Gauge cluster LED's, For those who updated their green bulbs Options

[GotToyota]

I bought a new Pioneer headunit recently and while it lights up green, it's more of an updated and stronger green as opposed to the soft factory green that is found in our Toyota's. Basically it's more bold (example shown below). Has anyone on here updated their cluster with green LED's to give it a more modern look and if so where did you get them and please post a pic showing what you use.

This is what it looks like:


-Matt

[GotToyota]

Anyone?

[samir0189]

I redid my gauge cluster in green, however not with LEDs. Instead, I purchased some regular clear bulbs from autozone and painted them with Testor's green paint for like model cars and stuff. I can get a pic but its too bright right now still.

[GotToyota]

I really don't see the point in doing that as it's not an improvement, but I'd still like to see how it turned out.

[samir0189]

I really don't see the point in doing that as it's not an improvement, but I'd still like to see how it turned out.

Lol, it was an improvement for me, one of mines were out, there were no green LED's in any autopart store locally, and no other color would match the rest of the nasty stock green. And sometimes none of them would work and i had to "smack the dash" to get them to light at all. Ill get a pic as soon as it gets exttraaaa dark. =)

[samir0189]

here we go, i apologize, both of them are blurry.

Edit: I must be crazy or 6gc is rejecting my pics. let me try something else <-- think i fixed it.




This post has been edited by samir0189: Oct 17, 2008 - 6:50 PM

[GotToyota]

It's working. Doesn't look bad, but I'd like to see the result with LED's.

[samir0189]

Yeah I know it's nothing amazing. I've been convinced by other threads that gauge overlays are the way to go but I definitely don't wanna pluck off my needles and they're kinda pricey. So these will have to do for now..

[Spider77]

You dont really need to take off the needles for the most part. Granted Ive read that some people had to do so because the overlay was too thick to get it on otherwise. BTW that is a creepy kind of green.

[samir0189]

You dont really need to take off the needles for the most part. Granted Ive read that some people had to do so because the overlay was too thick to get it on otherwise. BTW that is a creepy kind of green.

LOL it does look kind of spooky for some reason or another...

[RickJamesBish]

What model number is that? I have a DEH-2000MP, basically looks the same. I'm satisified. How much did you pay for that?




This post has been edited by RickJamesBish: Oct 17, 2008 - 9:13 PM

[GotToyota]

Thanks. It's a Pioneer DEH-P2900MP, paid $70 for it.



If I wanted to do this with my gauges, but green for the foreground and white under the needles, how would I do that (white for the odometer and trip as well)? Are they the same bulb?

This post has been edited by GotToyota: Oct 17, 2008 - 9:42 PM

[KAOS]

Thanks. It's a Pioneer DEH-P2900MP, paid $70 for it.



If I wanted to do this with my gauges, but green for the foreground and white under the needles, how would I do that (white for the odometer and trip as well)? Are they the same bulb?

You can't do that with just bulbs alone - as you know there are 3 main color bulbs (194) in the back and they colorize the ENTIRE cluster. (aside from CEL etc.)

What I did was purchased overlays for the cluster and changed the color of the 3 main bulbs to what I wanted for needle colors...

[RickJamesBish]

$70 is pretty cheap, buy it off eBay or something?

[Lil-Joe101]

Wut bulbs were used to get the white effect on the last two gauge pics. I'm tying to get mine like that.

[slow_yota]

here we go, i apologize, both of them are blurry.

Edit: I must be crazy or 6gc is rejecting my pics. let me try something else <-- think i fixed it.

I dont know why.......But these gauges make me wanna sing the Monster Mash...lol

[samir0189]

here we go, i apologize, both of them are blurry.

Edit: I must be crazy or 6gc is rejecting my pics. let me try something else <-- think i fixed it.

I dont know why.......But these gauges make me wanna sing the Monster Mash...lol

LMAO!!!!!!!

[GotToyota]

Concerning the LED's, I'm looking online for bulbs, and can only find the 194 wedge bulbs and not the twist type. Am I missing something?

