Are the seat heater switches supposed to be illuminated with the headlights?
LED instrument panel/gauge cluster
- Thread starter anthonycds
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Yes, but it's a rather faint light.
( see the pictures in post #89 in this thread https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/led-instrument-panel-gauge-cluster.409313/page-5#post-8435815 )
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You're welcome!
Now how do I get to the bulbs for the rear quarter window buttons? I've searched but couldn't find anything.
Did the climate control panel. It was pretty straight forward. I had an issue of lighting not being distributing evenly. Thought it was the way the bulbs were. Nope. Turns out some were put in backwards. My tip would be to plug before putting everything back together. You can tell what bulbs are lit and the ones that aren't.
The bulbs are behind this panel.
Final results. I think I can get used to the clock. The head unit is being swapped for a Pioneer soon.
This tool helps a lot.
The bulbs are behind this panel.
Final results. I think I can get used to the clock. The head unit is being swapped for a Pioneer soon.
This tool helps a lot.
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While being lazy yesterday, I decided to tackle the hvac area to finally get this started. I replaced all of the T4's and they're looking pretty good. One of my T5 replacements for the clock area was broken, so I ended up taking off the green 'condoms' from the OEM bulbs and reused those. As you can imagine, the clock is now orange compared to the rest, but it's easy on the eyes, so I may leave it that way.
Now for my questions, @LEX did you use a red or white LED for the hazard switch? I went with a red one and I'm now wondering if that LED is tinting my center diff lock button a bit orange. Thoughts would be appreciated.
Also for LEX, did you replace the lights for the bottom buttons (defrosters, rear AC)? Or did you leave those stock? Can't tell from your pic. The good news is that changing these is a simple task, I'd have no issue getting back in there or changing them up to match a head unit in the future.
I can snag a pic tonight if needed.
Now for my questions, @LEX did you use a red or white LED for the hazard switch? I went with a red one and I'm now wondering if that LED is tinting my center diff lock button a bit orange. Thoughts would be appreciated.
Also for LEX, did you replace the lights for the bottom buttons (defrosters, rear AC)? Or did you leave those stock? Can't tell from your pic. The good news is that changing these is a simple task, I'd have no issue getting back in there or changing them up to match a head unit in the future.
I can snag a pic tonight if needed.
I used a white bulb for the hazard. I would imagine using a red would show some on the locker button since they share the same cavity.
I did change the lower buttons using white bulbs as well.
I did change the lower buttons using white bulbs as well.
Right on, ya I'm thinking that's where I went wrong - with the red bulb. I'll be making another small order just to have some extras. Do you remember what type the button lights use? Are they the T3's or other? Thanks for all your help, btw!
No problem. Those use T4 bulbs.
Update on my instrument panel LED lights. I didn't like the "bluish" tint from the LED bulbs (6000K) I put in my Land Cruisers instrument panel (just the 6 that illuminate the instrument cluster), so I ordered some 3,000 K (warm light) LEDs from this site below:
http://www.ledlight.com/t5-mini-wedge-canbus-3-led-3528-smd.aspx
With these 3000 K (warm light) LEDs, the white parts on the instrument panel look more white, more like the original incandescent but brighter. I like this much better. Its not as bright the LX470 dash lights, but better!
Also, I used a 9V battery to determine positive side of the LED bulbs and marked the socket with a paint pen, then I put only one in each side of the instrument panel to see if I had the polarization right, and once I figured out the polarization of instrument panel holse, it was easy to get the 2 on each side in correctly. If you are looking at the back of the instrument cluster, at the six main illumination lights, the 2 on the far left go in the same direction (polarization) and the 2 on the far right go in in the opposite direction (polarization), hopefully this make some sense. However, I'm stumped on the two in the middle; I can't really tell if the two in the middle are on or not, but my dash is lit up and I'm not taking it apart again.
One note, my speedometer needle doesn't seem as bright as the tach needle? I'm wondering if this is because I don't have those center lights in properly? Anyone else who has done these LEDs notice this?
Lee
2000 Land Cruiser
2004 LX470
http://www.ledlight.com/t5-mini-wedge-canbus-3-led-3528-smd.aspx
With these 3000 K (warm light) LEDs, the white parts on the instrument panel look more white, more like the original incandescent but brighter. I like this much better. Its not as bright the LX470 dash lights, but better!
Also, I used a 9V battery to determine positive side of the LED bulbs and marked the socket with a paint pen, then I put only one in each side of the instrument panel to see if I had the polarization right, and once I figured out the polarization of instrument panel holse, it was easy to get the 2 on each side in correctly. If you are looking at the back of the instrument cluster, at the six main illumination lights, the 2 on the far left go in the same direction (polarization) and the 2 on the far right go in in the opposite direction (polarization), hopefully this make some sense. However, I'm stumped on the two in the middle; I can't really tell if the two in the middle are on or not, but my dash is lit up and I'm not taking it apart again.
One note, my speedometer needle doesn't seem as bright as the tach needle? I'm wondering if this is because I don't have those center lights in properly? Anyone else who has done these LEDs notice this?
