DIY: Interior LED swap (cluster, HVAC, switches, window, *steering wheel)
- Thread starter darkie3495
- Start date
CookieRoe
Senior Member
That tool looks awesome! The dremel you see I had to buy (few hours earlier) since the one I've had since 1996 suddenly disappeared on me.
Yup. My 3 year old never woke up thank goodness. Thankfully my wife went to bed before I had to clean up all the small plastic bits and dust on the table. I would've been yelled out.
Didn't get a chance to work on it tonight, but tomorrow is another day (and another day without A/C).
97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
Dammit, I was just going to mock you :tongue1:
CookieRoe
Senior Member
Hahaha, well, for what it's worth, Ford is the only american car company I have respect for.
Anyway, I do plan on resuming "construction" tonight.
riceandpho
Elite Member
That tool looks awesome! The dremel you see I had to buy (few hours earlier) since the one I've had since 1996 suddenly disappeared on me.
Yup. My 3 year old never woke up thank goodness. Thankfully my wife went to bed before I had to clean up all the small plastic bits and dust on the table. I would've been yelled out.
Didn't get a chance to work on it tonight, but tomorrow is another day (and another day without A/C).
225-01 Flex Shaft Attachment / Model: 225-01
i was look for this attachment for you, the flex shaft. all you need is this and then you can do more precious work.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
update. Not alive yet, getting there
Well, I'm about 95% done with this. What's left to do is connect them. I've decided to connect the positive to the radio (12V switched) and ground it out somewhere (irrelevant).
So then:
1) Problem: Had the reverse polarization done to the screen. Had 2 neo4 bulbs installed in the place of the factory bulbs. One of the bulbs died several months back (days after I received the whole assembly modified). I didn't want to just replace them, I wanted more light. I decided to stick with the factory Orange illumination to keep everything looking stock. Well, months (forever) went by and decided to tackle this on my own.
2) Theory: Having only the 2 NEO4 (or 3 or whatever) bulbs wasn't going to cut it. I wanted more light. The only way for that to happen was to install more light bulbs (wasn't going to happen) or more LEDs. The logical choice (IMO) was to install a couple of LED strips. Another problem was where/how to mount them. Thankfully another member took it apart and reported his findings. Anyway, I dremeled lots of plastic and accommodated a "platform" to anchor the strips. I know it's ghetto, but it works.
Taken apart. Kind of nerve racking, but took my time with it.
Once the LCD screen is put aside, you are met with a light diffuser. I decided to keep it in the hopes it would reduce "spottiness"
Here you will see I bored a hole out to accommodate the wires at the end of the strips. Here is where the wires were bent into a loop to go back into the factory light bulb location. It was here where I wanted the wires to come out. I figured this was the "neatest" and safest way.
Ghetto platform. I basically bought a plastic ruler and cut it to lay down into the assembly. It was actually almost a perfect fit.
Here you can see where I bored 2 additional holes to run the wires out of.
Fishing the wires through:
LED strips adhered to the platform:
Upper strip connected to a 9V battery. Doesn't look great, but anything is better than how it was. Realize this will be spliced into a 12V, so i expect it to be brighter.
Many steps later, I put it all back together. What's left is connecting it.
Tomorrow being father's day, I don't expect to wrap it all up and connect it, but who knows. Point is, it IS POSSIBLE to basically re engineer the LCD lighting.
Well, I'm about 95% done with this. What's left to do is connect them. I've decided to connect the positive to the radio (12V switched) and ground it out somewhere (irrelevant).
So then:
1) Problem: Had the reverse polarization done to the screen. Had 2 neo4 bulbs installed in the place of the factory bulbs. One of the bulbs died several months back (days after I received the whole assembly modified). I didn't want to just replace them, I wanted more light. I decided to stick with the factory Orange illumination to keep everything looking stock. Well, months (forever) went by and decided to tackle this on my own.
2) Theory: Having only the 2 NEO4 (or 3 or whatever) bulbs wasn't going to cut it. I wanted more light. The only way for that to happen was to install more light bulbs (wasn't going to happen) or more LEDs. The logical choice (IMO) was to install a couple of LED strips. Another problem was where/how to mount them. Thankfully another member took it apart and reported his findings. Anyway, I dremeled lots of plastic and accommodated a "platform" to anchor the strips. I know it's ghetto, but it works.
