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Interior: How to change cluster, HVAC control, window and door lock to LED

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Old 02-28-2011, 06:53 PM
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yeah it looked little more red with the bulbs colored. but as soon as i went to put it back together the left bulb blew for some reason.
so i decided to get another hvac and get the leds done.

should get the unit back next week completed.
Old 02-28-2011, 08:09 PM
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Heres some updated pics of my car....








Old 02-28-2011, 08:17 PM
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looks gooood brandon. i cant wait for my HVAC to be done!
Old 03-03-2011, 06:06 PM
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red leds from led-switch DO NOT work worth a sh*t. Extremely dim and pink.
Old 03-03-2011, 06:51 PM
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You on air ride?
Old 03-03-2011, 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by 09xfebalt
red leds from led-switch DO NOT work worth a sh*t. Extremely dim and pink.

i am the person whos unit got tested on this.
brandon installed white leds which i will put to my face that i painted the back red. so the white should shine thru the red and light it up a bright red as thats what happens with the stock bulbs.

pics for proof.
face



insides


stock bulbs with above pieces
end result
Old 03-03-2011, 11:33 PM
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^^^ try coloring the bulbs with sharpie. it will make it even more red
Old 03-04-2011, 12:31 AM
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the pic above is with the spare hvac i got from ebay so i could send the OP my hvac i orig colored the bulbs red but one blew so i decided to give led a try altho like he said red wont work.
Old 03-04-2011, 01:46 AM
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try tail light tape, cut to fit. a guy on g5club said 3 layers gave a nice red. ill probably end up doing this
Old 03-04-2011, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by 1LowLS
You on air ride?
No....just a toy under the hood for ppl that cut me off =)
Old 03-04-2011, 02:04 PM
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subd for later
Old 03-04-2011, 02:05 PM
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Originally Posted by 09xfebalt
Heres some updated pics of my car....









hey man, what leds did u use for the window/ door lock switches and the stteering wheel controls?
Old 03-04-2011, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DC02
I think someone needs to make that tape available by its lonesome
try this
Lithographers Tape, 3M 616 in Stock - ULINE.ca

I haven't used it for this purpose but we used to use ruby lith tapes and sheets in the printing industry when we still used film.
Old 03-04-2011, 06:40 PM
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[QUOTE=hey man, what leds did u use for the window/ door lock switches and the stteering wheel controls?[/QUOTE]

you need Blue 0805 SMT LED for steering wheel and the same 3mm ones i used in everything else.
Old 03-05-2011, 10:24 AM
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u remember how many of each?, do you need to wire in a resistor as well?
Old 03-05-2011, 06:57 PM
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How did you add 11 LEDS to your cluster when there is only 6 stock LEDS?
Old 03-06-2011, 09:46 AM
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Originally Posted by C_A_D88
u remember how many of each?, do you need to wire in a resistor as well?
there was one for each button on mine.


Originally Posted by Hockeyplaya
How did you add 11 LEDS to your cluster when there is only 6 stock LEDS?
just soldered onto the solder pads
Old 03-06-2011, 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by 09xfebalt
In this write up you will learn how to switch various interior pieces to LED's. For these projects all you need is basic tools to dissasemble car. A good soldering iron, fine solder( I use .032"), 12 volt leds ( 9 for IP cluster, 4 for HVAC control, 4 for coupe driver switches or 6 for sedan, and 2 for passenger switches, and one for each rear for sedan.). You will also need time and some decent soldering skills.

I will use a HVAC control head for the how-to on a 2009 but should apply the same to all years.

first step is to remove the HVAC control head



Preliminary Procedure
•Remove the instrument panel trim plate -- right side. Refer to Instrument Panel Trim Panel Replacement - Right Side .
•Remove the instrument panel trim panel -- center. Refer to Instrument Panel Center Trim Plate Replacement .

Instrument Panel Trim Plate Assembly

Procedures
•Pull out on the trim panel in order to release the retaining fasteners.
•Disconnect the electrical connectors.

•Remove the HVAC control module assembly screws.
•Remove the HVAC control module assembly.

With that removed you'll want to pull the blower speed knob off. With that off take a small flat bladed screw driver and pry and the four clips carefully. The temp and mode knobs are attached to the faceplate of the the module and do not need to be seperatly removed.

1.

2.

3.

4.


Now thats it apart you can use my pictures for reference, it may be alot easier. I have pictured the unit powered on with factory bulbs in place. I also went through and marked the boards positve and negative sides which is very important because LED's are Diodes and only work one way.

5.


You will want a pretty fine point on a soldering iron for these tasks now. You'll want to take the iron and either a small screwdriver, knife, pair of plies or what ever you want to pull/ pry the old light off carefully while appling heat to the solder. Now, all the parts in all the various interior pieces are surface mount which means they are all soldered on the side of the board that the component mounts.

6.


With all the bulbs removed take your 12 volt LED's and configure the legs to come in contact with the solder pads. Note to find an leds positve and negative look here LED Polarity Tester .

With all the LEDs soldered in you should come up with this





7.
Now you can reverse all the steps off dissasembly and end up with this. note the red heat portion will not be as bright with blue leds but you can still see it just the picture did not come out well.



8.
Reinstall in vehicle by reversing all previous steps. Now this write up applies to the IP cluster, HVAC control, Window switches, and lock switches. You just have to adjust accordingly to which project you are on.

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for any damages made to your vehilce im am only doing this for a guide on how to accomplish what I have done.
so if i just get 12 volt leds i dont need the resistors? as in the pic above you dont have any resistors wired up to those leds do you?
Old 03-06-2011, 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by 09xfebalt
yes those are micros. I may do my stock radio to show ppl how easily it can be done post with interest before i do it....
im interested lol
Old 03-06-2011, 04:04 PM
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Originally Posted by C_A_D88
so if i just get 12 volt leds i dont need the resistors? as in the pic above you dont have any resistors wired up to those leds do you?
thats correct
Old 03-06-2011, 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by C_A_D88
im interested lol

I found out you can only do the older model radios not sure what years buy my 09 was not able to swap due to design.
Old 03-06-2011, 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by 09xfebalt
thats correct
thats what i like to here..didnt wanna have to try and work with resistors at all lol


and why? what part of the design stopped you from doing so?
Old 03-06-2011, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by 2.2ecotec
I sharpied my radio like my HVAC and gauges.


here's a pic I took when it was all apart. What kinda LEDs are those?
you had a radio like the one above??

could you not just swap out the micro leds?
Old 03-06-2011, 04:25 PM
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^^ is the radio you CAN swap. my radio only had 5 LEDs lighting up the entire face.
Old 03-06-2011, 06:26 PM
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So you couldn't swap those 5 LEDs? Or it just wouldn't have turned out right? And the above radio uses the same micros as the steering wheel controls?


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