View Full Version : Gauge Lighting: Changing color
scionlife 07-21-2004, 01:45 AM CREDITS: This article was written by a dedicated Scion Life member. Please let out pmpnxb know if this article was helpful to you!
DISCLAIMER: Scionlife.com does not take any responsibility in what you do to your car. This FAQ could be filled with incorrect information. You could be voiding your warranty if not installed by a certified mechanic or dealership. It is quite possible that you can totally mess up your car by using this as a guide to install anything. This can result in serious bodily injury, death, dismemberment, sexually transmitted diseases and so forth to you and anybody else in case of an accident resulting from failure to take safety precautions and/or following the instructions in this write-up.
Get Ready:
Here's a quick easy way to change the way your gauge cluster lights up and night for about $1.00. I'll give you step by step instructions on how to take the dash apart, disassemble the cluster and color your lights. And the best part, you can change the color whenever you get bored. Feel free to drop me a line if this helped you out, or send me pictures of your different colored gauges
-- pmpnxb
What ya need:
Flat head screw driver
Philips screw driver
Sharpie permanent marker (color of your choice)
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/000.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/000.jpg)
Optional:
Prozac - for staying sane while popping the needles off, and making sure they still work right. I've heard the cluster is $200 to replace.. But I've taken mine apart 5 times and haven't broken anything yet :)
1) While pushing down on the back of cluster pull back towards you on the plastic molding surrounding the gauge cluster. Then pop off the other side of the molding by pulling back towards you.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/001.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/001.jpg)
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/002.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/002.jpg)
2) There are three Philips screws you can easily remove with a Philips head screw driver (who would have thought.) After you remove the screws pull back on the whole cluster gently, it shouldn't take too much force.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/003.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/003.jpg)
3) Make sure the vehicle power is off (don't worry about the open door light, just no keys in the ignition etc.) Push down on the tab holding the wiring harness in place and remove the wiring harness. [ Note: when you do this you will lose all your miles on your trip A and B odometer ]
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/004.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/004.jpg)
4) Push the tabs in holding the clear gauge cover in and remove it.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/005.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/005.jpg)
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/006.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/006.jpg)
5) Ahh the fun part.. Now carefully take note of where the needles are located. With a flat head screwdriver (or a needle popper) remove all 3 needles. [ Be careful these little bastards can shoot 20+ft. , I lost my speedo needle doing this tech article. But found it shortly after. ] After you get the needles off you can easily pop the gauge face off and slide it off the gauge cluster.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/007.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/007.jpg)
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/008.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/008.jpg)
6) Remove the plastic back piece with the flat head screwdriver.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/009.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/009.jpg)
7) Color your LED's... make sure not to color the gas light Led or it will light up some funny color since it is orange. If you don't like the color you picked rub it off with some rubbing alcohol and change the color. [ Remember the darker the color the darker it will light up ]
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/010.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/010.jpg)
My friend successfully used the Turquoise sharpie and got the indiglo color look.
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/011.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/011.jpg)
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/012.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/012.jpg)
http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/thumbs/013.jpg (http://www.scionlife.com/tech/images/interior_gaugelighting/013.jpg)
Tip) When reassembling the gauge cluster, put the needles back on exactly where you popped them off... The beauty of these gauges is all of the needles have stops on them.. When you take it apart they are stopped at their lowest position, this makes it easy to calibrate when you put the needles back on. After the needle is on twist the needles counter clock wise and make sure it is stopped at the point you took the needle off.
x_ricci_x 07-21-2004, 07:21 AM this is really cool and easy.
ShadyStyle 08-03-2004, 04:25 AM I can't seem to get the screw out in the center of the pod holding the Odometer, in order to get the shell off. Can someone help me out?
brownboy 08-03-2004, 05:00 AM I don't know if this is an '05 problem, but...
The screw you're talking about is basically a plastic anchor with a threaded plastic screw. It must be easy to put in, but it definitely is a beotch to get out. The problem is that the screw turns but does not catch any "threads" and turns endlessly. Maybe try lightly prying against the screw head while backing the screw out.