[samir0189]

Concerning the LED's, I'm looking online for bulbs, and can only find the 194 wedge bulbs and not the twist type. Am I missing something?

Twist type? I'm not sure what you mean. Are you looking for the ones to replace the 3 main 194's? As far as I know, when I took mine apart it was regular 194 wedge types, the same ones you'd use for sidemarkers etc, that you put into a socket, then you twist that into the rear of the cluster.

Is that what you're talking about or am I totally lost? [cause that happens often]

[GotToyota]

I thought the bulbs had a green handle on top with which they turn into the bulb hole on the cluster? I want the replace the main bulbs, I don't know how many there are.

Also, what bulb types are the trip/odometer? I'd love to replace those with white LED's.

-Matt

This post has been edited by GotToyota: Oct 20, 2008 - 10:33 PM

[samir0189]

I thought the bulbs had a green handle on top with which they turn into the bulb hole on the cluster? I want the replace the main bulbs, I don't know how many there are.

-Matt

Yes, you are correct, they have that green handle type thing, i called it a 'socket' but there is no special 194 type that goes in there, just a regular wedge type that fits into that same socket, and then you twist that into the cluster. It's similar to .... christmas tree lights, to replace the bulb you take it out of the socket and put another in. New bulbs will not come with the socket, you just reuse the old one. And there are 3. =)

Edit: the speedo, fuel/temp, tach, trip and odometer all use the same 3 194's. Those three light everything except the idiot lights (CEL, oil, battery... ) <--All those have separate bulbs. Unfortunately everything will be one color unless you get overlays.



Thats from the How-to.

This post has been edited by samir0189: Oct 20, 2008 - 10:40 PM

[GotToyota]

Oh I see, the green handle is just a cap for the wedge bulb, I gotcha. What about the odometer/trip lights, what size are those?

-Matt

[samir0189]

I edited previous post.

[GotToyota]

Cool, thanks. I'll be getting some bulbs here soon.

[samir0189]

Cool, thanks. I'll be getting some bulbs here soon.

Yup, no problem. Post some pics up if you get some LED's. I'm curious now..

[paul52]

i changed mi gauge cluster with blue leds..but the ilumination isnt bright enough as other pics...
what would u guys recomend me?
ive read that some people change the bulbs..? did they modify the original bulbs with green condom xD? or what?
also someone recommended this website http://autolumination.com/74.htm but...there are a lot of f#$%ing leds and..if someone used leds what type did u buy and which of one do think its better? #194 thought?
thanks =)

http://www.6gc.net/photo/howto/10/5

mine looks just like that but with blue leds



This post has been edited by paul52: Nov 15, 2008 - 5:37 PM

[Kotass]

Guys, unfortunately you´ll never get light bright enough by just changing three original bulbs with led´s.

Most probably you have to do something like this : http://www.celica-club.ru/board/index.php?showtopic=13031

[KAOS]

Guys, unfortunately you´ll never get light bright enough by just changing three original bulbs with led´s.

Most probably you have to do something like this : http://www.celica-club.ru/board/index.php?showtopic=13031

Not sure what you mean... I have to turn my dimmer switch down with the LED's I'm using... its way too bright.

[malpaso]

Guys, unfortunately you´ll never get light bright enough by just changing three original bulbs with led´s.

Most probably you have to do something like this : http://www.celica-club.ru/board/index.php?showtopic=13031

Not sure what you mean... I have to turn my dimmer switch down with the LED's I'm using... its way too bright.

I probably know what he means... When I played with cluster I have noticed LED's are not bright enough for me (even with dimmer to the "max") because the are not shine to all directions like bulb. And because cluster has those stupid lightguides and gauge faces having rear side covered with paint special way (to not let light come through everywhere and equally) some numbers may not be illuminated well.

As I see guys in Russia just using stripes with micro ultra bright LEDs, they also removed paint from rear side of gauges and modified lightguides...