Lee
2000 Land Cruiser
2004 LX470
Lee, any pics you could share? I installed the 5k bulbs from vleds and they are very blue. I'm even wondering if they sent me the wrong bulbs?. I was thinking about getting some warm white bulbs from superbrightleds.com which are 4k. I'm curious to see what the 3k look like. Thanks
Lex, see image below of the 3K bulbs purchased from here: http://www.ledlight.com/t5-mini-wedge-canbus-3-led-3528-smd.aspx (fairly inexpensive). Keep in mind that I only changed the 6 bulbs that illuminate the gauge cluster, and I'm not sure that the two center lights are working. Also, I don't think I had the lights turned up all the way, and the "P" light (still the original incandescent) is over powering...
The picture looks pretty good, but I should clarify that the white sections actually have a very slight pink or rose tint to them. It's not much (and no one would notice it but me), but it is there even though the pic doesn't show it; I can only presume that the camera on my phone adjusted for the light, etc. and made the white part look more white than it is. Regardless, even with the very slight pink tint (it is very slight), I am happier with it than the blue I got from the other lights (maybe the blue is cool to some, but I just want to see my gauges better). I just don't want you to assume it will look as good as the picture, but it is still pretty good.
Also, notice how faint my speedometer needle is, the picture makes it look worse than it is, but from the looks of the picture I am guessing that my two center lights are not working. I tried one of them (the two center lights) both ways (polarization), but couldn't tell if it was on or not and finally just put it all back together.
Hope this helps, again I was much happier with these lights that the bluish ones. Let me know what you end up doing and if you have any thoughts on why my speedo needle is so dim (I suspect my two center lights are not on...).
Lee
2000 Land Cruiser
2004 LX470
The picture looks pretty good, but I should clarify that the white sections actually have a very slight pink or rose tint to them. It's not much (and no one would notice it but me), but it is there even though the pic doesn't show it; I can only presume that the camera on my phone adjusted for the light, etc. and made the white part look more white than it is. Regardless, even with the very slight pink tint (it is very slight), I am happier with it than the blue I got from the other lights (maybe the blue is cool to some, but I just want to see my gauges better). I just don't want you to assume it will look as good as the picture, but it is still pretty good.
Also, notice how faint my speedometer needle is, the picture makes it look worse than it is, but from the looks of the picture I am guessing that my two center lights are not working. I tried one of them (the two center lights) both ways (polarization), but couldn't tell if it was on or not and finally just put it all back together.
Hope this helps, again I was much happier with these lights that the bluish ones. Let me know what you end up doing and if you have any thoughts on why my speedo needle is so dim (I suspect my two center lights are not on...).
Lee
2000 Land Cruiser
2004 LX470
Lee, that looks great. It does seem that your two center bulbs aren't lit, bummer. I'm going to try the 4k bulbs and see what that looks like. I've taken the cluster out 3 times already. It's easy, just frustrating.
Brings me to another problem. This morning, I noticed my the 2..L..PWR and 2nd lights don't illuminate when engaged. My oil pressure gauge also isn't reading. Makes me wish I would have left it alone to begin with.
Anybody have any ideas of what to check when I pull my cluster back out?
Driving out of town this weekend and would hate to go without a oil pressure gauge.
Brings me to another problem. This morning, I noticed my the 2..L..PWR and 2nd lights don't illuminate when engaged. My oil pressure gauge also isn't reading. Makes me wish I would have left it alone to begin with.
Anybody have any ideas of what to check when I pull my cluster back out?
Driving out of town this weekend and would hate to go without a oil pressure gauge.
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Lex, getting the instrument cluster in and out isn't that hard, but I have had a lot of trouble getting the connectors fully seated. I have experienced similar issues where some things don't light up or the gauges don't work, and I suspect this is related to the connectors not completely connected... I have also had similar issues that went away when I snugged up all the other screws (not just the two that go to the connectors).
My guess is that you need to fully seat those connectors screws, and snug up the other screws and see if that fixes it.
In trying to get the two center lights lit, I pulled the cluster out three more times changing the polarity of the center two lights, but saw no change. I think I'm leaving it for now.
Lee
2000 Land Cruiser
2004 LX470
My guess is that you need to fully seat those connectors screws, and snug up the other screws and see if that fixes it.
In trying to get the two center lights lit, I pulled the cluster out three more times changing the polarity of the center two lights, but saw no change. I think I'm leaving it for now.
Lee
2000 Land Cruiser
2004 LX470
Has anyone done this on an '03+? I'm very interested in improving the illumination.
The cluster and console should be the same. Not sure about the climate control.
So I recently read this thread and started replacing all my dash and component lights with LED's (including seat warmers, shifter etc) as many had burnt out. Due to the polarity I tested each as they were installed by turning the key to make sure they were in the correct orientation. I accidentally arc'd out one of them and I thought blew a fuse. Everything still works but I just have no console lights on at night. For the life of me I (or my mechanic) can't find a burnt out fuse in any of the panels (2 kick panels and the engine fuse box). Can anyone suggest where I can look next. I know COMPLETELY dumb move but I'm hoping someone on here can help - I'm a bit lost on where to go next. Incidentally it was one of the seat heaters that arc'd and it works fine....other than the lights.