Or you can do what I did and rip the screw out with some pliers...the anchor will simply slide out after that. I didn't replace the screw because the snap-tightedness of the assembly doesn't really need the screw. Great for also showing off to the friends on how easy it is to take apart your car for customization.
scionlife89 08-09-2004, 07:58 PM i was wondering while u were working on changing the gauge lights did u happen to open the clock holder thing to the right of it. because i was wondering if u could change the background color of clock so it will match the a/c color that i already changed and so it will also match the spedomoter.
\
thanks stephen hull
breunor 08-10-2004, 02:15 AM Regarding the clock light, I took a look and it appears you'd have to remove the lcd panel to get to the backlight, I didn't see an easy to reach lcd. I took a slightly different approach to making my speedo blue. First, thanks for this tutorial, it was great! Instead of coloring the leds directly, I noticed teh inner plastic plate edges curve down to the lights, so I colored a clear piece of plastic (from a school binder) and taped it to the edge of the plastic cover. That way you just remove the taped pieces later if you want. Works great, same results.
scionlife89 08-10-2004, 08:51 PM turned out sweet
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v393/scionlife89/speedomoter.jpg
osulavabox 08-22-2004, 04:36 PM i did this trick with a orange sharpie for my hot lava xb. very easy to do and it looks great. thanks for the tip.
mindgrind 08-23-2004, 11:20 PM Anyone know how many rotations you turn the needle after replacing them?
osulavabox 08-24-2004, 01:04 AM i just made a note of where the needle was at when i popped them off and simply pushed them back on in the same spot, i did not have to twist them any, they work fine after that. very easy to do.
I was gonna do this mod.....but the disclamer scared me shi#less. lol :P
1+2=3
Elabayarde 08-31-2004, 02:15 PM Hi this is my first post my friends and I we use a fork we bend it in a L angle so the openings in the fork go right in to the needles and then pull up.Hope it's any help. 8)
xtremeOrange 09-16-2004, 05:57 PM just a note - the gas needle doesn't register properly if you just twist it until it stops...that's the only needle you need to check for positioning before popping them off.
Also, if you want a more vibrant color, I discovered that if you color the edges of the plastic cover (that covers the actual gauge paper itself) where they butt against the LEDs it makes a rather large difference....more color but it doesn't steal much light either.
xtremeOrange 09-16-2004, 06:01 PM just a note - the gas needle doesn't register properly if you just twist it until it stops...that's the only needle you need to check for positioning before popping them off.
Also, if you want a more vibrant color, I discovered that if you color the edges of the plastic cover (that covers the actual gauge paper itself) where they butt against the LEDs it makes a rather large difference....more color but it doesn't steal much light either.
To be used in conjunction with the coloring of the LEDs themselves as well.....my edit button seems to have disappeared, hence a double-post :?
hotbox05 09-22-2004, 05:06 AM ok i need some help on changing the color on the trip section that lights up can i get it any other color? how do i gain access to it?
sonicimpulse 09-26-2004, 01:31 AM Anyone have these instructions for the XA. I'm sure its pretty close. I just don't want to screw anything up.
hotbox05 09-28-2004, 10:47 AM apparently the coloring of bulbs doesnt last too long it burns off . oh well. but to change the led under the lcd screen u need to resolder different color leds under it. somone on here said they were going to do it and put up a how to but i am still awaiting.
tcm_xB 10-01-2004, 04:04 AM The clusters up top look pretty sweet! I just don't have the balls to pull my Box apart. I kind of like the "White" light anyhow 8)
jarocho 12-09-2004, 07:15 PM Maybe you can use a colored tape or film? You can find this stuff at any art supply store. Thinking about trying this.
hotbox05 12-12-2004, 03:58 AM my main tach/speedo just turned white after a month and a half so beware not permanent by any means.
