Another dash ABL thread

[djpelosi]

Hey guys. I just wanted to share my experience with adding ABL to my dash (Inferno Orange Metallic ABL on a 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS). When I first decided to try this mod, I had to look through TONS threads and tons of posts to find all the answers I was looking for and I thought I'd post this "DIY" with information you'd need to perform this mod on your 5th gen Camaro so you don't have to look through 10,000 posts. The steps described in this DIY are what I personally did to achieve this mod (EL TAPE METHOD). I'm not really going to post pictures on how I did it because I didn't have a camera at the time I was installing this, but I'll try to be as detailed as I can. The outcome picture is at the bottom.

1.) Prepare trim

Remove the passenger side panel covering the A/C duct. It simply pops off. From there you can look inside and see a white tab. While pulling with your left hand on the trim panel, press firmly on the white tab to pop it out. Once you've popped the first tab off you can just pull travelling downward to get the remainder of the trim panel off. Same with the smaller drivers side trim piece. When you turn it over. you'll see where you will be setting the light pipe/el wire/el tape. This is where you will want to begin sanding.

I've read that the best thing to do is sand the area of the trim panel where the light pipe/el wire/el tape will be sitting starting with 400 grit, then 600 grit, then 1000 grit to smooth it out. I started with 320 on mine, then 400, then 1000. Be sure to take your time sanding so you don't screw it up. Also be sure to sand all the way to the end of both sides, because if you don't, the light will fade on the ends and it won't be constant all the way through. If you are uncomfortable with sanding, you can take the trim pieces to a body shop and I'm sure it won't cost much for them to sand it for you.

You'll notice that under the plastic clips on the trim panel there is a dark grey like material. This is what sticks the clips to the trim piece, and it also blocks light from shining through, so the light only shines at the top. You'll need to purchase some black duct tape for this. Cut some duct tape in the same width as this dark grey material and place the duct tape on both ends of the long trim piece so you now have no area on either end that isn't covered. Make sure you put the duct take flush against the dark grey material, because if you don't you'll be able to see the gap when the light shines.You'll see what I mean when you see the back of the trim panel.

2.) Prepare parts

Method 1.) Light Pipe / LEDs (This is the traditional way, as this is how the
door ABL is setup.)

What you need:
3 LED housings
3 LEDs (color of your choice)
LED wiring harness (If you choose to use it, otherwise you can just t tap)
Light pipe (You'll need one smaller piece for the drivers side dash portion, and one larger obviousltfor the remaining)
Wiring

Where to get them:
LED housing (GM part number #92228416 for orange, #92238935 for blue. Buy these from any site you'd like. I couldn't find where to buy just the housing by itself, so these parts come with the LED already installed. If you wish to use a different color than orange or blue, you can remove the LED from the housing and purchase your own LED. If you choose to stick with the original orange/blue color, you won't need to buy your own LED).

LEDs - http://www.oznium.com/prewired-leds (I used these LEDs when adding the 2nd LED to my door ABL. The red works perfectly for Inferno Metallic Orange interior Camaros.)

LED harness - http://www.gen5diy.com/PnP_harnesses/abl_harness (Pick whichever you want that will allow you to use all 3 LEDs)

Light pipe - http://www.gen5diy.com/Lighting/ligh...5mm-light-pipe
Wiring - All you need is speaker small wire basically

Method 2.) EL Wire (Brighter, more consitant light over LED. I originally tried to do this, but the wire was just not easy to keep completely straight across the trim panel. Unless you bought clips that could hold the wire in place, it wouldn't look right as the wire is flexable and can bend in spots you dont want it to. The color also did not match correctly).

What you need:
2x El Wire (color of your choice)
2x 12volt inverters (or 1 if you want to run extra wire and t tap from one side to the other)
Wiring

Where to get them:
EL Wire - https://www.sparkfun.com/search/results?term=el+wire
Inverter - https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10469
Wiring - Again, speaker wire works here

Method 3.) EL Tape / Light Tape (Brightest, most consistant light. This is the method I chose because the tape does not buckle or bend, and can be easily taped against the trip panel. This is what Firewolff did (http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48507) with his Camaro. I think it looks the best out of all methods).

