DIY - Camaro Dash ABL Install - GM Parts House
 

Hello All,

I know 2SSRS and some others have done an awesome job explaining how they have done the ABL mod. In reading some of their DIY threads I was still left with some questions, so I am just doing a simple write-up in my own manner to see if I can help out at all. I read and posted in 2SSRS’s original thread here…http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40804.

2SSRS (Ofer is his real name) has a great post and helped me out tremendously during the process. Again, my write-up is simply to write up my experience and to answer some of the questions I had during my project.

The last 8 of my VIN are A9113647 and it is a 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS. Ofer states that GM pre-wired all of the 2010 Camaro’s up to VIN A9160000 for the ABL mod. After these VIN’s you will have to use a t-tap method for power, which is basically using a connector to tap power from another wire. You can get the t-tap method from Ofer’s thread…http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40804.

The method I used requires no drilling at all.

List Of Supplies!
 

What supplies do you need? I used the following:

Trim removal tool kit.

You can purchase from Amazon, Crutchfield, etc. Picture below.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

Electrical tape

3 GM LED’s. Blue are part number (92238395) and orange, which is really red (92228416). I do sell GM parts so if you need any GM parts or the LED’s, please contact me.

1/4 vinyl tubing.

I had 5/16 here, which is a little larger and it worked fine. This is basically tubing you can purchase for cheap at Lowe’s or Home Depot. The vinyl tubing is clear bendable tubing that you use to connect the LED to the light pipe.

Light pipe.

You can purchase the light pipe from Ofer (2SSRS). See his thread to purchase. You will cut this light pipe twice, driver and passenger, and still have some extra leftover, about 6 to 8 inches.

Splitter

I got a two way splitter for the passenger side GM LED's from Ofer, which is explained more in depth later. Please see Ofer to purchase any splitters, light pipes or harnesses he sells.

Screwdriver - Pick

You’ll also need a screwdriver, pick or same type of tool to remove the casing from the LED’s.

I am interested in this project. What's the cost? Pumpkin vin # 4--- so it should be pre-wired for it.

:thumbsup:

Getting Started
 

Getting Started

For me, I wanted to get everything removed first, so that I could work on installing the lighting, etc. So you don’t necessarily have to do it in this order, again, I removed all the necessary panels first. I did this in my garage and we just moved into here last year so I haven’t had time to work on lighting and the floor and all in there. So the pictures might not be the greatest, but they will serve the purpose.

I started by taking off the left side access panel on the dash.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-01.jpg

For me, as you’ll see, I have the connector on the left side right there in the middle saying hello!


http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-02.jpg

Now to take off the left side IOM dash trim. Of course, I have the IOM interior package so I have the orange (red) lighting and the IOM trim. As you can see, I’m using my trim removal tool.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-03.jpg

You’ll now see what it looks like with the trim removed.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-04.jpg

Removing Instrument Cluster & Bezel
 

Now it is time to remove the instrument cluster bezel.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-05.jpg

Again, I used the trim removal tool on the top.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-06.jpg

Once you get the top separated you can try and work your way around popping off the bezel with the trim tool. Be very careful and take your time as you will probably get a little frustrated. The trim tool will allow you to try and pop out the clips on the bezel and you will need to try and pull up on the bezel at the same time. You’ll also find that there is a rubber dust cover that is part of the bezel that pushes into the chassis to cover that area up and hold down the bezel. You’ll have to pull the rubber dust cover from the chassis to also get the bezel loose. Removing the bezel was one of the most tedious parts of the project for me. You’ll see the bezel is now removed. It was kind of cold in the garage and I was heating it up so the gauges look a little cloudy.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-07.jpg

You’ll remove the two torx screws in the upper part of the instrument cluster and then you’ll remove the two torx screws in the lower part of the instrument cluster. This is a very easy step.

Once you take out the 4 screws you’ll find it is plugged in. I just turned it around and all you do is basically unplug the instrument cluster and then remove it from the vehicle.

Wiring behind instrument cluster
 

Now that the instrument cluster is removed, you’ll see behind there some wires that are basically taped up in this gooey black type of electrical tape.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-08.jpg

Here is where it is different for some of us. Again, I have a 2010 that is less than VIN A9160000 so I am also prewired behind the instrument cluster for it. If not, you will have to take a look at Ofer’s thread (2SSRS) referenced about to t-tap for power to your LED’s. Ofer also makes a harness to tap into the 4 pack gauge area to get power from for the LED’s as well. See Ofer’s thread or PM him for assistance with getting power to your LED’s. It is referenced several times in his thread.