dirtysneaker 01-20-2005, 04:24 PM http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11829skull1-thumb.gif...OK...just so you guys know....the proper way to remove a pointer from most guages is done like this......grab pointer by center cap and twist counter clockwise and pull at the same time......DO NOT EVER PRY ON POINTERS WITH SCREWDRIVERS AND SUCH....you risk the chance that you will angle the pointers shaft AND BREAK IT CLEAN OFF!......i know this from years of experience....if you want to color your guage faces...the best way is to buy light diffusers for the back lighting....these are basically little multi colored condoms that you slip over the bulbs....very cheap and will give excellent quality lighting FOREVER!....check them out thru north hollywood speedometer (1-818-761-5139)or most any good speedoemter repair/parts house........by the way...anyone who doubts my intentions or expertise can check my website at www.speedometer.org.........
FrankenScion 03-06-2005, 02:10 AM Do you know what size diffusers (condoms) I would need for this? Also, is there a good place on line to get them? I want to do this while I am changing out speedo face and I would like to have everything ready. Thanks in advance.
hotbox05 03-06-2005, 08:29 AM Do you know what size diffusers (condoms) I would need for this? Also, is there a good place on line to get them? I want to do this while I am changing out speedo face and I would like to have everything ready. Thanks in advance.There are no condoms that will work for teh speedo , the way to change the color is by changing the leds , This requires de-soldering and then re-soldering. the appproximate size leds for the speedo are 1411 I believe.
FrankenScion 03-06-2005, 02:35 PM Damn, I've never soldered before.
And the coloring with the sharpie doesn't last?
XBman 03-07-2005, 04:59 PM has anyone here ever successfully made this red? like a m
pmpnxb 03-07-2005, 05:12 PM People that have done it in red, it fades to pink after a few days, the regular sharpie blue, fades too.. I had great luck with the Turquoise sharpie - it never faded in my xb, same with the light blue in my friends xb.. but It works if you dont want to solder leds :)
ccheline 03-16-2005, 11:24 PM I have used model paint (like the model paint from walmart or michaels) to color my led's.
Using only one drop of paint for the 3 LED's was more than enough paint and afer 3 months, this has not faded in the least.
I have only tried blue, but dark blue gives a deep blue (almost dark purple), and normal blue looks good.
Also for the people out there that only read pictures (like me), here is an update to the original.
http://www.tribeslink.com/sciondash.jpg
dirtysneaker 03-18-2005, 11:52 PM ...well i have learned that i was quite wrong about using light diffussers....the proper way to change the color is too either solder in different color led's (very easy for me to do but hard for the average joe) or to do like the other post says and get some quality model paint....i submit to the wisdom of ccheline and his photo!....
http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11829skull1-thumb.gif
hotbox05 03-19-2005, 03:39 AM if you use new leds you can change the color for the gas light , NICE!!!
dirtysneaker 03-22-2005, 04:39 PM .......OK....this topic has really intrigued me so i went out to my own xb and took the speedometer cluster out and disassembled it FOUR times.....the first times i painted the led's red with very nice model paint...but the paint was such good quality that the light BARELY shines thru at night...IT LOOKED CRAPPY....then i hit on a idea...i cut some clear red plastic (which i got at tap plastics for a couple bucks) in the same size as the speedoemter faceplate...i then put it betwen the faceplate and the led's...IT LOOKS AWESOME!!!....it lites up a very deep red at night...i am very satisfied and i believe that this is the best way to do it...i will try to post pix later!....
http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/11829skull1-thumb.gif
hotbox05 03-22-2005, 06:06 PM you gotta be careful to not pushg the needles out too far , was it like tissue paper thin or ? any pic of the product you used.
