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How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

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  #21 (permalink)  
Old 04-12-2011, 07:14 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Another quick update, you CAN remove the bezel around each of the LCD displays and simply remove the green lenses. Take care to tip out the LCD screens and just lift out the lenses and rest the LCD screens back.

I'll update the OP with this tidbit.

Also, "Project Purple" continues... I have another couple of "How-to"s on the way. One of which is how to change the SMT LEDs on a new head unit (Alpine iDA-X100M specifically). The other will deal with the switches below the stereo and the climate controls.

Stay Tuned!
 

Last edited by MMZ_TimeLord; 04-12-2011 at 08:13 PM.
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Old 04-12-2011, 08:05 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Thanks for putting all this up. I have been wanting to change the green forever (as with many others) very interested to see the x100. I have the x305 and while I would probably go blue everywhere and be set I could go green to match stock in the meantime.
 
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Old 04-17-2011, 12:17 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Here is the cluster with my new UV LEDs installed. I've also included a false color image below that better reflects real life as my camera does not pick up UV deep purple.



I'll be posting an article soon about what bulbs and or modifications were used for all these different color change projects... stay tuned!
 
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Old 04-17-2011, 06:24 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Gotta luv it!!
 
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Old 05-17-2011, 11:17 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

?. Could you not send out the stock gauge overlay to a aftermarket gauge supplier to custom an overlay in the colour of your choosing? ie: a glow gauge similar to a 300 or a stainless steel look. Amazing thread...can't wait to start the process!!
 
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Old 05-18-2011, 12:10 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Originally Posted by Weebeeste
?. Could you not send out the stock gauge overlay to a aftermarket gauge supplier to custom an overlay in the colour of your choosing? ie: a glow gauge similar to a 300 or a stainless steel look. Amazing thread...can't wait to start the process!!
I suppose you could, but simply sanding off the old color and either changing the bulb color or masking off and spraying a thin layer of new paint on is just as easy and WAY cheaper.
 
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Old 05-18-2011, 05:12 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

This is great, awesome work!
 
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Old 05-25-2011, 08:41 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Awesome write up, I actually bought a spare speedo months back just to experiment like this but never found the time until now. Thanks for doing the dirty work! A few questions if you don't mind.. Did the low fuel indicator ever light up? And what leds did you use? The one's I bought didn't work out so well

Thank you again for a great write up!

Chris
 
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Old 05-26-2011, 01:17 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Originally Posted by airborne82nddiv2003
Awesome write up, I actually bought a spare speedo months back just to experiment like this but never found the time until now. Thanks for doing the dirty work! A few questions if you don't mind.. Did the low fuel indicator ever light up? And what leds did you use? The one's I bought didn't work out so well

Thank you again for a great write up!

Chris
Chris,

The low fuel light did NOT in fact light up. I was disappointed. I'm sure I could tap the existing low fuel circuit and make the one on the gauge active again, but I have not tried yet.

I ended up with two bulbs types from SuperBrite LEDs website.

Code:
Qty  | Product / Options                        | Price/ea |
============================================================
   2 | WLED-xHP5: Wedge Base Bulb               |   $ 5.95 |
         WLED-UVHP5: UV-BlackLight
------------------------------------------------------------
   5 | B8-HP: B8-HP series Instrument LED bulb  |   $ 2.59 |
         B8.3D-UVHP: UV-BlackLight
The only issue I ran into was that the instrument bulbs are not the correct type for our sockets. I had to do some trimming of the bulb bases to get them to fit. But they were the only UV ones that matched.

Hope that helps.
 

Last edited by MMZ_TimeLord; 05-26-2011 at 01:26 PM.
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Old 05-26-2011, 09:53 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Originally Posted by MMZ_TimeLord
Chris,

The low fuel light did NOT in fact light up. I was disappointed. I'm sure I could tap the existing low fuel circuit and make the one on the gauge active again, but I have not tried yet.

I ended up with two bulbs types from SuperBrite LEDs website.

