Has anyone replaced the lights that illuminate the gauges on the dash? i wondered how easy it would be to replace the bulbs with LED's to make them really bright. Anyone done this or similar?
How hard is it @snotty ? (or anyone else?) do i need an electronics degree or will my soldering iron and a bit of tinkering be enough?
I bought a new soldering iron yesterday and I feel like fixing everything !?!? Its a job I think about every time the light goes and I can longer tell whats happening on the dash. even with "my knob fully twisted" its still too dim.
there was someone on here ( i forget who, apologies) who sourced some LED's that i believe even dimmed with the dimmer switch, it was in the for sale section
http://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/dim-dash-lights.45963/#post-806222 Theres a bit of info on this thread, it seems pretty straightforward. I assume you have turned the lightswitch to ensure they are on maximum brightness?
how often do you drive in the dark then? i must be the only one who changed mine for dimmer ones, i put green bulbs in mine, i hate a bright dash.
i have driven quite a few time in the dark and can't see jack. Even on the the brightest they are like fag ends in a jam jar. This is another of those "want to" projects a bit more than "need to"! If can get dimming ones then I am sorted!
I have some fella. Straight swaps for the old filament type. I sold quite a few for people on here a while back Still have some left. Ian
I use to do as much as possible at night as the air is cooler so better for engine and less other idiots on roads.
i bet i've only driven my van with the lights on a handful of times, it's usually parked up being slept in at night.
I did a thead on this a few years back using strip LEDs... Easy enough, you just need to remember they have directional current and fit an earth wire.
Clean the contact points and you should find the standard ones are fine You will get problems if you change the battery one for led and the turn ones can be a bit fussy
Right, here you go. I used white LED strips from Maplins, stuck in suitable places behind the gauges (the strips are self-adhesive). Cut them to length, then solder thin wires to each strip +ve, another to each strip -ve (they're marked on the PCB), then stick 'em down. Route the wires through the back of the instrument pod and join all the +ves together, then all the -ves, so that the strips are in parallel. Ground the -ve wire on the "spider" connector on the pod rear, and connect the +ve wire to the existing dash light supply (red/grey? terminal 58?). Voila! Pics show the wiring. I used a single way connector to hook them up, so I can just just unplug the whole thing. Turned right up, they're as bright as the lighting on the after market gauges - lurvely! You can dim them using the standard dimmer. Super-duper at night, and better than LED bulbs, IMHO.
