DIY: Interior LED Color Change

DIGItonium · 04-30-2010, 12:51 AM

1) Pry switch assembly from trim panel.

2) Pry back cover from all sides.

3) There are two 0805 size LEDs to replace.

4) Complete! Be sure to follow window reset procedure.

farmosh203 · 06-11-2010, 12:18 PM

That's really impressive you had the balls to take everything apart like that. Soldering anything above an 0402 size is no problem but I can't imagine taking my car apart and putting it back together like that.

I'm still trying to think of ideas on what I could do to my car using a microcontroller.

DIGItonium · 06-11-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmosh203

That's really impressive you had the balls to take everything apart like that. Soldering anything above an 0402 size is no problem but I can't imagine taking my car apart and putting it back together like that.

I'm still trying to think of ideas on what I could do to my car using a microcontroller.

Disassembly isn't too bad. The most tedious is desoldering the rotary switches for the HVAC and lining it back up through the PCB. The gauge cluster removal isn't too bad after doing it the first time.

This is going to require quite a bit of spaghetti wiring and masking of original pads. You can get 4-pin PLCC2 RGB LEDs. One pin is ground, and the other is positive for each color. Wire all the LEDs to your microcontroller/driver circuit. I guess you can program roughly 255 shades for each color. If you can pull this off, you'll be the LED god.

DIGItonium · 05-23-2010, 12:42 AM

*** DISCONNECT (-) BATTERY CABLE FIRST AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES! ***

1. Pop off the screw covers on each side of the steering column to reveal the security torx screws. The best tool to use to remove the screws is this socket with the T30 security torx.

2. Pull the airbag unit, but be careful with the airbag and control cables. Release the steering wheel control cable harness. Pull the green ground wire. Use a 7mm wrench to remove the nut holding the wires. Each control has two screws to remove, and then simply pop it off towards the back end.

3. Use 0805 LEDs (8 total) to change the color of the switch panel.

4. Completed modification. Resistor change is not necessary as the illumination is more than adequate for night viewing.

theDreamer · 05-29-2010, 08:43 PM

Digi, do you plan on doing the triple gauge cluster over the center console?
I know it will require removing I think the dash as some have stated, but you would be the first at doing a full DIY(ish) on the forum.

DIGItonium · 05-30-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

Digi, do you plan on doing the triple gauge cluster over the center console?

I'm holding off on this mod because I may end up getting aftermarket gauges instead. However, 2theextreme is going to ship me his gauges for the mod work so I'll post the DIY for his gauges. Black Cat Custom will be making the custom gauge faces.

XwChriswX · 05-30-2010, 03:22 PM

Digi, you really need to sloooow down lol I haven't even gotten the Driver's side door done, and your throwing all these new ideas at me! LoL

DIGItonium · 05-31-2010, 02:04 AM

Bump... updated DIY: Interior LED Color Change

Boost_lee · 05-31-2010, 02:12 AM

Digitonium - you do outstanding work, love this DIY

DIGItonium · 05-31-2010, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boost_lee

Digitonium - you do outstanding work, love this DIY

Thanks!

It was tedious, but quite worth it.

CBRich · 07-21-2010, 01:28 PM

SUBscribing. I need to get on this.

J. Dub · 09-30-2010, 03:43 PM

How much would you charge?

DIGItonium · 10-01-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Dub

How much would you charge?

PM'd.

DIGItonium · 10-02-2010, 02:19 PM

The oil pressure and battery voltage uses 2 PLCC2 LEDs (per pod) for the back light and 1 PLCC2 LED (per needle). The clock uses 6 PLCC2 for the back light (similar to odometer).

Black Cat Custom will print the custom gauge faces, and it should be available for purchase soon. Stay tuned for completed pictures of the custom gauge cluster.

soldknow · 01-30-2011, 11:45 AM

How did you remove the triple guage top covers?

05-29-2010, 08:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
theDreamer A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 30,879 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 4211	Digi, do you plan on doing the triple gauge cluster over the center console? I know it will require removing I think the dash as some have stated, but you would be the first at doing a full DIY(ish) on the forum. __________________ theDreamer's Z // Fast Intentions // Uprev // GTM // HKS // TEIN theDreamer's Silvia // URAS // GREDDY Houston Zs // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

05-30-2010, 03:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
XwChriswX WFLYIDNNE Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: In The Fastlane Posts: 50,648 Drives: 02 GDB WRX Rep Power: 452	Digi, you really need to sloooow down lol I haven't even gotten the Driver's side door done, and your throwing all these new ideas at me! LoL __________________ Bonnie - Stage 2, Audio build coming this fall! R.I.P. Abby 3/29/10 - 3/30/14

05-31-2010, 02:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	Bump... updated DIY: Interior LED Color Change __________________

01-30-2011, 11:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
soldknow Base Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Arlington, TN Posts: 7 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z Rep Power: 16	How did you remove the triple guage top covers? __________________ Oldknow

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06-11-2010, 12:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
farmosh203 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 24 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z sport Rep Power: 16	That's really impressive you had the balls to take everything apart like that. Soldering anything above an 0402 size is no problem but I can't imagine taking my car apart and putting it back together like that. I'm still trying to think of ideas on what I could do to my car using a microcontroller.

05-31-2010, 02:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
Boost_lee A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SATX Posts: 2,813 Drives: 09 370Z TT 6MT Rep Power: 30	Digitonium - you do outstanding work, love this DIY

07-21-2010, 01:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 545	SUBscribing. I need to get on this.

09-30-2010, 03:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
J. Dub Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: In your Internets Posts: 118 Drives: 09 370z 7AT Rep Power: 15	How much would you charge?