interior lights, replacing Options

[massbrandon]

hello there. i need to change the lights that tell me what gear im in. how the heck do i get to those lights? and what kinda light do i use to replace it? also can i color it?

[malpaso]

hello there. i need to change the lights that tell me what gear im in. how the heck do i get to those lights? and what kinda light do i use to replace it? also can i color it?

You have three ways to go:

1. paint light bulbs - not recommended!
2. rake up those color rubber condoms (bulb in the car have on green) - not a smash hit, but good...
3. replace every light bulbs with LEDs (and those greed LEDs also to another color) - loos perfect see this:



but it's "fiddly job"... If anyone will want, I'll prepare "How-To Article" but don't forgot my "wild" English knowledge

[massbrandon]

thanks for the input. ill give that a try. do you know how to replace the bulb that tells you which gear youre in?

[Zimluura]

/////////////////////////////
// How-To
Tools: phillips-head screwdriver, 12mm socket wrench (either a small wrench or an extension for it), needlenose pliers, bastard file, x-acto knife
Parts: 1x num 74 led (http://autolumination.com/74.htm)

/////////////////////////////
// Disasembly
01. Turn car on
02. Put the handbreak on
03. Put the car in neutral
04. Pull off the plastic panel from around the gearshift (just 4 clips holding it on) and let it hang to the side.
05. Put car back in park
06. Turn car off
07. Use socket wrench to unscrew 2 bolts inside center console compartment
08. Unscrew 2 small screws on center console right where it meets the gearshift
09. Pull center console up a little bit
10. Unfasten ashtray/change light wiring harness
11. Pull center console the rest of the way off
12. Unscrew 2 small screws (these were copper for me) at the front and back of the automatic gearshift indicator. The one at the back is hard to get at, but you should be able to fit your screw-driver down the gap.
13. Pull the cover of auto-gearshift upwards till it flops around the shift handle.
14. Twist out small (green for me) wire from driver side of auto-gearshift
15. Pull the bulb out of this little wired socket


/////////////////////////////
// The num74 LED - The one i used was too big to actually fit so
01. Bend led legs backwars until they point straight down
02. Grab led lens with needle-nose pliers and pull base off with fingers
03. Grab base with pliers and file off about 2mm from the top and the bottom.
04. Clean excess plastic off with x-acto knife
05. Re-insert led into base
06. Bend LED legs back into place
07. Grab led by the bottom of its lens with needle-nose and file down the top of the lense (2-3mm). *don't* file into the actual diode
08. Insert led into wired socket
09. Turn lights on (if led doesn't light turn lights off, rotate led 180 degrees and try again).
10. Twist wired socket back into place.
11. Test lights again before re-assembling (keep in mind you won't see much in broad daylight).