Taken apart. Kind of nerve racking, but took my time with it.
Once the LCD screen is put aside, you are met with a light diffuser. I decided to keep it in the hopes it would reduce "spottiness"
Here you will see I bored a hole out to accommodate the wires at the end of the strips. Here is where the wires were bent into a loop to go back into the factory light bulb location. It was here where I wanted the wires to come out. I figured this was the "neatest" and safest way.
Ghetto platform. I basically bought a plastic ruler and cut it to lay down into the assembly. It was actually almost a perfect fit.
Here you can see where I bored 2 additional holes to run the wires out of.
Fishing the wires through:
LED strips adhered to the platform:
Upper strip connected to a 9V battery. Doesn't look great, but anything is better than how it was. Realize this will be spliced into a 12V, so i expect it to be brighter.
Many steps later, I put it all back together. What's left is connecting it.
Tomorrow being father's day, I don't expect to wrap it all up and connect it, but who knows. Point is, it IS POSSIBLE to basically re engineer the LCD lighting.
Last edited:
riceandpho
Elite Member
might be alot of light comming through that, makes me want to modify mines now, take apart the neo4 leds and put a bigger neo5 leds in the base of that holder like how i did the 4wd selector, it turned out perfect.Well, I'm about 95% done with this. What's left to do is connect them. I've decided to connect the positive to the radio (12V switched) and ground it out somewhere (irrelevant).
So then:
1) Problem: Had the reverse polarization done to the screen. Had 2 neo4 bulbs installed in the place of the factory bulbs. One of the bulbs died several months back (days after I received the whole assembly modified). I didn't want to just replace them, I wanted more light. I decided to stick with the factory Orange illumination to keep everything looking stock. Well, months (forever) went by and decided to tackle this on my own.
2) Theory: Having only the 2 NEO4 (or 3 or whatever) bulbs wasn't going to cut it. I wanted more light. The only way for that to happen was to install more light bulbs (wasn't going to happen) or more LEDs. The logical choice (IMO) was to install a couple of LED strips. Another problem was where/how to mount them. Thankfully another member took it apart and reported his findings. Anyway, I dremeled lots of plastic and accommodated a "platform" to anchor the strips. I know it's ghetto, but it works.
Taken apart. Kind of nerve racking, but took my time with it.
Once the LCD screen is put aside, you are met with a light diffuser. I decided to keep it in the hopes it would reduce "spottiness"
Before
After. Here you will see I bored a hole out to accommodate the wires at the end of the strips. Here is where the wires were bent into a loop to go back into the factory light bulb location. It was here where I wanted the wires to come out. I figured this was the "neatest" and safest way.
Ghetto platform. I basically bought a plastic ruler and cut it to lay down into the assembly. It was actually almost a perfect fit.
Here you can see where I bored 2 additional holes to run the wires out of.
Fishing the wires through:
LED strips adhered to the platform:
Upper strip connected to a 9V battery. Doesn't look great, but anything is better than how it was. Realize this will be spliced into a 12V, so i expect it to be brighter.
Many steps later, I put it all back together. What's left is connecting it.
Tomorrow being father's day, I don't expect to wrap it all up and connect it, but who knows. Point is, it IS POSSIBLE to basically re engineer the LCD lighting.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
[MENTION=5149]riceandpho[/MENTION] lots of light?? Ya think Tom? I personally think it might not be enough. The LEDs aren't as powerful as I thought they would be. I know I'm only giving them 9v, but the way the strips are made, I could only fit 6 across. This reduces coverage, if you notice, the left and right sides of the panel won't have LEDs behind them. I did lots of homework on what strip to get. URghhhh. Other ways to get perfect coverage would be to 1) maybe a different strip, 2) individually wire a LED at each corner. Regarding option 1, I got these from SuperBrightLEDs.com. I looked at oznium and another I can't remember. The specs were really good. There are more powerful ones, but don't come in the color I need. I stayed away from fleabay and autoparts stores (even though I was really tempted to). Option 2 is nuts. I'm crazy, but not that crazy.
It's like any mod I do, I want to do it ONCE and not come back constantly to repair it. (even though that's the nature of modding.............
hwell: )
I'll try to find to some time to install it today and post updates and pics.