With that said, I could see behind my instrument cluster, and feel, that the connector was right on top of the harness, taped up. I have pointed to it with my trim removal tool.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-09.jpg

So I cut very carefully along the tape to remove the connector. Be extremely careful doing this so that you don’t cut any wires in there. I cut along the plastic body of the connector with a dull knife and removed it carefully. Then I taped it back up. As you can see in the photo below, the connector is now exposed (circled in red).

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-10.jpg

Removing Passenger Side Trim
 

The last piece to remove is the passenger side long trim panel. Again, I will use the trim removal tool.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-11.jpg

Once you get the first clip on the trip popped now you can continue, gently, down the rest of the panel popping the rest of the clips. You can either use your hands, gently, or continue to use the trim removal tool, gently, and you’ll find the whole piece of trim removed.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-12.jpg

Now remove the passenger side dash access panel with the trim removal tool.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-13.jpg

Wiring and installing right passenger LED
 

Ok, now it is time to install the LED’s on the passenger side. First you need to understand how the light works and how it is carried. You have the GM LED. Then you have the light tube. There is a reflective strip (white) attached to the light tube that carries the light down the tube. This is basically a fiber optic light tube. In the earlier stages of people dong the ABL mod, they found that if you only installed one LED on the passenger side, that by the time the light shined all the way down the tube it faded by the time it got to the end of the passenger side, towards the door.

The newer method is to put a GM LED on each end to have continuous light all the way across the dash. This will ensure that the light looks continuous, and even and closely matches the lighting on the door panels.

As you have seen earlier, if you have the proper connector (remember, the VIN?) that you’ll only have one connector to be able to plug into. As I just mentioned, the new method is to use two LED’s on the passenger side. Again, Ofer (2SSRS) sent me a custom splitter that he made that you can plug into the GM connector for the LED and have two connectors to plug into on the other end. In other words, your single connector is now a dual connector. This is pictured below. This was made by Ofer, so please contact him to purchase.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-14.jpg

Now it is time to fish the first LED all the way over to the furthermost passenger side. A lot of people have said to use a couple of coat hangers together to get it to reach that far. I have an electrical fish personally, that I use, so I used that. Pictured below.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-15.jpg

Now, I put the electrical fish through behind the dash (remember that’s why you removed the passenger access panel) and all the way over to the left side behind the cluster.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-16.jpg

Now I’ve attached the wire to the LED to the electrical fish, basically with electrical tape, and pulled it through to the passenger side.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-17.jpg

Here is where I forgot an important photo, so I’ll use another one on the forum, for now, by KTCAM, until I get another one. But here is a photo of the GM LED (orange/red). In this photo you’re looking at the front of the LED. In the back, there is basically a cover. You pop off that back cover, with a screwdriver or pick, and it will allow you to remove the LED from the case/cover.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attach...1&d=1252794666

Now, with the cover removed, stick the LED through the last hole behind the dash trim panel. You may have to put a screwdriver in the hole and twist it to enlarge it slightly for the LED.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-18.jpg

On the passenger side trim, there are two sets of holes along the dash (behind the trim). One set is just open holes for some reason and the other set of holes is for the retainers on the trim panel. On the passenger side, the outer holes are blank, for space, and the inner holes are for the trim panel. This means when you put the trim panel back on, you won’t be trying to put the retainer through the same hole as the connector. You can see in the photo above, that I put the LED through the outer hole.

Now, you’ll tape each wire on the connector separately, so that they do not touch. You can’t tape them off before you put them through the dash because then it will be too fat to fit through.

Next is an important step. You’ll have to be able to attach the LED to the light pipe. How do you do that? Remember I said you’d need some vinyl tubing. Now cut off 1/2 to an inch of the vinyl tubing and stick it over the LED. You’ll then need to tape the vinyl tube to the LED. I should have done a better photo of this, but like I said, you slide the vinyl tubing over the LED and then tape the vinyl tubing to the LED. In this photo, I don’t have the vinyl tube taped to the LED, but just tape it, hehe.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-19.jpg

If you haven’t already, plug the LED into one of the connectors on the splitter that Ofer sells. I’ve circled it in red.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-20.jpg

Now you have installed and plugged in the LED on the right side passenger side. You can turn on the vehicle at this time to check to see if it is lit up.