Icecold_xb 03-27-2005, 06:48 AM thanks for the tip...worked great......dont have a pic of it...cuz the flash is blinding...but here is a pic of my interior....it matches "ice blue" on my 6 disk player.
http://img166.exs.cx/img166/5702/dscf04857wt.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)
SupaGlove 01-06-2006, 06:08 PM Ok just to let everyone know, i did this mod and i drive an '06. Well as i find out the 06's do not have a needle stop. I repeat they do not have a needle stop. After i found this out i lined the needles up and as soon as i plugged it back in and put it all back together and turned on my car, They clicked and fell. So i took it apart again. turned on my car, and after they fall they get tight so u can line them up i guess. WELL to my suprise after i drove the car they stayed. when i got back into my car about 10 mins later and went for a drive as soon as i started it they fell again! :doh: So what i did was let my car run, lined them up yet again, and put the gage back together and back in with it running and when i turned it off and back on it seemed like they were staying, but im not sure quite yet, so if anyone experienced a problem like this or knows i did something wrong could you please let me know if not i guess only time will tell.
SupaGlove 01-06-2006, 09:03 PM Im an idiot and im sorry :doh: I didnt understand that you had to keep spinning the needles to reset the stop. after i figured that out it works great anyway the best thing to use besides replacing the led's is to paint them with Candy color Lexan body paint the candy paint you paint R/C car bodies with. I used Candy purple and it looks like the color of a black light i used about 3 or 4 coats too. ( the more coats the darker the color) What a great mod after you understand it :relief:
crazy_kat_matt 01-08-2006, 06:39 AM heres mine that i just did tonight..im happy with this..props for a very thorough write up..
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/ebhc/indiglo.jpg
bassist1217 01-29-2006, 02:55 AM Maybe you can use a colored tape or film? You can find this stuff at any art supply store. Thinking about trying this.you can cut sections of those pieces of film they use to color stage lights...i can't remember the name, but you know what i'm talking about? the square clear colored film that goes over the spotlight and makes it colored?
TOZTR 01-30-2006, 10:01 PM I just did mine... took me 20 min. and I thought I broke the tach... so FYI... the tach needle snaps when it goes in all the way. lol. (and if it's not supposed to snap, I broke it and am totally screwed when I try to take it apart again). BUT... it looks good! I used an Orange sharpie, and it turned out great... i'll have to take it apart tomorrow I think to make it a little darker, but other than that it's awesome!
EDIT:
I went back, took it apart and added a second layer... I also had to fix my tach problem cause it was about 300RPM off. lol.
First try:
http://stratusphere.net/forums/uploads/garage_gallery-229-1138668592.jpg
Second try:
http://stratusphere.net/forums/uploads/garage_mod-2664-1138668533.jpg
YourNameHere 02-11-2006, 08:16 PM maybe using a diff kind of marker would help it last. a permanent marker might give longer lasting results
ShadyStyle 02-11-2006, 10:15 PM Thats what Sharpies are........Permanent.
ImportCarPartsPlus 02-17-2006, 10:49 PM Looks like a process that isn't too bad.
ImportCarPartsPlus 02-17-2006, 10:56 PM heres mine that i just did tonight..im happy with this..props for a very thorough write up..
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/ebhc/indiglo.jpg
Nice, I think I may try this one.
archangel 02-22-2006, 06:54 PM What are the size of the leds? are they the same size as the ones behind the clock, I would rather just switch the led
mafiamike 02-28-2006, 07:31 AM Someone estimated 1411 LED. I didn't take it apart and measure, but when I eyeballed it I figured the same. I think I'm going to order that size LED and hope for the best!
Can anyone confirm what size LED they are?
loginskinner 03-16-2006, 03:08 AM i did this mod and it works great so far. i faded the colors from blue to red left to right. just color the left one the color you want it, then the right one the other color that you want, and the middle light color the left half the left color and the right half the right. looks really cool, ill get a pic up soon.
Malibu_Rapper 03-16-2006, 05:52 AM you can cut sections of those pieces of film they use to color stage lights...i can't remember the name, but you know what i'm talking about? the square clear colored film that goes over the spotlight and makes it colored?
You're talking about gel sheets. If anyone wants to try this method, google "gel sheet."
Tay831 03-16-2006, 08:30 AM I did this last knight looks good I did it green only prob is that it seems a little dark. Ill fool around with it though.
idioteque 04-26-2006, 06:07 AM this could also be a tech article on how to replace gauge faces haha.
