LED instrument replacement lights

[sinlessgunner]

Hi guys,

When I seen the pics of Colms FTO I had to have those blue light up panels ie speedometer, rev counter, aircon, etc. Now I've found a place that sells the LEDs but I need the sizes but me......not a clue and don't want to take the orginal ones out until I have the replacements. Also, is it a big job to install the new ones? Will I need anything else to do it or will just the new LEDs be enough? Any tips or suggestions mucho appreciated.

[paul2508]

Hi guys,

When I seen the pics of Colms FTO I had to have those blue light up panels ie speedometer, rev counter, aircon, etc. Now I've found a place that sells the LEDs but I need the sizes but me......not a clue and don't want to take the orginal ones out until I have the replacements. Also, is it a big job to install the new ones? Will I need anything else to do it or will just the new LEDs be enough? Any tips or suggestions mucho appreciated.

so where is this place. you gonna share it with us

[sinlessgunner]

yeah it's called Ashgrove Interparts Ltd. It's on Kill Avenue, just outside Dun Laoghaire. It's actually a really good place they sell all that type of stuff thats hard to find. I found the place today!!

[colm_mcm]

direct replacement LED's won't do the job, you need to get individual LED's set into each individual button, and wire them independantly. the problem with LED's is that they only shine straight out, they don't spread the light around like a bulb does, anyone that replaced speedo bulbs with LED's will tell you that.

I got mine in Halfords by the way. €7.99 for 4. steep for LED's but they're attached to wires which is handy.


Also my dials have replacement faces and aren't lit by LED's. (apart from the vacuum and oil temp where the ashtray was) - tried LED's but they're rubbish for dials.

[sinlessgunner]

Ah I don't really mind about the price. This place is quite cheap too. I got a Mitsubishi to ISO converter there today for less than €10. Halfords can be quite expensive anyway. What size LEDs will I need? Or what models/types did you use? I know about the thing with putting the lights at an angle for optimum lighting etc. Are they hard to put in?

[djabie]

Hi
You are in for a world of stress if you replace them with leds. I should know i spent over £50 on leds and coulnt get the right effect.
The leds are too dull and give off a patchy light which looks bad.
I when for the easy option and put in white reverse plasma glow dials loads on the market to chose from ranging from £40 to £60.
If yo wana go down the led road then read on...
There are 5 bulbs in the dashboard cluster 5mm push and twist type.
The bulbs can be seperated from the holders so just push in your new leds to the exsisting holders( bit fiddly but easy enough).
Same bulb in your clock just replace as dashboard 5mm
The voltmeter has a 10mm bulb bit harder to get but easy to replace
The aircon unit is a different story they are a nightmare.
These bulbs can bet got off the ftooc uk shop for around £9 quid.
So once you have pulled half your dashboard and center consel out for the 10th time i think you will wish you had bought glow dials
good luck

[steelroe]

You need to use ultra bright LED's with the correct resistor. Led also need to widest angle possible to spread light. Diff rated resistors will give you different levels of lighting. You can also buy the led's with resistor already fitted.

[sinlessgunner]

Sounds like I might have a bit of a job ahead of me so. I've left it so that I have access to the lights now at the minute. Going to try this out tomorrow so wish me luck!! Oh and by the way, can anyone tell me can I just get direct replacements for the lights already in? The twisting things attached? Do I only have the options of LEDs or replacement dials?

[TopCat]

Not sure how much this will help, but I’m putting in part of the conversion you are on about. Most of my dials were red when I bought the car, and just doing the Aircon unit myself at the moment to complete the effect. As the guys mentioned, you can get a set of bulbs (not LEDs) for this area off FTOOC, and I have a sent on order. 6 in total, 4 for the aircon unit and I think one each for the voltmeter and clock. I have them ordered, so if you like I’ll post pics when they’re fitted. In the meantime, I had some LEDs about and was messing with them last night. As was said, the lighting effect is very poor, so I’m just waiting for my bulbs to arrive. Here is the link to the bulbs on FTOOC, and they come with the plastic base, so very easy to fit.

http://www.ftoshop.co.uk/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=90

If you can, post some pics, would like to see how you get on. Good Luck with it.

[sinlessgunner]

Ok some progress made. The place didn't have LEDs in the end.....the guy at the counter the other day didn't know what he was talking about!!! Anyway, they did have some blue replacement bulbs for the dash. The wattage was a bit lower than the originals but its dood enough for now. It's blue haha! They also had one for the voltmeter but the clock and air con are still white. Now a question. Is there another way of making them blue?? I was wondering 2 things.

1.) Can i paint a bulb blue or use a permanent marker? Could this be dangerous? Or could it, for want of a better expression, look crap??

2.) Could I put some sort of light blue plastic behind the unit and in front of the lights? Again same questions as above for the effects of this.....

[colm_mcm]

a blue bulb just won't be blue enough. the standard bulbs are coloured too.

[sinlessgunner]

Well I put them in and they're pretty decent they're bright enough. Fair enough could be much brighter but they'll do for now. Think I might buy those replacement dials though seen them there. They're expensive enough though!! Are the lights on the FTOOC site worth getting for the aircon?

[djabie]

The ftooc aircon lights are well worth getting they are nice and bright.
The only problem is they wil maybe make your dashoard lights a bit dull and also in the ftooc bulb pack you dont get a bulb for the voltmeter
only the aircon unit and clock.

[Sebastian]

The ftooc aircon lights are well worth getting they are nice and bright.
The only problem is they wil maybe make your dashoard lights a bit dull and also in the ftooc bulb pack you dont get a bulb for the voltmeter
only the aircon unit and clock.

do you have them fitted?

any pics?>

[MY-JAP-MISTRESS]

i bought direct replacement led`s fot my air con and they look sweet as f*&k lol just plug them in no worries

[sinlessgunner]

where did you get them?? I cant get the ones on the net because I don't have a paypal account or credit card for that matter!!

[MY-JAP-MISTRESS]

off the ftooc they only £8. if you have the EL dials you dont need the ones for the voltmeter or the clock. i didnt use the ones for the aircon display

[sinlessgunner]

bought the LEDs in Halfords with the wires attached. Now the question is what do I do? Is soldering the only option? Or is there a way to get them on without?