Is there any way...

Vaughanabe13 · 08-08-2011, 10:18 PM

...to prevent getting tasered in the eyes by the blue LED for the brights? I mean I love the brights on country roads but tonight my eyes were practically bleeding from that stupid blue LED in the dash. It's ridiculously bright and the dash brightness controls didn't affect it. I ended up having to drive with one hand at 12 on the wheel just so my arm would block out the light. Crimeny....

90 ST · 08-08-2011, 10:25 PM

LOL, i HATE that light! with that amount of light in the car it makes it harder to see outside.

I may just put a piece of tint over it.

JrumMusic · 08-08-2011, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 90 ST

LOL, i HATE that light! with that amount of light in the car it makes it harder to see outside.

I may just put a piece of tint over it.

Agreed.

DIGItonium · 08-08-2011, 10:54 PM

You'll have to take it apart, pull the needle, and pull the face. Then you can add some vinyl tint to the gauge face to diminish the LED brightness. Refer to my DIY thread:

DIY: Interior LED Color Change

Vaughanabe13 · 08-09-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

You'll have to take it apart, pull the needle, and pull the face. Then you can add some vinyl tint to the gauge face to diminish the LED brightness. Refer to my DIY thread:

DIY: Interior LED Color Change

How difficult is that for someone who hasn't opened any panels yet?

kenchan · 08-09-2011, 11:00 AM

dont do it. the needles will get out of calibration (most likely) and can potentially end up with step clicks. unles you can slide a film between the plastic housing and the front template just abort the project. it's like opening up a can of worms.

christian370z · 08-09-2011, 11:58 AM

I don't find it that bad, but opening the gauge cluster to dim the high beam indicator is far more trouble than it is worth.

90 ST · 08-09-2011, 12:03 PM

I'm thinking i'll just get a little circle of film cut and put it on top, once the face is off, with out removing the needle.

vividracing · 08-09-2011, 12:36 PM

Another option would be to installed a resistor on the wire for the LED. The difficulty would be about the same. The difference is that now you're actually reducing the brightness of the LED, instead of tinting it to block the light.

DIGItonium · 08-09-2011, 05:33 PM

Haha I know what you mean by blinding blue LEDs. The blue lighting in the new Sonata drives me crazy at night.

There's no problem removing the needle. As for calibration, the motor is like a stepper motor, and it is simple in construction. I manage to reassemble the gear assembly for the tach when the shaft slipped out. Just keep the gears clean because there's thin lubricant on the gears. The gears have an internal stopper that keeps the needle from going 360 deg.

When putting the needle back in, just push it back in and turn it counter clockwise. The resistance is felt when hitting the stopper in the gear, so give it enough force to nudge the needle towards the 0 mark. There's no need to pull the needle back out if you miss the 0 mark, simply turn it towards the 0 mark again.

There's no need to drive or recalibrate it as long as your 0 mark placement is good.

sungear · 08-09-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vividracing

Another option would be to installed a resistor on the wire for the LED. The difficulty would be about the same. The difference is that now you're actually reducing the brightness of the LED, instead of tinting it to block the light.

+1

Nick911sc · 08-09-2011, 06:45 PM

OP this might help

DIGItonium · 08-10-2011, 10:13 AM

Your question is understood. Though it may sound trivial, it is not impossible. There a bunch of things you can do once you take apart the gauge cluster. I'd rather see the shift light be brighter than the blue LED used for the high beam indicator. In the 350Z, the red LED for the shift indicator was replaced with a white LED. It looks a bit nicer and alerts me well without resorting to aftermarket mods.

08-08-2011, 10:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Vaughanabe13 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 387 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z M6 Rep Power: 15	Is there any way... ...to prevent getting tasered in the eyes by the blue LED for the brights? I mean I love the brights on country roads but tonight my eyes were practically bleeding from that stupid blue LED in the dash. It's ridiculously bright and the dash brightness controls didn't affect it. I ended up having to drive with one hand at 12 on the wheel just so my arm would block out the light. Crimeny.... __________________ 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, w/sport, 6MT, chicane yellow/black.

08-08-2011, 10:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	You'll have to take it apart, pull the needle, and pull the face. Then you can add some vinyl tint to the gauge face to diminish the LED brightness. Refer to my DIY thread: DIY: Interior LED Color Change __________________

08-09-2011, 11:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 433	I don't find it that bad, but opening the gauge cluster to dim the high beam indicator is far more trouble than it is worth. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

08-09-2011, 12:36 PM	#9 (permalink)
vividracing The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilbert, AZ Age: 38 Posts: 7,306 Drives: 350Z,370Z,GTR Rep Power: 40	Another option would be to installed a resistor on the wire for the LED. The difficulty would be about the same. The difference is that now you're actually reducing the brightness of the LED, instead of tinting it to block the light. __________________ Rocky @ Vivid ♦ 480.966.3040 x236 ♦ Rocky@vividracing.com Email, PM, or call me directly for aggressive The370Z.com member pricing!!!

08-09-2011, 05:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	Haha I know what you mean by blinding blue LEDs. The blue lighting in the new Sonata drives me crazy at night. There's no problem removing the needle. As for calibration, the motor is like a stepper motor, and it is simple in construction. I manage to reassemble the gear assembly for the tach when the shaft slipped out. Just keep the gears clean because there's thin lubricant on the gears. The gears have an internal stopper that keeps the needle from going 360 deg. When putting the needle back in, just push it back in and turn it counter clockwise. The resistance is felt when hitting the stopper in the gear, so give it enough force to nudge the needle towards the 0 mark. There's no need to pull the needle back out if you miss the 0 mark, simply turn it towards the 0 mark again. There's no need to drive or recalibrate it as long as your 0 mark placement is good. __________________

08-08-2011, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 422	LOL, i HATE that light! with that amount of light in the car it makes it harder to see outside. I may just put a piece of tint over it.

08-09-2011, 11:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141522	dont do it. the needles will get out of calibration (most likely) and can potentially end up with step clicks. unles you can slide a film between the plastic housing and the front template just abort the project. it's like opening up a can of worms.

08-09-2011, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 422	I'm thinking i'll just get a little circle of film cut and put it on top, once the face is off, with out removing the needle.

08-09-2011, 06:45 PM	#12 (permalink)
Nick911sc A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,698 Drives: 2010 Nissan GT-R Rep Power: 21	OP this might help

08-10-2011, 10:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	Your question is understood. Though it may sound trivial, it is not impossible. There a bunch of things you can do once you take apart the gauge cluster. I'd rather see the shift light be brighter than the blue LED used for the high beam indicator. In the 350Z, the red LED for the shift indicator was replaced with a white LED. It looks a bit nicer and alerts me well without resorting to aftermarket mods. __________________