AngelBaby 04-27-2006, 04:18 AM In trying to figure out if I want to attempt this probably very simple task, I found this site for some gels that seemed cheap. They have a huge spectrum. I literally googled "gel sheet". Are these the right things??
http://www.prolightingsupplies.com/shop_showbook.php?sku=780015&PHPSESSID=9af3f38d5ac9075d229f9ffe01afd46d
cz3ch 04-29-2006, 06:34 AM This is old school but helpful!
liesjemt 04-29-2006, 07:16 AM In trying to figure out if I want to attempt this probably very simple task, I found this site for some gels that seemed cheap. They have a huge spectrum. I literally googled "gel sheet". Are these the right things??
http://www.prolightingsupplies.com/shop_showbook.php?sku=780015&PHPSESSID=9af3f38d5ac9075d229f9ffe01afd46d
Yep, that's what he was talking about. This is the GAM brand. Roscolux & Lee are probably better known, but any brand should work fine for this application.
Suggestion, you might try wandering into the theater department at your local high school or community college. (Or community theater.) Find either the teacher or the "lighting guys." Tell ‘em you want to use gel for a project and ask if anyone has a swatch book around you can look at. Trust me, someone will. (Techs are usually a touch impressed whenever someone actually manages to find us and will generally help you out.) It’s hard to pick a color gel w/o actually holding it up to the light to see exactly how dark it is.
Good luck!
TOZTR 05-04-2006, 06:07 PM Mine faded... now it matches the rest of the interior orange almost perfectly... which is cool and not so cool. How do I get the orange off of it now? LOL. I went with a different color scheme and want to go Purple... better yet, bring it back to white and I make my own gauge overlay with an overhead transparency sheet. lol.
kustom_play 05-14-2006, 01:54 AM looks good but i think im going to use the transparency sheets, looks like it will last a bit longer
hXcdi3hard 05-14-2006, 08:24 AM The best thing to do is when you have the spedo out....tond color the LED's they fade out.....color the piece of plastic projecting the led light...thats what i did and its been like that for over 2 months same bright red as the first day!!
DiStUrBeD_AzN 08-06-2006, 04:01 PM How long does this take to fade? T_T Any results of LED size/Gel sheets?
pmpnxb 08-14-2006, 05:54 PM sorry guys I didnt have my xB long enough to see it fade out... its a cool mod if your broke and bored :D
Xygoz 08-29-2006, 07:59 AM Okay, here it goes!
Materials:
-Scizzors
-tape
-Folder's with little see through tab thingies!
http://www.imgshost.com/uploads/13e38dab9f.gif
Cut and tape the tabs to the BACK of the Vynil(?) speedo face, wherever you want color, and for the back of the actual large white area, I used a highlighter on a piece of tracing paper! (dont actually tape it to the plastic part, I decided to put it on the vynil afterwards, and forgot to take pics)
http://www.imgshost.com/uploads/453d3d990f.gif
Put it back together, and noone knows you did anything at all!
http://www.imgshost.com/uploads/3c842f444e.gif
UNTIL the lights go out!!!
http://www.imgshost.com/uploads/173950a911.gif
Make multiple pieces of tracing paper, in different colors, and change it out whenever your tired of the color!
http://www.imgshost.com/uploads/4eb1cf6929.gif
The end! Hasnt started fading yet, but who knows!
Thats my mod thanks!
pmpnxb 08-29-2006, 09:11 PM thats sweet!
LEDMods_net 08-30-2006, 11:16 PM That is cool! I like that. Very creative!
BradsTRDTC 12-24-2006, 02:18 AM OMG!! i am going to do this.^^^^^ the yellow looks great.
dmpsk8 12-24-2006, 03:57 AM amazin idea
chadfo 12-24-2006, 04:15 PM That looks great!!!
dvsidboy 02-04-2007, 10:37 PM Just did mine and it turned out great...going to switch and do the filment paper trick..like the way that one looks better.
hyrev 02-07-2007, 01:02 PM In my bB it came with a little cool switch that lets me switch between colors. I would of thought the US version had this too. I am not sure if all bB's have this or if it was an
option. Depending on my mood, I change the color quite frequently. The colors range from dark blue, turquoise, green, white, flourescent white, yellow, orange and then red.