What you need:
2x EL Tape (color of your choice)
2x 12 volt inverters (or 1 if you want to run extra wire and t tap from one side to the other)
Wiring

Where to get them:
EL Tape - https://www.sparkfun.com/search/results?term=el+tape (Red matches Inferno Metallic Orange ABL perfectly)
Inverter - https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10469
Wiring - Again, speaker wire works here

3.) Installation


I didn't use the Light pipe/LED method to add my dash abl, so I can't say for sure how to mount the pipe. Some people have been drilling a hole in the side of the dash once the trim panel has been taken off, but this is why I chose not to go this route. I'm sure there is
a mock up of how you can do it with the light pipe without drilling, but I don't know what that actually consists of.
As far as wiring goes, this is where it gets weird. The Camaro has an "auxillary" ABL connection located behind the speedometer, hidden in the cloth protection shield.You can use this to either tap into, or connect the wire harness for your 12 volt source to your LEDs. However, GM discontinued this in later models. If the last 8 of your vin are greater than A9160000, then you are unlucky and do not have this connection behind the speedometer (Just like me. Took me forever to find out and a lot of facepalming because I tore apart all my electrical tape and cloth behind my speedometer and spent 45 minutes looking for it). I couldn't find a thread anywhere that suggested another wire behind the dash to tap into for power, so I used a method suggested by The Stig that I found in another ABL thread. If you have a 4 gauge cluster pack in your console, you can remove this and tap into the yellow wire for your positive. I connected my ground to the one behind the drivers kick panel on the center console.

Once you've got your first 12 volt power source, you can begin installing the wiring leading to whichever method light you chose.

Light Pipe / LED method

You can either t tap for the other LEDs, or use a harness posted above to get power to all of them (if you went with the Light pipe/LED method). All you have to do is run the wire from each end of the light pipes straight to wherever your 12 volt power source is. Like I said once you are there, you can t tap into it, or you can connect to it with a splitter provided earlier in this post. I would wire the LEDs first and power them to make sure they are working before mounting them. Once you've confirmed power, place two LEDs at each end of the longer light pipe, and one at the end of the smaller one. Wire them up enjoy.

EL Wire/EL tape method

For this method, it requires the use of a 12 volt inverter that is kind of bulky. If you had to tap off the yellow wire under the 4 pack gauge cluster, just run the wire up to the back of the speedometer and tape the inverter there. The wire can be ran by snaking it from underneath the steering column up to the speedometer area.The speedometer comes off with 4 T10 screws (I think). You then can run the wires through the dash to the passenger side and hook up the EL wire. Same for the drivers side. If you have to cut the wire/tape because it's too long, just make sure you cap off the ends with something. To properly mount the EL Tape, I just simply duct taped it to the trim panel.

All in all, it cost me less than $45 for all parts (2 EL Tape portions, 1 12 volt inverter, wiring and sanding materials) to do this entire install. I apologize if I've missed anything. If anyone has any questions on the setup, feel free to ask. I spent hours and hours looking up different threads and posts on how to do this since a lot of my questions I had I couldn't find answers to easily. I hope this helps! My next mod is to do the ABL on the bottom part of the door. Here is a picture of the final outcome. I've also added the secondary LED to the door abl, and sanded the last 6 or so inches so the abl go all the way up the panel.

[Aubrey64]

Thanks for posting this! I have had this mod since Christmas and have yet to install it...this will definitely help!

[mat300z]

You will end up regretting the el wire mod. The wire will start to break down within a couple of months that will require another installation. The inverters will put out a high pitched squeal that will drive you insane (until they burn up). I could not find a way to get rid of the squeal. Save your self a lot of heart ache and labor and just go with the LED's instead.

[Rafael205]

Originally Posted by Aubrey64

Thanks for posting this! I have had this mod since Christmas and have yet to install it...this will definitely help!

Lol me too! I have Gen5DIY's dash abl kit though

[hammdo]

I know its an old post, but did mat300z statement come true to those of you who used the el tape?