DIY Change LEDs in Speed/Tach Gauge

[anglwngss]

Hmm. That's wacky.. That's where we buy from too.

[572HP]

Originally Posted by anglwngss

Where did you get your LEDs for the 4 gauge? My hubby tried to use white LEDs for his, but burned up a chip. He's going with red instead. :(

I like everything, all looks nice

I also used plcc2. Required 8 for the cluster. I have the headlight switch completed too. I believe this used 6 of the 0805 chips. I took apart the automatic shifter, and it uses a single 5mm LED. I'll have to order a white one. Still have the overhead console (I'm going to do a homelink fiber optic upgrade when I do). Also still have the steering wheel, the door switches, the HUD switches, and of course the radio. All switches will be white. I did put red in the traction control switch. I think I'll leave it though.

Angel, do you have a link to a good radio removal guide?

Those 0805 chips are fairly difficult to work with. I can't imagine working with anything smaller!

[572HP]

Angel,
Do you have an LED size/count for the radio yet? If so, could you please post. Need to make sure I have enough before I pull the radio.

[c_LoW29]

This is an awesome thread. Does all of this stuff require soldering because I am not to good at doing it?

[creektrack]

Originally Posted by 572HP

Angel,
Do you have an LED size/count for the radio yet? If so, could you please post. Need to make sure I have enough before I pull the radio.

I hope she doesn't mind, but here are the 2 pics she sent me of the radio...The single leds inside the knobs were pretty tricky, and make sure to use 0805s cuz the 1206s are just a tad too big....

Originally Posted by c_LoW29

This is an awesome thread. Does all of this stuff require soldering because I am not to good at doing it?

Yes, everything that involves the plcc2 or the 1206/0805 leds need to be soldered, but i believe the 5mm leds do not...

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

[anglwngss]

I haven't made a DIY on the radio yet, but it should be done within the week. Do you see in the first pic that Creektrack posted? on the right where the a/c knob is located, there are 4 LEDs that go in a semi circle just above the knob? In the picture, they alternate between a green circle, white x, green circle, white x..

Well, I discovered, the LEDs share the hash marks. See pic... I wanted to keep the blue and red circle, but couldn't the way the board is designed. There are only 4 LEDs behind the knob, yet they light up 3 hash marks, 2 circles and a snowflake..

[572HP]

So is this approx 35 0805s and 16 plcc2s placed on end for the radio? Going to need more LEDs so I'd like to get an idea of what is needed.

[anglwngss]

If you change exactly what I changed, that'd be right. When I sent it back to Creektrack the second time, instead of having green, blue, green, blue LEDs for the right side A/C knob, I changed it to blue, green, green, blue, but it's still the same number of LEDs.

I didn't change the ones in the knobs that light up the rings around the a/c and volume control knobs, but it could be done. I also did not change the LED for the hazard lights and the 2 amber LEDs for the front and rear defroster buttons.

[CaryE1]

Originally Posted by 572HP

Those 0805 chips are fairly difficult to work with. I can't imagine working with anything smaller!

Oh, you are going to hate the doors and other controls, then. Some of them are TINY!!!

[572HP]

Originally Posted by CaryE1

Oh, you are going to hate the doors and other controls, then. Some of them are TINY!!!

As long as they are 0805 I'm good. I'm actually starting to get pretty good at them.

Here are two more inventory items:
HUD switch: (3) 0805
Convertible top switch: (1) PLCC2

I just finished the HUD switch and the convertible top button. The HUD switch is a royal PITA. It requires three 0805 LEDs. One of them is underneath the dial. What makes this difficult is that the dial has 3 plastic tabs that sticks through the circuit board and were heated and pressed down to mushroom the plastic. What I did to get it off, was heat up a pair of needle nose pliers and then squeezed the mushroomed tabs back into shape. I did this several times and took my time to be sure I didn't ruin the tabs. Once this was finished, it came right off. I replaced the LED and put the tabs back through the circuit board, heated up a screwdriver tip, and mushroomed the tabs back down. I took my time just to be sure I didn't mess it up. Took me about an hour to do it.

[anglwngss]

That's a good idea. I just cut off the plastic tabs on the HUD switch then used 3 tiny screws to put it back on

[572HP]

Originally Posted by anglwngss

That's a good idea. I just cut off the plastic tabs on the HUD switch then used 3 tiny screws to put it back on

I like that idea! That would have saved me a lot of time. You are FULL of good ideas! Thanks for starting this thread, and all of your exploratory work.

[anglwngss]

Are you changing the LEDs in the HUD too? not the switch, but what displays on the window?

I probably would have attempted melting the tabs on the switch, but I didn't think I'd be able to get them back through. The image in my mind had plastic melting and dripping all over the place.. Either method works though, which is always good!

[572HP]

Originally Posted by c_LoW29

This is an awesome thread. Does all of this stuff require soldering because I am not to good at doing it?

Yes, it requires extensive soldering (not beginner stuff either). The alternative is to remove the parts and send to someone like creektrack. As much as I am enjoying doing this work myself, I don't think that I would enjoy doing it on someone else's parts as much.