Wiring and installing left passenger LED
 

It is time to move to the left side of the passenger side dash to install the left side passenger side LED. Again, the LED will go in the outer hole.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-21.jpg

If you look behind the hole in this picture, you can see it is sort of blocked off. That is actually the panel behind that dash that houses the A/C vents and all. One of the moderators here, TAG, says he loosened that bolt and pushed on it and it allowed the LED through. I did loosen the bolt and pushed that panel back a little with the screwdriver.

Now, you’ll take another GM LED and take the cover off it again and stick it through that hole. You may have to put a screwdriver in there and round out that hole a little bit. Once you stick the LED through that hole, you’ll have to tape up the wires separately again (so they don’t touch). Then you’ll cut 1/2 to an inch of vinyl tubing again and tape it to the end of the LED. Again in my photo, I do not have the vinyl tubing taped to the LED. But tape it LOL.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-22.jpg

You’ll plug in the connector to the 2nd connector available on the splitter that you got from Ofer. Again, you can turn on the vehicle, to accessory is all you need, and then make sure the LED works.

Installing light pipe
 

So now you have both LED’s installed and working with the vinyl tubing on the passenger side. Now it is time to work on the light pipe. I had my wife help me hold the tape measure and I measured 34” from the left passenger LED to the right passenger LED. I then measured 34” on the light pipe and cut it with a dremel. I then installed the light pipe to the LED’s, by pushing it into the vinyl tubing on the LED (remember). Now the LED’s will shine down the light pipe and you will see it all the way across. In the photo below, I turned the reflective strip towards me to take the photo of the whole light pipe lit up.

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-23.jpg

Now, I did not sand my panels so I won’t push the panel all the way back in. To get the light to reflect on the dash you need to turn the reflective strip to shine up and out behind the trim panel. If you do not do this, the light will not shine up behind it. You’ll find that the back of the white reflective strip will be pointed towards the engine. I then pushed my trim panel back on about 3/4 of the way. This allows the light to shine up behind it and onto the dash. It only sticks out 2-3 mm and does not look out of place, etc. You will probably have to put back on and remove the trim panel a couple of times to get the reflective strip to point in the right direction.

I’ll give you some words of caution. When you turn the light tube to point the reflective strip in another direction, etc., hold the vinyl tubing with your finger and clinch tight. If you don’t, when you twist the light tube, since the vinyl tubing is connected to the LED, it will eventually break off the LED. I broke two LED’s doing this. Again, make sure you hold the vinyl tubing from twisting while you’re twisting the light pipe.

Right side LED's and panel installed
 

Now the passenger side trim panel is back on and the ABL is working. I tried to photograph the ABL as best as I could, but it is really hard to photograph it properly. I can tell you when I’m sitting in the driver seat that it does light up all the way across the dash, in a uniform manner and looks exactly like the door panels. As a matter of fact, since the door panels only have one LED on the end, they fade a bit by the time it gets to the dash. You can see this in the photo below. The dash does not fade, at all. So I guess you could say the dash is more perfect than the door panels.


http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-24.jpg

Left side installation
 

I didn’t take any photos for the left side, but for the left side you’re going to repeat the process.

You’re going to remove the LED from the LED housing.
You’re going to fish it through the hole behind the trim.
Then you tape off each wire separately, again so that they do not touch.

Cut another piece of vinyl tubing 1/2 to an inch long.
Put it over the LED and tape the vinyl tubing to the LED.
Plug in the LED to the left connector (If you have the right VIN remember?) or use a t-tap connector.

Measure and cut the remaining light pipe again.
I measured 4 inches, but after playing around with it a couple of times and trimming it, I ended up around 3 1/2 inches long.

You’ll find using this method, without drilling, that the left side trim panel sticks out a tad further than the right side. This is because the light pipe is not bent.

Ofer states that you can heat up the light pipe and bend it, but you have to make sure that you mark it properly for the white reflective strip to shine properly or it will be bent wrong.

I have not heated up the light pipe and bent it yet. I’m still thinking of what I’d like to do with it.

Finished project!
 

You’ll basically see in the last photo that I have ABL across the whole dash. It doesn’t look even on the passenger side in the photo, but it is in person. I will do my best to take better photos!

http://www.gmpartshouse.com/2010-cam...-SS-ABL-25.jpg

You're looking at about $40 for the splitter and light pipe and $35 - $40 for 3 LED's. Vinyl tubing is only a couple of dollars. This is just off the top of my head.

