2. With the strip, there were be about 9 LEDs (If I remember correctly). Anyway, of course, I'll test it before I do that. I'm no engineer, but I like to tackle a project thoroughly think it through, complete it, and NEVER return to it (if it's done right, then I won't have to).

Anyway, THIS WILL HAPPEN and I WILL share with everyone. I've taken everything apart, but stopped at the screen. Hmmmm, so solder it until it separates huh?

I was also thinking of installing a rheostat but that's problem number #4. I'm still working on problem #1.

Stay tuned!

 

[Cisco Kid]

Hmmm, didn't even think of it b/c I'm sort of scare of "melting" everything.



Hahah, well, I want to learn how to do it. I have a suspicion that installing that LED strip will generate lots of heat and b/c it's a very tight space, I'm thinking of "drilling" some holes to dissipate the heat. Realize with the NEO LEDs, there are only 2. With the strip, there were be about 9 LEDs (If I remember correctly). Anyway, of course, I'll test it before I do that. I'm no engineer, but I like to tackle a project thoroughly think it through, complete it, and NEVER return to it (if it's done right, then I won't have to).

Anyway, THIS WILL HAPPEN and I WILL share with everyone. I've taken everything apart, but stopped at the screen. Hmmmm, so solder it until it separates huh?

I was also thinking of installing a rheostat but that's problem number #4. I'm still working on problem #1.

Stay tuned!

You will probably have to use solder wick or a solder sucker on all those pins to be able to remove the lcd. That was more involved than I wanted to get hence the reason I cut the plastic.

 

[yosh2000]

LEDs shouldn't produce much heat at all, that's the beauty/curse of them.

I remember reading about the slick led signals installed in snowy areas...the light no longer melted the snow that piled in front of the light and they had problems!!

 

[CookieRoe]

You will probably have to use solder wick or a solder sucker on all those pins to be able to remove the lcd. That was more involved than I wanted to get hence the reason I cut the plastic.

Hmmm, I'm "average" on soldering so I'll try the dremel trick.

LEDs shouldn't produce much heat at all, that's the beauty/curse of them.

I remember reading about the slick led signals installed in snowy areas...the light no longer melted the snow that piled in front of the light and they had problems!!

I hear ya. I have vLeds triton switchbacks up front, this winter I haven't had a problem with the lenses being frozen over with snow/ice. One of them "fell" out of it's socket recently and had to reinstall it. I did it while they were on. Felt hot to me. (maybe not a hot as a regular bulb would've been).

 

[yosh2000]

True, the higher power LEDs need a heat sink, but these little ones you are putting behind there shouldn't be an issue at all. If you think about it, the plcc-2s that are in the cluster and all those i installed in your e7009 nav doesn't have sort of heatsink.

 

[CookieRoe]

True, the higher power LEDs need a heat sink, but these little ones you are putting behind there shouldn't be an issue at all. If you think about it, the plcc-2s that are in the cluster and all those i installed in your e7009 nav doesn't have sort of heatsink.

Excellent point.

Another concern is how to wire them. Currently they are soldered into the rear HVAC harness, but (right now) I'm not 100% sure is that source is 12V. Let's not forget the 2 illuminating bulbs only get like 7V from the factory. Also, not knowing how bright (or not) the strips will be, maybe installing a rheostat (dimmer) would be a good idea. Not sure how much draw the strips will need, maybe (maybe I'm overthinking this) soldering into a 12V of the HVAC isn't a good idea and could warrant their own 12V source (tap into something else in the dash).

 

[tucktuck8]

Please don't make me read 80+ pages. I just want to know if it's possible to change the HVAC lights with new neo LED's and not soldering? I know the gauge cluster and radio take soldering but is there bulbs I can buy for a direct swap for the HVAC?

 

[NuclearN8]

Yes neo3 and neo4 lazy

 

[theliman]

Has anyone done mostly white for the cluster and then red for the hvac? I've seen this pattern on subarus and kind of liked it.

Closest pic to what I'm talking about:
Night1.jpg Photo by Spoonwacker | Photobucket

Also is there a thread with a compilation of lighting patterns?

 

[DisguisedRope]

Has anyone done mostly white for the cluster and then red for the hvac? I've seen this pattern on subarus and kind of liked it.

Closest pic to what I'm talking about:
Night1.jpg Photo by Spoonwacker | Photobucket

Also is there a thread with a compilation of lighting patterns?

