[W.I.P] [GUIDE] Blue LED mod.Replace those ugly orange light in the dashboard!

[318ti_Bonesy]

As the title says thsi is a guide to change all those orange bulbs.Im using blue as i like blue, and ive started with the hardest first! This is a WORK IN PROGRESS as i get more time i will do more lihts with pictures and instructions. If anyone has a better way of doing any of these please let me know and i will update the first post.
Done..
Clock.

To Do..
Speedo cluster
Electric window controls
AC/Rear screen controls
ACS Control
Auxillary Heating Controls

[318ti_Bonesy]

Suggested by John Firestone,instead of conventional solder..
You can also use silver-filled, conductive epoxy to mount SMT LEDs It won't melt anything, but is a little expensive and has a limited shelf life (refrigeration extends it). It can also make some stubborn shorts if you are sloppy.

Two 7-10 minute ones are CircuitWorks CW2400 and MG Chemicals 8331 (both around $30-35). CircuitWorks also offers a 60-minute epoxy, CW2460, which is less common and more expensive.
I have never used the stuff so i wouldnt know where to start but many thanks for the suggestion!!

The Clock........

This thing was a pain in the backside as i bought the wrong size SMD LEDS (Surface Mount) and all i had to hand was a soldering iron with a 15mm flat tip.. You would be wise to use at least 0805 SMD LEDs i used 0603 SMD LEDs. I would think 1206 SMDs would be ok, A decent point tipped soldering iron (SMALL!) NO COFFEE/RED BULL/MONSTER etc etc... NO CAFFEINE! Im pretty hardcore when it comes to caffeine.but i had a coffee and i have never shaken so much!

Right,start off by removing the clock.If you dont know how then either remove the head unit or carefully pry it out with a flat screwdriver. Once removed undo the 4 clips from around it and take the back off...

there will be 4 clips holding the circuit board in,carefully bend the clips on one side and pull the board out.When you do that make sure you leave the clock facing down so you dont lose parts!
Once that is all done look on the other side of the circuit board,there are 4 LEDs,carefully unsolder(RED DOTS) and remove these.(GREEN DOTS)



After that you need to solder the new SMD's on.These are polarity based!!!! Test which side is the + (positive) with a small battery or a multimeter.Mine had a triangle under the led and the flat edge of it was the positive. When you solder them on the positive is the TOP of the board... once you have all 4 on you are nearly there!!



Using a flat screwdriver again gently pry the white clips and pull the plastic bit out BE VERY CAREFUL! THERE IS A LITTLE RUBBER WEDGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS CLIP,LOSE THIS OR PUT IT IN WRONG AND YOUR CLOCK WONT DISPLAY!
There is a little piece of orange plastic under the clip,i cut a piece of plain paper the same size and put it in place of the orange piece.

Carefully put it all back together and plug it in,YOUR DONE! If all went well it will work and you will have replaced the SMD's in your clock! Also be careful not to bang the LCD Display, i did and the ink has run.
New clock on the way but the beauty is you can just put the circuit board in the new one! Hopefully this has helped someone as ive been typing for ages!!

Coming soon....... Window controls!

[318ti_Bonesy]

Reserved..... Window controls

[318ti_Bonesy]

Reserved....the rest

[Silverti]

Looks great mate, good work. Looking forward to the rest.

When i build up the guts to rip everything apart and take a soldering iron to it, i may have to do this to mine.

[318ti_Bonesy]

Thanks for the feedback!
If you are going to take anything apart i would suggest checking how much another one would cost from either a local breakers or eBaY! If you dont mind spending a few quid then try it! its really pleasing to see when its done!

Ive been told cooljess has already done this mod so im hoping he shoots here to add some bits on.

[d235353]

v nice good work with the hard soldering regime
soldering at 4o's in the morning fueled by nothing but smokeables and caffeine hehe got that tshirt

[Maverix]

Nice. I bought a blue led odo from jess. I get to finally complete the interior!

[pdxmotorhead]

The ugly orange is the product of many many dollars in research on eye response to color and preserving night vision..... Blue is one of the worst colors to have in your field of view at night, it destroys night vision because the "blue" LED's are also emitting a lot of White light. It may not matter int eh dash since they are indirect but the direct ones would drive me nuts... Looks cool though....

Dave

[Silverti]

Any updates on this mate?

Looking forward to see the finished result

[318ti_Bonesy]

Hi, i have completed the window switch lights i just havent had time to put them on and do a write up yet! I have some time tomorrow so i will upload thew pics and do the write up

[318ti_Bonesy]

So... I've been having various problems recentley and havent had the time to do the write up....

I will be doing the Window switch write up in the next 48 hours..I have bought 500 1206 SMD's so will be (hopefully) completing this tut soon!

I had a blue dash like the one you bought maverick but it was too much at night to cope while driving, have you drivn at night and covered it up? I did and noticed i was being blinded by the blue You can buy LED's for the dash on ebay.co.uk (£1.99) they literally just replace the bulbs..Then get some lockwood dials (£11.99) in any colour you want and Voila! Done