[GriffGirl]

You can use scotch-brite pads (non-metallic brill-o type of pads) to sand off the crap on the back of the gauge faces so that the light will shine through brightly and not green. You want to take your time doing it though, because if it's uneven, it WILL show a lot with uneven bright spots. I was able to successfully remove the stuff from the back of the stock gauge face without having to pull them from the cluster. It just takes time and patience.

[WWSideWinder]

Hi GriffGirl

How about a pic of your cleaned up guages (Please )


How are you doing with you Windows?

[richee3]

Whoa, what's everybody talking about here? I'm lost. I put blue LED's in my gauges and they weren't too bright at all, but everything was lit equally. They were brighter than regular bulbs. I never had to do anything with the back of the gauge cluster. What kind of LED's are you guys using??? Mine was a 5 LED design, pointing one direction. I'll try to find a picture for you guys.

[Rusty]

so what bulbs/LED's is that cluster using, also who's is it?? Coomers?

because thats what I want, and the main reasons why i haven't done it yet is because I dont want uneven light numbers and I wouldn't know which ones (bulb/led) to use, theres heaps too choose from!!

This post has been edited by Rusty: Nov 25, 2008 - 1:57 AM

[Kotass]

I think you have to try more type of diods to find out which one fits your requirements, there are lot of types with integraded resistance for use on 12V but with different type of light ..

Strange is that on this photo it seems to be light blue ..





.. but in fact it´s white. :-)



This is not too bright for me and therefore I´m wondering how to make it brighter, one way should be cleaning of gauge faces as GriffGirl mentioned (I´m looking forward pics as well and same method is used on that Russia link I´ve posted ..

I´ll now try to change clock and lighter lighting to get red & white combination (sorry for quality of photo)..

[richee3]

Most probably you have to do something like this : http://www.celica-club.ru/board/index.php?showtopic=13031

Ok, I'm just throwing this out there.. But that^^^ looks pretty f***ing sweet!

I'm getting some white LED's for my gauges in a month or so. I'll post some pics up here for you guys. But the blue ones I had before provided even light and were brighter than factory but not too bright. They were just right. That's just my opinion though. I'd still have them in there if I hadn't bought cheap LED's that quit working after like 2 weeks. Anybody want 4 blue LED's? Lol. Anyway, I'm hoping for something like this. To post this picture yet again.. I'm sure you guys are getting sick of seeing it lol. Especially in this thread.

http://www.6gc.net/images/howto_photos/10_4.jpg

This post has been edited by richee3: Nov 25, 2008 - 6:31 PM

[jack-p]

Thanks. It's a Pioneer DEH-P2900MP, paid $70 for it.



If I wanted to do this with my gauges, but green for the foreground and white under the needles, how would I do that (white for the odometer and trip as well)? Are they the same bulb?

You can't do that with just bulbs alone - as you know there are 3 main color bulbs (194) in the back and they colorize the ENTIRE cluster. (aside from CEL etc.)

What I did was purchased overlays for the cluster and changed the color of the 3 main bulbs to what I wanted for needle colors...

i really want to do this but dont know how? my main problem is i dont have a clue what a overlay is????

[jason]

4ws??

4 wheel steering? what did that come on?

[Daftboy]

what do you mean ? it was the st207 and st203 I believe

This post has been edited by Daftboy: Dec 8, 2008 - 12:07 PM

[jason]

ah sweet. never knew toyota had 4ws models

the strip of led's is pretty sweet

for those too lazy to make your own, and have money to spend buying them in such a fashion, besthongkong makes lines of them - i beliebe 6" is the shortest which should be enough to cover the speedo (1) tach (1) and temp&fuel (1)

then just use a matrix one for the needles and you should be set.

[richee3]

ah sweet. never knew toyota had 4ws models

the strip of led's is pretty sweet

for those too lazy to make your own, and have money to spend buying them in such a fashion, besthongkong makes lines of them - i beliebe 6" is the shortest which should be enough to cover the speedo (1) tach (1) and temp&fuel (1)

then just use a matrix one for the needles and you should be set.

I want to do that, but don't want to mess up my gauges. Guaranteed I'd screw them up beyond repair