How To: Change Your Cluster to Blue L.E.D.s/Incandescent bulbs for $8
- Thread starter AmBo
- Start date
Take the bulbs out and turn them around. One way they are bright and the other way they are dim. Either way, they don't seem to turn out as bright as the ones in the pic. I've done it with stock gauges then bought Mach 1 gauges and did that too. Just got a speeding ticket because I can't really see the red needle and a cop was behind me. I thought I was going 50 and turns out I was doing 60. Court, money, points. Not worth it but I've spent so much on the gauges I'm keeping the damn things now.
str8stang036
New Member
I just tried the blue led on the dash and it lights up, but it is very dim. So dim I can barely see the dash. They all light up so the LED aren't on the wrong end of polarity.
Any ideas what it could be?
Any ideas what it could be?
This may sound like i'm being a dick and i'm not, but did you make sure you turned the knob you pull out to turn your lights on all the way to the left? Sounds like you accidentally turned it all the way to the right when you removed your gauge cluster
Are you guys buying the tri-leds?
Mine are bright as hell as represented in the pics. I love my guages.
This thread makes me miss my DVD player and gauges...bastards that stole my ****. 
Since then I've swapped out the HVAC bulbs though with some blue LEDs. Looks nice. If I had a camera that worked, I'd take some pics
Since then I've swapped out the HVAC bulbs though with some blue LEDs. Looks nice. If I had a camera that worked, I'd take some pics
str8stang036
New Member
Its a good question Ambo. I did turn the headlight knob back and forth to make sure it wasn't that. It lights up, but it barely shines through. I was thinking of the Tri- Led, but it might be a waste if these didn't work at first.
Yea, I bought the cheapies first time around, then got the Tri-LEDs and they were 10x better. Shoulda went that route the first time. hehe
Are you guys buying the tri-leds?
Mine are bright as hell as represented in the pics. I love my guages.
Yeah they are tri-led's. I put them in the Mach 1 gauge cluster. I'm used to them now and they aren't that bad. Most people think they look awesome. It's just that I have my Cobalt gauges in the A pillar that are brighter blue and the red needles are light up so that you can see them. I'll try to post up a pic later. I need to do my HVAC too.
mixedbreed02gt
Banned
so does anyone know which cars have the green film overlay on the stock gauges and which one's dont?
Mine light up green, so I'm assuming I have the film on it?
also my car is a 2002 Mustang GT.
so if I have an 02 Mustang GT that has the green film overlay, and i get the Tri-LED's in Blue, will it shine through the green, and appear as blue? or will it still show up as green?
Mine light up green, so I'm assuming I have the film on it?
also my car is a 2002 Mustang GT.
so if I have an 02 Mustang GT that has the green film overlay, and i get the Tri-LED's in Blue, will it shine through the green, and appear as blue? or will it still show up as green?
mixedbreed02gt
Banned
just thought of something, but not sure if it will work.
if you find some blue film paper and you cut a strip to cover the odometer rectangle exactly, it might change it blue. find something really thin though...the thicker it is, the harder it will be for the light to pass through it. the odometer is LCD (liquid crystal display) and not LED, so that's why you can't change those. but with a small film overlay you could
if you find some blue film paper and you cut a strip to cover the odometer rectangle exactly, it might change it blue. find something really thin though...the thicker it is, the harder it will be for the light to pass through it. the odometer is LCD (liquid crystal display) and not LED, so that's why you can't change those. but with a small film overlay you could
I did replace the HVAC with red incandecent bulbs, didn't really work out at all. Like a very dull red. So I said forget ordering the LEDs and trying to it work. I think the green film is going to interfer for RED. So I odered everything from speed hut. Jet back, with red lettering. Got the HVAC to match. Alot more expensive, but the results will speak for themselves.
I did tackle the Traction/defrost/fog buttons on friday. I got 3mm red LEDs from radio shack and some 680ohm resistors. I soldered it all in there, and it looks great. Good even light and nice red buttons. I didn't replace the idicators LEDs in the buttons though. I have an Eclispe head unit that is red, so everything will match. My father-in-laws audi a8 is red, at night, the interior has this red hue in it that is awesome. Literaly every single button is lit by LED. Even the rear passenger map light buttons and behind the door handles is a subtle red glow. Some things good project ideas for the stang. I wish we had lighted window switches.
94GTHO
Member
tag4car
Member
how about these right here 6th down
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...t=CAR&keywords=&cart_id=8983027.15482&next=50
i think i want to do them in white
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-...t=CAR&keywords=&cart_id=8983027.15482&next=50
i think i want to do them in white
If you want to put LEDs in your cluster, you should look at some of the proven methods and specifics LEDs and vendors previously metioned in the thread.
BTW, a bullitt and Mach one clusters are already white. The stock bulbs are white (non colored) and the light shines though a green film. I think just putting in white LEDs would just give you a sharper looking green.
BTW, a bullitt and Mach one clusters are already white. The stock bulbs are white (non colored) and the light shines though a green film. I think just putting in white LEDs would just give you a sharper looking green.
Easiest way is to go on ebay and buy a el glow or reverse glow set ... it makes this so much easier. Just make sure you follow instructions on installation and removal of needles... Here are a few pictures of mine.
View attachment 334150
View attachment 334152
View attachment 334154
All the lighting is really kind of easy to manipulate if you have questions just give me a pm or post up
View attachment 334150
View attachment 334152
View attachment 334154
All the lighting is really kind of easy to manipulate if you have questions just give me a pm or post up
well now. i don't really even post much on here but since you decided to come into my thread you woke the giant
first off, if taking your gauge cluster completely apart, removing the needles, remembering where they were, putting them back on correctly, then completely reinstalling the cluster is easier than removing 6 bulbs, you're mind works ass backwards
secondly, you're looking at ~$40-60 for a DECENT looking overlay while new LED bulbs will run you ~24 shipped.
lastly, I have yet to see a good looking overlay. Yours, for example, is hideous. Not to mention, by the looks of it, you just v-teched your motor; 6,800 redline!!! That right there, is the best mod ever
Similar threads