I haven't done the swap yet, but those are the colors I have been considering. White numbers on the gauges with red needles, and red everywhere else in the center console.

 

[yosh2000]

Please don't make me read 80+ pages. I just want to know if it's possible to change the HVAC lights with new neo LED's and not soldering? I know the gauge cluster and radio take soldering but is there bulbs I can buy for a direct swap for the HVAC?

the background will be able to be changed solely w/ the neo3 and neo4 bulbs, but the HVAC/recirc/defrost indicator/arrows, all airbag/security lights are a mix of 3mm, 5mm and 0803 LEDs that must be soldered.

 

[yosh2000]

I haven't done the swap yet, but those are the colors I have been considering. White numbers on the gauges with red needles, and red everywhere else in the center console.

because the background and needle LEDs are the same, the only way you will be able to do this is to paint the back of the needles red and have the rest of the LEDs white. the limited clusters have different LEDs (like hte tacomas) for the needles and the background, so this can be easily done...but not in the SR5 or sport clusters.

 

[yosh2000]

Has anyone done mostly white for the cluster and then red for the hvac? I've seen this pattern on subarus and kind of liked it.

Closest pic to what I'm talking about:
Night1.jpg Photo by Spoonwacker | Photobucket

Also is there a thread with a compilation of lighting patterns?

no thread yet, but i need to start an updated info thread that has cliff notes of all places to purchase LEDs and i need to update my rundown sheet for qty required for each specific want.

concerning the combo there, you would need to do the reverse polarization mod to get the 4runner info display to look like that. back lighting would just be some neo4 white bulbs. for the cluster, your cluster's background and needle lighting share the same LEDs, so you either do white LEDS and paint your needles red (will not be a nice deep red at night) or do some very custom modding to add some red LEDs under the needles. it would not be a straight LED swap.

 

[DisguisedRope]

because the background and needle LEDs are the same, the only way you will be able to do this is to paint the back of the needles red and have the rest of the LEDs white. the limited clusters have different LEDs (like hte tacomas) for the needles and the background, so this can be easily done...but not in the SR5 or sport clusters.

Yea the plan is to paint the needle.

 

[theliman]

no thread yet, but i need to start an updated info thread that has cliff notes of all places to purchase LEDs and i need to update my rundown sheet for qty required for each specific want.

concerning the combo there, you would need to do the reverse polarization mod to get the 4runner info display to look like that. back lighting would just be some neo4 white bulbs. for the cluster, your cluster's background and needle lighting share the same LEDs, so you either do white LEDS and paint your needles red (will not be a nice deep red at night) or do some very custom modding to add some red LEDs under the needles. it would not be a straight LED swap.

just meant as a general color theme, not exactly as pictured. reverse polarization would be sweet, but too difficult for me (what about you? after all, probably going to need you for this). didn't think i'd be able to make the needles red, and i don't want to try to paint it and make it look uglier with poor work

 

[theliman]

no thread yet, but i need to start an updated info thread that has cliff notes of all places to purchase LEDs and i need to update my rundown sheet for qty required for each specific want.

concerning the combo there, you would need to do the reverse polarization mod to get the 4runner info display to look like that. back lighting would just be some neo4 white bulbs. for the cluster, your cluster's background and needle lighting share the same LEDs, so you either do white LEDS and paint your needles red (will not be a nice deep red at night) or do some very custom modding to add some red LEDs under the needles. it would not be a straight LED swap.

also do you have any more pics of your red hvac? in one that you posted, it looked like it was not a consistent, deep red, but that there were whiter hot spots. how is it in person? (buttons, not the display - would prob do white for that)

 

[yosh2000]

Yea the plan is to paint the needle.

Remember when you paint it will not be a deep red, rather a lighter red and possibly a pinkish due to the white LED illuminating the needle. Also red needles may be harder to see during the day.

 

[JDWX4]

I definitely like that lighting scheme. But, anything other than orange is nice, lol

 

[yosh2000]

also do you have any more pics of your red hvac? in one that you posted, it looked like it was not a consistent, deep red, but that there were whiter hot spots. how is it in person? (buttons, not the display - would prob do white for that)

crappy cell camera. i will be swapping the LEDs on my e7009 tonight and will be taking some good pics to post up.

reverse polarization is as simple as removing the film and either flipping it or install new film. i personally have not done it as i do not care for this look.