DIY Change LEDs in Speed/Tach Gauge

[anglwngss]

I took mine apart and only sent in the circuit board. He charges between $40 and $60 depending on which/how many LEDs you want changed. I also purchased the LEDs myself, but those were only about fifty cents each.

The center screen came stock blue, but it was also changed to the green LEDs.

[MikeGstayUp]

Really cool mod everyone! Thanks for sharing.

[wylde1]

I really like this! Can you change the colour of the DIC and the stereo LCD as well? I would love to go all orange/red

[anglwngss]

The DIC is the screen in the middle, correct? You can change that. There are photos in the first post where I changed them to green.

I haven't played with the stereo yet, but I imagine you'd be able to change those as well. I have changed everything else though; steering wheel controls, HUD knob, headlight know, the 4 pack gauges, and the window switches on the doors.

[creektrack]

Originally Posted by wylde1

I really like this! Can you change the colour of the DIC and the stereo LCD as well? I would love to go all orange/red

Yes, the stereo can be done, you would just have to open it and see what type of leds it uses, more than likely they will be 0603...

[hapisok]

great write up...thanks for the detailed post.

[wylde1]

Awesome. Looks like I have another winter project to add to the list. Now to decide on the colours!!

For the DIC (yep the screen in the middle) which LED's need to be changed? are they side projection ones? or do you have to peel off the LCD to get at the back of it? I've heard of people doing this on other vehicles to change their colours and ruining their LCD's by fingerprinting the screen or something.

EDIT: Actually I read the whole thread a little more attentively and see that my question has already been answered about the DIC.

Does anyone know how to get the stereo out?

[wylde1]

next question haha I figured out how to get the stereo out. Now I'm thinking about the window switches and other controls like the steering wheel etc. are they all the same type of LED? If I just buy a bundle of the same ones can I use them everywhere?

[CaryE1]

Originally Posted by wylde1

next question haha I figured out how to get the stereo out. Now I'm thinking about the window switches and other controls like the steering wheel etc. are they all the same type of LED? If I just buy a bundle of the same ones can I use them everywhere?

I took my door panels and instrument panels off last night, hoping for the same thing... I was able to change the ABL the doors the rings/DIC in the instrument panel to RED. And I had bought some extra LEDs for hoping to be able to do some switches, too. But, unfortunately, they use all different sorts of LEDs. So you can't just purchese a bundle. But the good news is that from what I have seen so far, it looks like most of the LEDs are pretty straightforward to change. So after a few more LED purchases, I'll have them all done.

Has anyone made a centralized list of all the different lights used in the different switches and components? I would like to be able to just do all of them at the same time without taking things apart multiple times...

BTW heres what I have done so far:

[anglwngss]

This is what I have so far:
4 Gauge Console
Stock: 8 PLCC-2 (ice blue)
Stock: 4 PLCC-2 (red)

Door Panel
Stock: 2 5mm (ice blue)

Window up/down switches
3 0805 Surface Mount (ice blue)

Headlight Switch
5 0805 Surface Mount (ice blue)

HUD Switch:
3 0805 Surface Mount (ice blue)

Steering Wheel:
Stock: 10 PLCC-2 (ice blue)

Speedo/Tach:
Stock: 22 PLCC-2 (ice blue)
Stock: 7 PLCC-2 (amber)
Stock: 17 PLCC-2 (red)
Stock: 4 PLCC-2 (green)
Stock: 1 PLCC-2 (white)
Stock: 1 PLCC-2 (dark blue)
Stock screen: 5 Right angle (ice blue)
1 unknown on left (below the ice blue MPH)
1 unknown color on right- (fog lights)

[CaryE1]

Awesome, Anglwngss! This is extremely helpful!

Next question - has anyone replaced the LEDs in the HUD? Would red be visible?

[anglwngss]

As far as I know, no one has. I will be doing this sometime this year, but it'll probably be a few months. I know you have to take the entire dash apart just to get to the HUD unit. I've got the HUD and the radio still to go. My husband is fixing to purchase a new radio for his Camaro, so I get to play with his radio

[572HP]

Originally Posted by CaryE1

I took my door panels and instrument panels off last night, hoping for the same thing... I was able to change the ABL the doors the rings/DIC in the instrument panel to RED. And I had bought some extra LEDs for hoping to be able to do some switches, too. But, unfortunately, they use all different sorts of LEDs. So you can't just purchese a bundle. But the good news is that from what I have seen so far, it looks like most of the LEDs are pretty straightforward to change. So after a few more LED purchases, I'll have them all done.

Has anyone made a centralized list of all the different lights used in the different switches and components? I would like to be able to just do all of them at the same time without taking things apart multiple times...

BTW heres what I have done so far:

That looks awesome in red! So for your instrument panel, what LED's are we looking at?

Also, may I suggest that one of you gurus start a wiki page, so that everyone doesn't have to go through the hole thread. Cause this thread is gonna get long! I think you have to get in touch with one of the moderators to make that happen.

anglwngss: awesome list! This is on my todo list for sure!

[Tx1Lt]

I would not have he b@lls to do this. I did it a long time ago and let's just say it was a fail. You guys are good, and I love the red rings.