how to: change the color of your turns Options

[95st-celica]

I changed the color of my turns in my gauge cluster and they came ou great! they are even brighter then the stock ugly looking green ones...so i figured id take pictures along the way a put up a how to just incase anyone wanted to do this

1st) Take apart your gauge cluster...there 2 screws under the steering coloum holding on the plastic piece that surrounds your steering wheel..after you take them out just pull on it and it should pop off....next there should be 4 screws on the plastic piece that goes around the gauge cluster..2 on either side of the steering wheel and 2 up top holding underneath the dash...after you pull that out there are 4 more screes holding the cluster it's self in there....2 on the botom of either side of the steering whell and 2 black ones up top...take them out and the cluster should be nice and loose.....next you have to reach in a unclip 3 plugs that go into the cluster..unclip and pull out.....now you can take the cluster into your gaurage and put it on your bench to work on it....there is 2 yellowish looking screews holdin the plastic piece on and there should be 4 plastic clips on the bottom take that off and the plastic piece behind that so you can get to the turns

2nd) Now that the whole cluster is apart you'll be able to see that there are 2 green pieces for your turns....you can take a regular flat head and pop them out pretty easily..they are like a weird 6 shaped thing which makes the process a little more difficult when making them...why cant the just be square???

3rd) Pop them out...now your going to have to find a piece of transparent red/blue/yellow or whatever piece of plastic you want to change them too....i got really lucky...i went to the doller store and picked up on of them cheap poker sets with the plastice chips...the chips came in red,green,white,and yellow...i want to see someone do white and see how that looks!! sounds pretty cool...grab the poker set for like 2 or 3 bucks and head home

4th) Take your green piece of plastic and put it up to the piece of plastic your going to change your turns to..outline it with a razor blade...in my case i dug really deep with the razorblade so i could just snap the ends off of the poker chip..becarefull not to make them too small though...yopu actually want to go a little tiny bit bigger so you have to almost snap them back into the cluster so your sure they wont pop out

5th) Take a file...i used a 6 inch 2 in 1 bench grinder to smooth the sides and round the edges the best i could...doest have to be perfect just make it fit...then pop them back in the cluster

6) Pretty much your done..all you have to do now is put everytihng back together..screew it back in and your done...took me about 20-30 minutes to do minus the time it took to run to the store and grab the poker set...looks really good i might add and like i said they are brighter then the tock green ones..the poker set worked out perfect for me and it matches my gauges perfect...good luck...see pics below..sorry if they dont come up i dunno whats goin on









This post has been edited by 95st-celica: Apr 26, 2007 - 9:08 PM

[hurley97]

if you're trying to make pictures show up put [img ] in front of the link and [/img ] at the end of it (no spaces)

interesting use of the poker chips


I bought some red LEDs and made those plastic pieces clear/white-ish, I think it matches really well in the daytime like that. [as recommended by Dustin/Batman722] I used the plastic from a gallon of milk or water, it was easy to cut and matches the texture of the stock green pieces pretty well. it was a little bright for my liking so I went back in and doubled it up







This post has been edited by hurley97: Apr 15, 2007 - 7:24 PM

[95st-celica]

that looks good...i just coulnd't find LEDs that small

[toyotacrazy]

that looks good...i just coulnd't find LEDs that small

I just installed these leds into my celica. I highly recommend the refractor leds. True color and BRIGHT!

ebay

ebay

[hurley97]

thats exactly what I bought and from the same place, Velocity LEDs on eBay

green Super Refractor 5 LED (194) for the gauge cluster
and
red Wedge Base LED (74) for the turn signals

[95st-celica]

wow the ebay ones are pretty cheap..9.99 for 2 at pep boys isnt cuttin it...hope these work good and are bright..from what i hear on here notihn but good experiences so im looking foward to gettin em soon..just bought a set tonight and im gonna put em in where my needles go..i'll post pics when its all done

[goferris]

i was thinking about getting those my self as well.
here's the thing. i can get a 10 pack for about $10 more than what i would have to spend for my gauges because you need 3 and they only come in packs of 2.
i am thinking about buying a bunch and selling them on here for like 15 bucks a set so that would save everyone about $10 each while making some money on the side. only thing keeping me from doing it is would any one be interested?
i will make sure to get permission from coomer first of course
waddya think?

[toyotacrazy]

i was thinking about getting those my self as well.
here's the thing. i can get a 10 pack for about $10 more than what i would have to spend for my gauges because you need 3 and they only come in packs of 2.
i am thinking about buying a bunch and selling them on here for like 15 bucks a set so that would save everyone about $10 each while making some money on the side. only thing keeping me from doing it is would any one be interested?
i will make sure to get permission from coomer first of course
waddya think?

Yea I thought about that too. But I didnt think it would be worth it. You've got to find someone interested, paypal or MO, Get the right colors, then ship them out. IMO its just not worth saving a few bucks. But thats me.
BTW. The lights from vleds are EXTREAMLY BRIGHT and true blue! They distribute the light excellent also.

[Jlacker3]

I was changing my gauge bulbs already when I read this post. I looked everywhere in my house to find something red to cut out. I actually found a can of raisins..the one with the girl on it...and was able to easily cut out the turn signal shapes from the pastic cover/top, lol. The turns look turned out great!

I bought the raisins from wal mart...you could probably use a peanut butter top as well....

[95st-celica]

heres the result of the needels:
sorry for the poor picture quality

[Dragondog]

i was thinking the fome cup do you think it will melt in heat? and i was thinking of the ultra vilolit led for the needeld what do you think....oh and the car is red....and is there any special wiring for leds

This post has been edited by Dragondog: Jul 22, 2007 - 10:25 PM

[kerosene]

oh wow, i wanted to know how to do this...thanks when i get my new cluster ill end up doing it...Cheers

[95st-celica]

i was thinking the fome cup do you think it will melt in heat? and i was thinking of the ultra vilolit led for the needeld what do you think....oh and the car is red....and is there any special wiring for leds

yea it might work but i would try to use something a little more transparent and sturdy...the poker chips worked perfectly for me and it looks like the milk jug plastic is also another good choice...no special wiring for the LED'S simple pull the cluster out...turn it to the back and there are 3 big grenn knobs you twist and the bulbs sit in that housing..pull out the old ones...put the new led's in and your set

[goferris]

i used dr pepper bottle caps (red) with the stock bulbs and they work like a charm. if you get the leds you do have to make sure they are screwed in the right way. first time i did it only 1 was screwed in right so the other 2 wouldn't light up since the current wasn't flowing in the right direction through them. it looks great when you are done though.
quite an easy and cheap mod.