It is hard to see the difference in the orange to red (in the pics) but in the bB you can really see it. Perhaps I should have used my Canon 30D instead of the wife's pocket
camera. Then you really could see the color changes. Well, here it is, I hope you like.
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9782/dsc01218ie7.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7673/dsc01221og0.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/985/dsc01210km3.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4236/dsc01211wz3.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/2541/dsc01212qz6.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5295/dsc01213au6.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/1410/dsc01214sx0.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/7808/dsc01215hx5.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/8036/dsc01216is5.jpg
http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5500/dsc01217zj9.jpg
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4224/dsc01222ik2.jpg
baggedbox 02-20-2007, 10:41 PM i did mine. thanks for the tips wish i could change the clock color
http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u155/mschabbing1/mybluespeedo.jpg
___MmmBoxy___ 02-21-2007, 08:14 PM Has anyone made each one a different color, like a rainbow??? Does it give a rainbow effect? Just curious....If it does, then I will for sure do it, but if not, why bother? (for me at least!)
~Stephanie
bryman31 03-28-2007, 05:58 PM the hotter (more longer you go with out redoing the color) it will burn off this is by no means a permanenet fix. just go all out and re do the bulb. do it once the right way the 1st time instead of re doing it each few months
Benjikun7 05-04-2007, 08:58 AM wait so does the sharpie color burn off?
baggedbox 05-04-2007, 09:50 PM mine is still the same color.yeah its faded a lil but not extremly noticable
MCoolU 05-24-2007, 08:43 AM how do i change to a different color, if i used the sharpie? the actual LED is what i'm supposed to color? Can this be done to the stock headunit also?
crxlurp 06-14-2007, 12:53 AM so did anyone every figure out what size the leds are on this?
crxlurp 06-15-2007, 09:32 PM bump
Night_Shadows 06-18-2007, 12:34 AM so did anyone every figure out what size the leds are on this?
X2
crxlurp 07-02-2007, 09:28 PM so did anyone every figure out what size the leds are on this?
X2
sorry i cant find any x2 LED's online. Do they have a different name?
burstaneurysm 07-11-2007, 05:23 PM ^ That struck me as funny...
He meant that he wanted to know also... as in "ME TOO!"
skrappi 07-20-2007, 07:47 AM Thanks for the great tips to change the lights. I did something similar with my Chevy Malibu and since my wife wanted the same on her XB. This worked great! Looks awesome. However, I managed to drop the RPM dial inside the dash. I think it would be worth my money to buy a new one as opposed to removing the dash to retrieve the stupid thing.
Any idea on the cost?
Skrap
chulopati 07-21-2007, 06:37 PM hey wat hapens if you pop out the speed needle put it back in but it goes below te 0 and stays there.........is there any way to fix that...
skrappi 07-21-2007, 08:18 PM "hey wat hapens if you pop out the speed needle put it back in but it goes below te 0 and stays there.........is there any way to fix that..."
Dunno. Mine worked fine. BTW, i found a string here that detailed taking the dash abart on the XB. Dang that was easy! Just like a snap together model. And there was the RPM dail, just waiting to go home. just in time too. the missus is due back tomorrow. Her car. *Whew!*
noservice2001 07-27-2007, 04:59 PM ^ That struck me as funny...
x2
LOL... and i mean it stuck me as funny as well...
but what size bulb is it? anyone got pics? i suppose ill just open up my gauge cluster.....
and @chulopati.... did you try turning it a little counter-clockwise?
skrappi 07-27-2007, 08:03 PM They are LED's. Not bulbs. I followed advice on the board and used a colored marker on the LED's and the plastic piece the LED touches. Worked great. She loves it and has no idea I had gutted her car in the process. The neighbor who lent a hand has also been sworn to secrecy. I've helped him in similar jam once before when fixing a screw-up on his wife’s car before she got home. 'Bros before Ho's!"
chubster41 07-28-2007, 12:37 AM I think I just found the next thing I wanna do!
detiber 07-28-2007, 09:35 AM The Gauge cluster in the xB uses PLCC2 sized LEDs. If you want to change out the LEDs behind the Clock, they are 1206 sized.
You can get the PLCC2 LEDs from Oznium (http://www.oznium.com/plcc-2).
As for the 1206 LEDs, you can get them from most any electronic parts supplier I personally use http://mouser.com.
Just make sure that the LEDs have a mcd of at least 100 (brightness).
crxlurp 08-09-2007, 10:54 PM how many leds does the gauge cluster use? i am going to order some. and then i need 4 for the odo and clock right?
detiber 08-10-2007, 02:51 AM You will need 20 PLCC2 LEDs and 4 1206 LEDs for a manual. I believe there are 8 extra PLCC2 LEDs needed if it is an automatic.
crxlurp 08-10-2007, 04:17 PM 20 just for the guage? or is that for all the indicator light as well?
detiber 08-10-2007, 04:36 PM Sorry, 20 all together for the gauge and indicator lights. There are only 3 for the gauge face itself.
Murbyrne 08-12-2007, 07:48 PM cool, but it seems like the color fades. Has anyone done it with green yet?
martin_barrera 03-18-2008, 05:33 AM A and B miles...What does this mean?
CharredEarth 03-18-2008, 08:43 PM A and B miles...What does this mean?
It means the Odometer trip distances. There's 3 settings on them, straight Odometer, which is how many miles TOTAL you've gone in your car, Trip A and Trip B for keeping track of how far you can get on a tank of gas/distance travelled on a trip, etc.
eg: looking at your odometer, press the little stick that pokes out of the cluster beside/below it (depending on which vehicle you're driving). You'll see the odo change between Odometer, Trip A, and Trip B.
The trip A and B Odometers can be reset to 0, where the straight Odometer cannot.
Hope that helps!
martin_barrera 03-19-2008, 04:17 AM Modified mine today...I decided to go with blue. It's still light outside so i'll see how it turns out in an hour or so. Thanks a bunch. :clap:
Q: How long does the sharpie color last before it fades off?
martin_barrera 03-23-2008, 10:07 AM I modified my gauge but it seems that I put the hands' back incorrectly. I mean....I filled up my tank and it shows up as 3/4 full. Any one have the same problem? How do I fix it???
chadfo 03-23-2008, 02:28 PM I modified my gauge but it seems that I put the hands' back incorrectly. I mean....I filled up my tank and it shows up as 3/4 full. Any one have the same problem? How do I fix it???
Go to the bottom of this page and you'll find instructions.
http://www.forcespeed.com/XBInstall/XBInstall.htm
martin_barrera 03-24-2008, 01:19 AM I fix it! Really easy...took me a couple of minutes. Thanks. Stay up! :silly:
itscurtsk 10-04-2010, 05:47 AM i was able to do it for the xA. it's a little bit different but pretty much same concept. basically keep removing the top layers which are very easy to take off. the rpm and fuel needle i just put it on Empty and 0. the mph needle was a bit tricky. my last resort which worked, drive without the speed needle for like a block, park it, place the needle onto 0 and it should work. if not, then turn off your car after placing the needle and turn it back on. here are some pics:
http://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af37/Curtis_Hsu/017.jpghttp://i991.photobucket.com/albums/af37/Curtis_Hsu/018.jpg
Rucker 10-13-2010, 06:28 PM good stuff! this took all of 15 minutes to do and came out SICK
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12621805@N05/5078943606/
itscurtsk 10-13-2010, 08:49 PM post up pics and say what color sharpie you used. i used regular blue.
Rucker 10-13-2010, 08:57 PM cant get my pic to post. i used the dark blue as well, i'll keep trying
Rucker 10-13-2010, 09:03 PM [img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/5078943606_c035638b06.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12621805@N05/5078943606/)
IMG00769-20101012-1902 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/12621805@N05/5078943606/)
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