DIY: Interior LED swap (cluster, HVAC, switches, window, *steering wheel)
- Thread starter darkie3495
- Start date
chaz
New member
id suggest v-leds, but you wont want to pay the price. maybe try the 6 led 194 here. http://discountleds.com/194.htm
Last edited:
4Runner8
New member
imp:So if I do my gauges on my limited, based on what I've read so far, I could do a different color for the needles and white on the gauges? Say if I wanted to do my gauges in white, but needles in red, would the red light bleed out from around the needles? Would the red light bleed out into numbered area of the say, the speedo?
I can't wait to try this out.
I can't wait to try this out.
darkie3495
Moderator
Yes you can have separate colors for the background and the needle. there would be some light creep from the red LED's (appears to be a ring around the needle base in looking at jerrySC99's limited pictures). Sports get major creep due to the design. I think you can minimize the light creep by toning down the lights. you'll be surprised on how dim you can go and still be able to see when you go with a white background.
Good luck!!
05 4runner
New member
If I sent you my cluster, hvac controls and switches would you do this for me? I've never messed with some thing like this and I don't want to mess it up. Also how about a WA sticker? 
I miss it there and would love to put some thing on my 4runner.
Judd
I miss it there and would love to put some thing on my 4runner. Judd
Mashimaru
New member
El foil?
I lurk around here alot, but i do have the reverse polarized screen mod on my hvac screen as well. Since our HVAC screens are back lighted and not reflective, i think its possible to slide in a peice of electroluminescent foil behind the lcd screen as stronger backlighting. This could probably improve daytime viewing and light up the screen without having hot spots from leds.
Finally got everything wrapped up. Just wanted to post some 'after' pics and say thanks for all the tips and the great write up! I took a lot of pictures of the process so if anyone wants more photos, just let me know.
I have a 2005 Sport so I'm posting a pic of the gauge cluster board 'cause it's different than the newer sports (Darkie's photos) and the board from the Limited, posted earlier in the thread. 20 LEDs still worked for my swap.
I also tried out a little mod I found. It requires peeling the LCD film (which makes the LCD read out visible) off the face of the LCD glass. I just used a decal scraper and carefully removed the film, then used bug and tar remover to get rid of the remaining glue. Then you apply 'reverse polarization LCD film' to the glass, making sure all the air bubbles are squeezed out. What you end up with are LCD readouts w/ a dark background and a white readout.
2005 Sport Gauge Cluster Board:
After pics:
LCD film:
I lurk around here alot, but i do have the reverse polarized screen mod on my hvac screen as well. Since our HVAC screens are back lighted and not reflective, i think its possible to slide in a peice of electroluminescent foil behind the lcd screen as stronger backlighting. This could probably improve daytime viewing and light up the screen without having hot spots from leds.
05 4runner
New member
Sweet Mashi.. Where'd you buy the film. I like how it turned out.
Judd
Judd
Mashimaru
New member
The pics showed on my post are from Hokies t4r, but i have the same mod with amber bulbs. A local shop here in San Antonio sells a 10x10 high contrast/anti glare coated film for 25 bucks. Only problem with reversing the hvac is the dim lighting. Light polarization is their site.
After probing around through the bulb sockets, i noticed a plastic plate in front of the bulbs. i'm guessing this diffuses the light around the screen, thus making led bulbs appear dim, so i was thinking of finding a strip of EL foil somewhere online and sliding it behind the screen. Just have to figure out wiring and power source..
After probing around through the bulb sockets, i noticed a plastic plate in front of the bulbs. i'm guessing this diffuses the light around the screen, thus making led bulbs appear dim, so i was thinking of finding a strip of EL foil somewhere online and sliding it behind the screen. Just have to figure out wiring and power source..
darkie3495
Moderator
I've had mine in for a year and a half with no problems.
cdoyle
Member
darkie3495
Moderator
1k should be fine. it think that's the lowest you can go without eventually blowing the LEDs.
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