It's like any mod I do, I want to do it ONCE and not come back constantly to repair it. (even though that's the nature of modding.............
hwell: )I'll try to find to some time to install it today and post updates and pics.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
Thought about it, but have never done it. I could figure out how to if this doesnt work. Or maybe soneone can fabricate one?? :eyebrows:
riceandpho
Elite Member
i think if you did put the leds behind the ruler, you can get a even glow.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
Back to the drawing board......................
I think you're right. As you can see, not the desired effect. BUT, it is TONS better than how it was. It was completely unreadable. Now, well, kinda hurts to see, hahhahaha, but the readout is legible. I'm also seeing I may want to incorporate a rheostat (dimmer).
So what [MENTION=30225]yosh2000[/MENTION] was alluding to could also work. Making a board with a bunch of PLCC2 LEDs closely spaced together could work out ALONG WITH placing them further from the light disperser. Unfortunately I don't know how to do that (YET)................... just wait, I've become obsessed with this. :nerd:
Readable but "spotty light". No bueno.
I'm open to any suggestons............. :shrug:
I think you're right. As you can see, not the desired effect. BUT, it is TONS better than how it was. It was completely unreadable. Now, well, kinda hurts to see, hahhahaha, but the readout is legible. I'm also seeing I may want to incorporate a rheostat (dimmer).
So what [MENTION=30225]yosh2000[/MENTION] was alluding to could also work. Making a board with a bunch of PLCC2 LEDs closely spaced together could work out ALONG WITH placing them further from the light disperser. Unfortunately I don't know how to do that (YET)................... just wait, I've become obsessed with this. :nerd:
Readable but "spotty light". No bueno.
I'm open to any suggestons............. :shrug:
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chiahead52
New member
https://www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/festoon/led-product/1240/2890/
better light spread but might be too bright
here is one with a little less output. I use one for my dome light and its it super bright. The light output is nice and even though.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...l-high-power-led-kit-cob-led-36-pcb/983/2401/
better light spread but might be too bright
here is one with a little less output. I use one for my dome light and its it super bright. The light output is nice and even though.
https://www.superbrightleds.com/mor...l-high-power-led-kit-cob-led-36-pcb/983/2401/
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CookieRoe
Senior Member
Thanks, looks interesting, but the color is wrong. Already found a more dense LED strip over at Oznium. Less powerful, but power isnt the issue, light spread is. Also going to move the strips further away from the screen to reduce the spottiness. With the Oznium option, i'll have less power but TONS more LEDs.
riceandpho
Elite Member
sand the plastic ruler so it look dull, it should help spread the light for even glow, see if you can put it infront of the leds.
riceandpho
Elite Member
you might be able to get rid of the hot spots by placing the leds one on top and one on bottom, facing each other to the middle, and not poiting to the back of the lcd screen,like how a george forman grill works. that should glow more, but you have to remove the ruler out.
Sanding works real well or try etching spray. I would also go to home depot and see if they have scrap acrylic pieces it'll probably turn out better than a hard plastic ruler.
I don't think facing the light towards each other will work well. It will still have hot spots where the light is place.
Another option is getting a light with better spread and dimmer. You can see the hot spot on it where is it brighter.
riceandpho
Elite Member
the trick is getting the light to reflect so he dont see the actual leds.
Yeah I guess he can spray it a reflective color or put reflective tape in there. Never tried it so I would know. I used the sanding etching trick in a few audio builds though.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
working on solution............
Thanks for the suggestion guys, but I'm thinking of taking the ruler I glued in and set it back further (as far as I can). I've also ordered strips from oznium which are more dense than what I got from superbrightleds. There are 3 LEDS to the 1 LED I currently have. The oznium LEDs are a lot smaller and less powerful. What I will definately do I install a dimmer.
I'm going to look into installing these strips to a factory dashboard light Toyota Dimmer. That would be really cool if it can work.
link to the LED strips: Super Thin LED Tube
Thanks for the suggestion guys, but I'm thinking of taking the ruler I glued in and set it back further (as far as I can). I've also ordered strips from oznium which are more dense than what I got from superbrightleds. There are 3 LEDS to the 1 LED I currently have. The oznium LEDs are a lot smaller and less powerful. What I will definately do I install a dimmer.
I'm going to look into installing these strips to a factory dashboard light Toyota Dimmer. That would be really cool if it can work.
link to the LED strips: Super Thin LED Tube
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