(1)I am going to order gauge cluster lights from autolumination. i am trying to find the one that will give the most even and brightest light. i looked through the threads and it seems everyone says something like "i use the 5led one", etc. but there are so many different kinds. i read from one post that matrix bulbs are the best so i was gonna buy 3 of those. Is this the best for our gauges or should i go with an smt, superstar, etc.?(this is what autolumination calls them)

(2)i always wanted accent lights under the dash, trunk area(for subs), and possibly underseats if need be. my question is leds or neons tubes best for accent lighting? i was hoping leds would be bright enough, and if they are would the 5 led tubes be enough to give a decent look. i wanted these because they seem relatively cheap. can someone also tell me why these leds only have 2 wires? am i correct in assuming i need a manual swithc for these?

5 LED

Matrix LED

This post has been edited by captb: Nov 5, 2008 - 4:27 AM

anyone

I'd be interested in any replies as well.
I'm currently looking into changing ALL the lights in my interior, i.e., dash, ign ring, heater control, clock, etc.
I know for sure that there'll be some soldering to do on the heater control pcb.
Anyway, I'm sure someone on here did this a few years back...I'll have a hunt about.

I knew there was something somewhere....
Charlie97L did it - but I can't find a how to.
Defgeph did it - see This Thread
Otherwise...check out the How To sticky section.
HOW TO: LED Dash Conversion
HOW TO: Removing and Changing the LEDs in your Climate Control Unit
HOW TO: Color Change some Interior Lights

This post has been edited by 3TST: Oct 13, 2008 - 9:18 AM

>


use neon for accent lighting. led's give the spotted look, while neon gives an even glow. You could also use cold cathode tubes as an alternative.

matrix ones as per your link for the clusters. This is what my old blue setup looked like

thanks for the example. waiting for the gauge leds and neons to arrive. Anyone know how to hook up a 12v indicator light for my switches. just got a pair but dont want to make a new parallel line just for the indicator. am i right in assuming you cant put the indicator light in series with the neons.

ill just put the indicator light as a parrallel circuit. as for the gauge lights, installed them and they look awesome. (got the ultra white ones). really bright and i like the fact that you can still see all the reds/oranges/whites in the gauge cluster. this upgrade is my second favorite to the mario i have hanging from my mirror

>

Pics?

ill see wut i can do for you.....if i can figure how to post pics.

matrix led

toggle switch

interior

interior w/ flash

glow

trunk

trunk w/ flash

random picture i forgot i had, and yes that is my bike. the truck on the right is my co-workers and he hit it while reversing.


Let me know what you think. comments, ideas, suggestion, etc.
Thanks

note:
1. subs not mounted yet
2. car is dirty
3. didnt take picture of glow (front/rear seats) because it doesnt come out as bright in picture

Nice Ranger.

captb what leds did you use? do you have a link to the place where you bought them? I didn't see it I may have missed it if you already posted a link. That looks nice I want to do odm and needles in white and then get the reverse indiglo gauges.

This post has been edited by bmj67: Nov 5, 2008 - 9:11 PM

5led matrix
just scroll down and its there.

Dang, I like those gauges! I've tried getting mine white before, but turns out hust taking the bulb condom off of your factory bulbs just gets a urine yellow effect so I went with red bulbs. I'm definitely picking up some of those LED's when I get a chance. I had blue LED's before but they were kinda cheap and stopped working one me.

i use both, but im a freak when it comes to lights! i love them!

I used the 5led matrix LED's in my old Celica, wasn't patchy at all.

For under teh dash definately use neons, i have leds and they are very spotted.

Just a quick question.. Have any of you tried to just buy an aftermarket gauge I was thinking about doing that and wanted to know how it looked if you guys have done it.

Like the ones here

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/AC-Toyota-C...sQ5fAccessories

This post has been edited by Soldier_Side: Feb 2, 2009 - 5:50 PM

I have these (I think a bulb is out behind the tach, that's why the needle's so dark - but you can see it in real life) and I've been really happy with them. I used paint for glass that you can get at Michael's (or any crafts store) to paint my needles red. I'm using regular filament bulbs which I don't love, but the LEDs I had are almost too white and make the needles illuminate almost pinkish, which bugged me.

OH - and the numbers and stuff are blue, which didn't come out very well at all in this photo. But they're a really good blue.



This post has been edited by GriffGirl: Feb 3, 2009 - 3:33 PM

WOW thats just Awsome.

Great work.