dash lights.

[b005t3d]

ive searched the internet and found the gay gauge inserts for the mk3 dash. im wondering if you can change the colors of the lights without buying one of those kits? it would be way cheaper and you could make them any color you wanted, provided you can find the right bulbs.

 

[GrimJack]

Yes. A complete conversion is a lot of effort, but it has been done.

The dash itself is just colored with tinted covers over the bulbs, so difference covers, or simply painting the bulbs a different color, works great.

It gets tough when you start trying to change the climate control - that is lit my LEDs and colored plastic windows. You have to buy the right power LEDs, desolder the old ones from the PC board, and solder the new ones in.

 

[hottscennessey]

i know i'm bumping an ancient thread.. but is the dash bright enough at night say if i were going to go with a coat of red on the bulbs?

 

[Godspeed]

i have one of those weird dash kits with the reverse glow gauges and i like the blue color but there are to many wires to run so im going to get all blue bulbs and change them over

 

[hottscennessey]

I like the stock cluster look of black faced gauges.. but I really want to get red to match some gauges, but I need to know if the red will shine through alright, and if they it will be visable at night.

 

[NDBoost]

www.speedhut.com spend the $100 & time and get the new custom faces from speedhut.

You can get the stock look (black face white text) and still have diff color lighting.

 

[GrimJack]

Red will work fine, there are several members who have converted to red already.

 

[hottscennessey]

awesome, thanks grim, is there a writeup or a post anywhere that says what paint they used, because i'm not looking for orange or pink

 

[GrimJack]

Not that I'm aware of - I haven't seen any information on it since the crash, actually. I suspect that they just bought red bulbs from an auto parts store though, anyone who is going to put that much work into it likely isn't willing to rely on paint.

 

[hottscennessey]

maybe i'm asking too much, but does anyone by chance know the sizes of and where to get the dash backlighting bulbs in red? or sleeves for them?

 

[GrimJack]

When I pulled my dash apart, I checked the bulbs. They were pretty standard - I don't recall exactly what the type was, but there was a huge selection of ones that would fit in my local parts store, in just about any color you could ask for.

Honestly, I'd pull it out, yank a bulb, and go visit the store, buy a bunch.

 

[bryanintexas]

bulb style 194

 

[hottscennessey]

thanks bryan, i feel so stupid posting all these questions.. but all i can find are the wedge lights, if i remember correctly dont ours twist in?

Edit: or do the wedges just go in the plastic twist in housings?

 

[bryanintexas]

yes, they twist out, but the bulbs pull from the sockets. like the rear sidemarker bulbs. wedge type "peanut bulbs" (that`s what we call `em @ work). if you want a "blue-ish/white" , the 93 corolla clusters had light blue covers on them, but will run you $4-6 each from the dealer. i believe our dash takes 5. there is one more tiny tiny bulb in there that is not made in red glass(near the oil press. gauge). it will have to be painted. it`s identical to the 194`s but smaller. just pull the green cap off and get som testor`s "taillight lens" paint from your local hobby shop. it`s translucent red, made to paint on the inside of clear lenses on model cars. will probably take 2-3 coats for it to match the red glass bulbs.

 

[bryanintexas]

also, the autometer gauges take the same 194 bulbs, so you can put in matching bulbs in your gauges if you have `em!

 

[hottscennessey]

thanks so much for the help guys, i know exactly what i'm doing now. i really appreciate it.

 

[hottscennessey]

I just ordered Red LED wide angle bulbs, we'll see how they work out.

 

[NDBoost]

I just ordered Red LED wide angle bulbs, we'll see how they work out.

yes please update, i want to go with a red/blue combo on my cluster but i want an actual red not a pink..

 

[hottscennessey]

wow, best $20 i think i've ever spent. I usually dont go for stuff like this, because i dont go for looks.. just bang for the buck and functionability. The red wide angle leds i got at superbrightleds.com were exactly what i needed. They replace the stock bulbs, you will need sizes 194, and 74 i believe. They are very bright, and very vibrant red behind the stock gauge faces, and light the cluster very evenly. It took me less than 10 minutes and now i am getting red LED gauges to match. I would post pics but they look exactly like the attached picture. Thanks so much guys for all the help.:icon_razz

 

[bettertochange]

good job on all of that. How many of each light do you need? and also, even though this seems like a stupid question...where are the screws to remove? im just too lazy and havent had enough time lately.