Code:
Qty  | Product / Options                        | Price/ea |
============================================================
   2 | WLED-xHP5: Wedge Base Bulb               |   $ 5.95 |
         WLED-UVHP5: UV-BlackLight
------------------------------------------------------------
   5 | B8-HP: B8-HP series Instrument LED bulb  |   $ 2.59 |
         B8.3D-UVHP: UV-BlackLight
The only issue I ran into was that the instrument bulbs are not the correct type for our sockets. I had to do some trimming of the bulb bases to get them to fit. But they were the only UV ones that matched.

Hope that helps.

Thank you, great info!
 
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Old 01-16-2012, 10:28 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

I couldnt figure out how to post pictures.. I was excited to show off my newly white gauges! Thank you MMZ for the thread. Because of this thread and the download of the service manual I successfully accomplished what was expressed in these posts! As mentioned in this post, what LEDs will work best behind the gauge cluster? I have bright white LED radio lights as well as my map lights and cargo lights.
 
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Old 01-27-2012, 02:40 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

awesome HOW TO... only question.. how long did this take to get apart, sand and put together?
 
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Old 05-07-2012, 03:08 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

WOW great thread..... Have any of you thought of just comepletly replacing our gauges with the new Chrysler 300 gauges? I think they look sick as &*^% and would love them in my car, I just dont know how hard it would be to achomplish
 
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Old 05-08-2012, 10:01 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

very nice work mmz
 
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Old 06-07-2012, 11:51 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

just been looking at this with great interest - could you please advise how long the dis/assembly took? While I wish I had the skill to do this I'm realistic and KNOW that I WOULD break something (probably many things tbh!!!). Soooo the plan is to get my local garage (whom I've used for about 10 years now) to do all the work for me - just need to tell them roughly how long it may take
 
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Old 06-08-2012, 04:16 PM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

When doing the LED's unless your a machine when your doing this, it will take a few days. I have had to balance working on this and going to work so its been 4 days so far. And you are working with some really small peices that can break easily. Also go to Radio Shack and get their Desoldering Iron, it makes it alot easier.
 

Last edited by Trenzman; 06-08-2012 at 04:19 PM.
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Old 07-11-2012, 03:35 PM
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Default

Originally Posted by MMZ_TimeLord
Chris,

The low fuel light did NOT in fact light up. I was disappointed. I'm sure I could tap the existing low fuel circuit and make the one on the gauge active again, but I have not tried yet.

I ended up with two bulbs types from SuperBrite LEDs website.

Code:
Qty  | Product / Options                        | Price/ea |
============================================================
   2 | WLED-xHP5: Wedge Base Bulb               |   $ 5.95 |
         WLED-UVHP5: UV-BlackLight
------------------------------------------------------------
   5 | B8-HP: B8-HP series Instrument LED bulb  |   $ 2.59 |
         B8.3D-UVHP: UV-BlackLight
The only issue I ran into was that the instrument bulbs are not the correct type for our sockets. I had to do some trimming of the bulb bases to get them to fit. But they were the only UV ones that matched.

Hope that helps.

B8.3d don't fit right I order one of them and got 4 b8.4d they fit perfectly in place like oem And for others who don't wanna spend to much one LEDs on eBay u can get t10 LEDs for $10 shipped
 
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Old 08-20-2012, 02:58 PM
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Default Re: How to replace dash light?

Hi;
Simple question/answer I hope. One, maybe two lights are burned out on my dash panel; the one between the fuel gauge and speedo. Unusual, I know, but annoying at night.
...so how does one access those lights? I don't want to "pull" on something and break it....does the facia just come off with a tug, for I see no screws to undo to allow access to changing one/two bulbs.
Thanks,
Brendan
 
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Old 03-28-2013, 01:50 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

Check this video out as it has a good method showing for replacing the dash light.
 
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Old 03-28-2013, 09:03 AM
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Default Re: How to recolor your gauges! (lots of pictures)

MMZ,

Awesome job and excellent pictures (very nice)!. Thanks for posting.
 


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