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

[Jeffy]

looks like you are hosed... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...dash-lights-blue-2010-4runner.html#post991244

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

 

[yosh2000]

should have stuck w/ the 4th gen and v8!!

 

[LTDSC]

Im attempting to do this friday night. I have everything i need, i swapped the HVAC bulbs already. I havent done much PLCC2 style SMD but im hoping i can get through it. I've researched the last two weeks on this. Hope it goes well. Ill report after mines done.

 

[Jeffy]

should have stuck w/ the 4th gen and v8!!

Yea I'm definitely gonna miss that v8

Im attempting to do this friday night. I have everything i need, i swapped the HVAC bulbs already. I havent done much PLCC2 style SMD but im hoping i can get through it. I've researched the last two weeks on this. Hope it goes well. Ill report after mines done.

It's pretty simple. When I did mine, it was my first ever attempt at soldering and I managed to get it done perfectly.

 

[mviehweg]

The slight amber light that you may notice reflecting off of the shifter assembly is from the Lexus overhead console, which has the ambient lighting. I haven't decided if I'm going to do anything to that.
View attachment 165987

Lexus overhead console? I'd like to hear more about that! Have you done a write-up on putting that in?

 

[mviehweg]

This is a project that I have been working on for a while now. First and foremost, I want to give a big shout out to my buddy Bill for helping me out by cutting a few pieces on his CNC mill and coming up with a better idea than what I had in mind.

A few months ago I replaced my factory head unit with a single din unit so that I could have a bluetooth connection while driving. One thing that kind of irritated me about the single din adapter is the goofy pocket right below the radio. Here is what I came up with to make things look a lot better.







When I have time, I'll try to get some more pictures posted up showing how this was done. Let me know what you think.

That. Is. AWESOME!!!!
#want

 

[mizak82]

on the first page.. where is the instructions on how to change the bulbs on the main tach/speedo instrument cluster?

it shows how to take it off, but not how to swap out the lights... step 7 says take a picture of dials.. then it skips to the hvac bulbs..

am I missing something here?

thanks

 

[zidaro]

That. Is. AWESOME!!!!
#want

Ha, just bought [MENTION=107314]Cisco Kid[/MENTION] (Jeffs) 4runner off him last week.

amazing amount of work going into changing all the LED/dash to blue, plus a sweet custom dash plaque.

 

[Virtual TWiT]

Going RGB?

One of my AC cluster lights died and I'm going to replace all the lights and get it over with. I really want to be able to vary the color and I'm thinking of designing an RGB system, perhaps with a separate needle color and remote control via an android app. And maybe syncing it with exterior lighting.

 

[scottn3]

Why does it seem like the very first post is cut short? The last part I see is step 7:
"7) Take pictures of the needle positions at rest. It"

Where is the rest of the info?

 

[CookieRoe]

Why does it seem like the very first post is cut short? The last part I see is step 7:
"7) Take pictures of the needle positions at rest. It"

Where is the rest of the info?

Way back then, t4r.org changed servers or something like that, and the continuity of the thread was broken. The missing steps ARE there, the OP did repost them, but I can't remember which pages they are in.

 

[scottn3]

I'm getting it figured out...

I bought these 12V 3mm LEDs and using the twist lock plastic holders. These work well for the HVAC controls and push buttons around the dash/console area.

http://www.led-switch.com/12 volt LED.htm
I got the MCD 1500 12V white diffused LEDs. It looks the same in the HVAC area as post #1 without the hassle of having to solder on a resistor (since they are built in).

 

[scottn3]

<B>Swap Window LED</B>

Now that your cluster, individual switches and HVAC is pretty much done, time for the window switch.

Here is the orange LED that you want to replace

Here it is after the swap (be careful..you can see my iron accidentally touched the plastic harness next to the LED)

Can someone help me figure out why I am getting a flashing LED for the driver's window switch?
I have soldered a standard 3mm LED on in place of the existing amber one.

I got the LEDs from this site: http://www.led-switch.com/3mm LED.htm
3mm White With White Diffused Lens

I have also tried some with the resistors built in (12V 3mm) and they also flash.

It is a slow flash - 2 slow flashes with a longer pause in between.

Is there a specific LED that I need for this switch backlight?

 

[magert54]

for 10 USD ill take the chance. Ill let you know the results.

Neo3 : regular 3mm LED
Neo3HP : PLCC-2 (3528) SMD. same LED as the cluster

Buyer beware:
seems this site has neo bulbs. i have never done business with them, so i am not recomending them, but they at least have the proper bulbs in stock it seems. and at half the price of superbrightLEDs

Neo Wedge

 

[mizak82]

I noticed it's a pain in the balls to take off the white cover on your hvac to change the "passenger" light. As I was dremeling the plastic piece it hit me to just put tape over the plastic piece covering the light. Now it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

I bought the replacement leds. But for all the hassle. I don't need the word passenger lit up. Just an option.

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[mizak82]

I have done this conversion..

I am waiting on some NEO4 HP for the 4WD and the info display (i will do the 12 volt mod, being I haven't seen any NEO4s out there)..

The instrument cluster came out amazing 10/10

I changed the HVAC indicators to blue, and the backlighting white, I love it..


My only complaint is on the HVAC the back lighting is brighter in certain spots than others.. I assume that is because of the location of the LED in all three knobs, I used NEO3s.. Is there a solution to that or is that just what it is????

thanks..

 

[yosh2000]

Can someone help me figure out why I am getting a flashing LED for the driver's window switch?
I have soldered a standard 3mm LED on in place of the existing amber one.

I got the LEDs from this site: http://www.led-switch.com/3mm LED.htm
3mm White With White Diffused Lens

I have also tried some with the resistors built in (12V 3mm) and they also flash.

It is a slow flash - 2 slow flashes with a longer pause in between.

Is there a specific LED that I need for this switch backlight?

were you shipped the flashing ones?

 

[mizak82]

were you shipped the flashing ones?

It blinks bc the auto function on the button needs to be reset.


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[CookieRoe]

I have done this conversion..

I am waiting on some NEO4 HP for the 4WD and the info display (i will do the 12 volt mod, being I haven't seen any NEO4s out there)..

The instrument cluster came out amazing 10/10

I changed the HVAC indicators to blue, and the backlighting white, I love it..


My only complaint is on the HVAC the back lighting is brighter in certain spots than others.. I assume that is because of the location of the LED in all three knobs, I used NEO3s.. Is there a solution to that or is that just what it is????

thanks..

You are talking about "hot spots". They are inevitable b/c LED throw directional light. A regular incandescent bulb is omnidirectional. So, a light disperser would be needed, only there is a very limited amount of space in the HVAC assembly.

My 12V mod: I re-engineered my HVAC screen. I had reverse-polarized film installed on the screen, so the factory light (or any LED bulb) practically did nothing to illuminate the screen. Like I said, I gutted the assembly to accommodate LED strips. Problem with that, is that I got MASSIVE hot spots.

Gutted inside the HVAC panel:

Desired effect, only TONS dimmer: (looks good here b/c the pic was taken with very little light. At night, the display looked awesome. In the daytime, it was bearly visible)

I WILL make adjustments to my HVAC lighting, I just have to find the time to do it. i purchased more dense LED strips AND got light disperser. That should do the trick.

If not, well, as James May would say, "C*CK!:

 

[gmhotch]

The lighting on the HVAC and the dash cluster are just frustrating. Barely readable either way and always way too dark. I wish I had better soldering skills


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