Salty
12-30-2003, 11:11 AM
Updated with new working URLs 1/06/04
Here's the pics in my gallery: http://www.i-club.com/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=10361
In my quest for better interior lighting i have tried a handful of different approaches but all failed. Bulb condoms that i purchased from partsexpress were too faint and discolored. Blue bulb condoms were hard to see and the red turned a faint brown/orange when matched with the OEM green film. Traditional LEDs were too hard to solder and far too risky.
So i finally found the best of both worlds that aren't distracting like Indiglos and they look great!
So how did i do it!?
INSTRUCTIONS
1)THE HVAC
let's start off with the HVAC and KEYRING. here the basic instructions on disassembly: http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33292&highlight=HVACuest
MATERIALS NEEDED: 2 to 4 194 (Red) Signal/Marker Focused LED Opaque Lens seen (1st row and 3rd from the left) here: http://autolumination.com/194.htm
*I used opaque bulbs to help spread the light better. the frosted lens of the bulbs works a lot better than the angled and focused ones. trust me i tried both of them!
Once you've opened the Hvac you'll need a pair of needle-nose pliers or some sticky hands to pull the bulb out of the socket. Once you have pulled them out you'll either need 2 to 4 bulbs depending on model. My car (2003 WRX) used 2 bulbs. When you look at the replacement LEDs you'll notice that they're far to big to fit. You'll need to trim the plastic portion on the bulb with a pair of wire cutters in attemp to make them the same size/dimensions as the OEM bulbs. Look at the second picture in my gallery to understand what they need to look like. Once you've trimmed them they should fit nice and snug without problems. Test them both and you're done with the HVAC.
2) THE KEYRING
MATERIALS NEEDED: 1 (buy 2-3 just in case) 74 (Red) LED Instrument Panel Focused LED clear lens. seen (top row 3rd light from the left) here: http://autolumination.com/74.htm
The reason why i didn't put 194 opaque bulbs here is because they won't fit. These bulbs match well seeing how the actual plastic in the keyring is frosted...it acts similar to an opaque bulb. Once again trust me that these bulbs are the best type/size... i tried a few others.
Once you've refered to the instructions above for the Keyring all you'll need to is slide off the ring and twist the socket out! then pull the oem bulb out of the socket with the pliers and replace it with the size 74 LED mentioned above. Then put everything back together in the reverse order! you're now done with the Keyring.
3) Instrument Panel and Blinker lights.
MATERIALS NEEDED: 8 (Once again buy more just in case) 74 (blue) LED Instrument Panel Focused LED clear lens. seen (top row far left light bulb) here: http://autolumination.com/74.htm
First you'll need to adjust the steering column into it's lowest position. Then you'll need to undo the trim section of the panel by unscrewing the 2 top screws. Once you'ce done that simply pull the trim section out and set it aside. Next you need to undo the 3 screws that mount the actual instrument panel and pull the panel out. Be sure not to unplug the three wiring harnesses to the panel because you'll need to test each LED. IF you don't test each LED you install you'll have a huge guessing game on your hands later. There should be enough room for you to peek behind the Instrument cluster so you can actually see the electrical board all the light sockets are pluged into. start with the bulb closest to you and simply twist the socket and pull the light with socket out. Switch the OEM bulb with the 74 (blue) LED and put it back into the socket to test. If it works then move on to the next bulb. If not then you'll need to bend the light +/- filaments so they come in contact with the metal inside the socket until they work.
Im not sure if the Instrument panels for the 4EATand 5MT use a different amount of bulbs so you might want to check before you order. My 4EAT used 1 for the tach, 2 for the speedometer, 1 for the E/F gauge, 1 for the temp gauge, and 1 for each blinker and one for the odometer light. So that equals a total of 8 bulbs needed for the Instrument Panel.
That's everything! Enjoy it!
What will this cost if you buy the bare minimum on bulbs?
a whooping $30.00 plus shipping!
What will it cost if you buy an 3 extra bulbs per type of bulb?
about $50.00 plus shipping!
that sure beats indiglos!
If you have any other questions post them here and i'll be happy to get back to you!
