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General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: TylerDurden on May 25, 2013, 07:31:18 pm

Title: MK2 Dash Lights -> LED
Post by: TylerDurden on May 25, 2013, 07:31:18 pm

I had the cluster out of my 86td to repair the Temp Gauge and figured "why not"... The stock dash lights are pretty dim - kinda hard to read the trip odo, or fuel gauge.



Most home-improvement stores have 12V strip LEDs, you can get them for cheap online too. (Auto shops seem to charge more.)

They can be trimmed to short lengths, in sets of three emitters:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3dMvNyPgNOI/UaFvEt9nXfI/AAAAAAAABOU/N-V0AfIZCyk/s800/IMG_9268.JPG)


Some new holes in the top of the cluster to line up with the emitters:

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i8ZfGxnZado/UaFvFFJvJbI/AAAAAAAABOc/YL6jzkX203E/s800/IMG_9269.JPG)


Gaffer's tape holds the strips flat to the cluster:

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eFuKTbXybIE/UaFvFKqYVlI/AAAAAAAABOg/0nA11QzRYOQ/s800/IMG_9270.JPG)


Hot-glue holds the wires so they don't pull on the flimsy PWB:

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-DanmYKW-lFY/UaFvF0vTR5I/AAAAAAAABOs/UrxZsrOHRcA/s800/IMG_9271.JPG)


Bright enough now, at full intensity

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PrED59RIZqg/UaFvQcgfO5I/AAAAAAAABO8/rOGyrXTps7Y/s640/imagejpeg_4.jpg)


They dim just like the stock bulbs:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uKErSyTeO18/UaFvQPtC2nI/AAAAAAAABO0/-IHYS2JSOig/s640/imagejpeg_2.jpg)



I don't intend to run them full-blast, except when checking the trip odo, or at dusk when it requires higher than normal brightness.

Title: Re: MK2 Dash Lights -> LED
Post by: ORCoaster on May 25, 2013, 10:03:37 pm

Nicely done and worth a sticky I'd say.  Easy mod and no extra resistors or anything.

Title: Re: MK2 Dash Lights -> LED
Post by: CRSMP5 on May 26, 2013, 09:28:51 am

the white housing the pcb/bulbs go into.. if your carefull you can pop it off the cluster.. i remove the green piece that filters the white light.. that cures it for most... and i just use glue to put it back into place..

that area you could fill with leds vs on the outside like you did it too..

Title: Re: MK2 Dash Lights -> LED
Post by: ToddA1 on May 26, 2013, 08:49:21 pm

Why not do drop ins?  They're cheap and easy.  I've been using them for years. 

-Todd

Title: Re: MK2 Dash Lights -> LED
Post by: TylerDurden on May 26, 2013, 09:02:05 pm

I got a bunch of this stuff. I'm making courtesy lights, trunk lights, etc...

(Give a guy a hammer and everything looks like a nail, lol.)