K THX.

:thumbsup:

Before going this route, I've had one concern. I would think that the light would look like it's coming from behind the panel, not through the panel as it is on the doors. How would you say it looks in person?

Good job
 

Excellent step by step.Will definitely help out when we do our own.Thanks for the write up & heads-up on some of the obstacles.
Thanks to offer,tag, and you for pioneering this modification.Job well done ! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I was wondering the same thing.:iono:

:thumbsup:

When you're in the dark, you can't tell that the light is coming from under the door panel as opposed to behind it. So what I mean is, sitting in the vehicle, everything looks good. You can do a 180 look from side to side and it all looks uniform and the concern is not really whether it is coming from under a panel or behind it, if you know what I mean.

Also, like I said, it is really hard to photograph, but the light does also shine through the front of the panel, since I already have the ABL panels.

You could sand the top of the dash panels and have it shine through the front of the panel only, but then you're looking at drilling and cutting so that you can actually fit the light pipes behind the panel with the panels fully pushed in.

Thank you. It took me like 3 hours to do all of the pictures and write everything up and post it, so once I get a chance to step back and read it again I may do better.

Thanks for the write up. It looks really nice. Just for clarification re: the drill vs. no-drill method.. The no-drill method has the light bar sticking out about 2-3 mm, which is hardly noticeable, and with the drill method, a person has to sand the top of the dash, drill a little bit so the light bar will go behind the dash?

The drill method would more closely resemble the ABL in the doors, but the no-drill method is quicker/easier. Do I have this right?

what would be the drive from harrisburg up to where you are soo i can get this done lol

First hat tip to Gene Culley for a hell of a thread.

If you wanted some assistance and/or want to see mine let me know!

I did mine in a slightly different method. Kind of a combination method, no drill, but I sanded.

To get the trim to go back into place for my method you will need to trim the clips a bit. If you look at the trim you will see that the 2 ends and the center clip are in the way, and this is the reason the trim sticks out with the tube behind it. Here is KTCAM's pic showing that.
http://www.camaro5.com/forums/attach...1&d=1252794666

In fact if you have a late model 2010, or a 2011 lighting the dash is far easier than fishing to the gauge cluster, since you can tap the purple black wires going into the door at the kick panel.

If you click the link for my car you will see I did a no drill solution for the glovebox light using the second GM light that I was going to use near the gauge cluster.

Oh and the GM door lamps will fit into the footwell lighting area as well.

Great DIY.

I need to tackle this project myself

Are you and you car coming to CF2 :rolleyes: If so i will give a light pipe if we can do a DYI with your car.:D

I've read Ofer's thread numerous times and then read this and honestly this makes it much easier for me to understand. Not sure why but it just does haha. Thank you for writing this up. Now w/ me having an '11 LS I need to order some new panels for my car. Looking for orange. Cant find them anywhere though.

Uhm.... lemme think....

DONE! :drinking:

:thumbsup:

Let me know what you need from me. :D

COOL!

You don't have to drill either way.

The only difference is, if you want the panels pushed in, you will have to sand the panels and modify the back of the trim, slightly, to allow the panels to go all the way in! No drilling is necessary.

I am in Reading PA, Exeter actually, but address is Reading. It is about an hour from Harrisburg.

Thanks Ofer. It would not be possible without you! Thank you!

What you have to understand is, since Ofer's original thread, the way to install this has changed two or three times and his thread keeps getting updated.

After reading his thread like 10 times, I had some questions and I just wanted to lay it out for other people in the way that I see it, but let's all not forget that Ofer is the man, lol.

Great write up

hey i am prepping do to this, and wondered, rather than sanding for the other way, rather use acetone to remove some of the paint instead?

Gene you should offer an out the door complete kit :)

Sean

Hey Gene, great write up! It looks great.
Just a quick question, does the dash look as bright as the door panel where it is brightest and thickest or no?

I think since these panels are polycarbonate that the acetone may eat them. I think you're going to end up buying new panels if you do that :)

I've certainly been thinking about that! Thanks for the idea!

The dash looks 100% as bright as the door panels where it is the brightest and thickest, yes.

Yeah, I thought about that. I bet some acetone free nail polish remover would work and not damage the panel... that or brake fluid, lol...