ERIC:banana:
Here's the pics in my gallery: http://www.i-club.com/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=10361
In my quest for better interior lighting i have tried a handful of different approaches but all failed. Bulb condoms that i purchased from partsexpress were too faint and discolored. Blue bulb condoms were hard to see and the red turned a faint brown/orange when matched with the OEM green film. Traditional LEDs were too hard to solder and far too risky.
So i finally found the best of both worlds that aren't distracting like Indiglos and they look great!
So how did i do it!?
INSTRUCTIONS
1)THE HVAC
let's start off with the HVAC and KEYRING. here the basic instructions on disassembly: http://www.i-club.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33292&highlight=HVACuest
MATERIALS NEEDED: 2 to 4 194 (Red) Signal/Marker Focused LED Opaque Lens seen (1st row and 3rd from the left) here: http://autolumination.com/194.htm
*I used opaque bulbs to help spread the light better. the frosted lens of the bulbs works a lot better than the angled and focused ones. trust me i tried both of them!
Once you've opened the Hvac you'll need a pair of needle-nose pliers or some sticky hands to pull the bulb out of the socket. Once you have pulled them out you'll either need 2 to 4 bulbs depending on model. My car (2003 WRX) used 2 bulbs. When you look at the replacement LEDs you'll notice that they're far to big to fit. You'll need to trim the plastic portion on the bulb with a pair of wire cutters in attemp to make them the same size/dimensions as the OEM bulbs. Look at the second picture in my gallery to understand what they need to look like. Once you've trimmed them they should fit nice and snug without problems. Test them both and you're done with the HVAC.
2) THE KEYRING
MATERIALS NEEDED: 1 (buy 2-3 just in case) 74 (Red) LED Instrument Panel Focused LED clear lens. seen (top row 3rd light from the left) here: http://autolumination.com/74.htm
The reason why i didn't put 194 opaque bulbs here is because they won't fit. These bulbs match well seeing how the actual plastic in the keyring is frosted...it acts similar to an opaque bulb. Once again trust me that these bulbs are the best type/size... i tried a few others.
Once you've refered to the instructions above for the Keyring all you'll need to is slide off the ring and twist the socket out! then pull the oem bulb out of the socket with the pliers and replace it with the size 74 LED mentioned above. Then put everything back together in the reverse order! you're now done with the Keyring.
3) Instrument Panel and Blinker lights.
MATERIALS NEEDED: 8 (Once again buy more just in case) 74 (blue) LED Instrument Panel Focused LED clear lens. seen (top row far left light bulb) here: http://autolumination.com/74.htm
First you'll need to adjust the steering column into it's lowest position. Then you'll need to undo the trim section of the panel by unscrewing the 2 top screws. Once you'ce done that simply pull the trim section out and set it aside. Next you need to undo the 3 screws that mount the actual instrument panel and pull the panel out. Be sure not to unplug the three wiring harnesses to the panel because you'll need to test each LED. IF you don't test each LED you install you'll have a huge guessing game on your hands later. There should be enough room for you to peek behind the Instrument cluster so you can actually see the electrical board all the light sockets are pluged into. start with the bulb closest to you and simply twist the socket and pull the light with socket out. Switch the OEM bulb with the 74 (blue) LED and put it back into the socket to test. If it works then move on to the next bulb. If not then you'll need to bend the light +/- filaments so they come in contact with the metal inside the socket until they work.
Im not sure if the Instrument panels for the 4EATand 5MT use a different amount of bulbs so you might want to check before you order. My 4EAT used 1 for the tach, 2 for the speedometer, 1 for the E/F gauge, 1 for the temp gauge, and 1 for each blinker and one for the odometer light. So that equals a total of 8 bulbs needed for the Instrument Panel.
That's everything! Enjoy it!
What will this cost if you buy the bare minimum on bulbs?
a whooping $30.00 plus shipping!
What will it cost if you buy an 3 extra bulbs per type of bulb?
about $50.00 plus shipping!
that sure beats indiglos!
If you have any other questions post them here and i'll be happy to get back to you!
ERIC:banana: