Dash Light Switchover...

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 6:30 am

I think I wanna switch out my dash lights from green for another less early 90's color. I'd probably do red, but blue is going to be the accent color around my car, so I figured that'd be the way to go. Has anyone ever done this?

If so, what lights did you use?

Dr Nick · Post by **Dr Nick** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 7:49 am

I haven't done it, but I know you can buy blue dash bulbs for GM cars.

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 10:56 am

Shouldn't be THAT difficult to find out what bulbs are in there. In fact, if you go to shucks and look in the Sylvania book for bulb applications, it might even list the bulbs for the dash lights.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 3:17 pm

Let us know how it goes k? I want to change mine to red, but i'm too afraid that itll end up looking brown

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:21 pm

OK.... Update of sorts. I got my dash all apart(will be posting a "how to" eventually. I can't get the climate control module thingy out, though i think with some friendly force it will eventually come. I also got my guage cluster all apart. The clear plastic's off, and that makes me nervous messing around with it. I cant find evidence of any bulbs chillin in there, but there's gotta be something illuminating it... Has anyone had thier cluster apart, or has an extra one they can mess with?

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:04 am

Yeah needless to say be careful with that plastic off your guages, I messed up a speedo one time with the plastic off, it actually went below 0 mph when you went into reverse, kinda funny actually

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 12:15 am

bahahahahahah! Got the lights out of the guage cluster, got the cc pod out, the temperature cable was what was holdin it in. I cant get it apart though. I'll take it to work for an evening project(very few customers at night)

I cant drive my car there though.

Gotta take our hoopty truck.

the speedo doesnt work.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:54 am

UPDATE:

Got a few bulbs to play around with colors.... Stupid poor subaru planning. I've been painting over with nail polish to try and get an idea of colors.

Dark red=pink
bright red=light pink
dark blue=dark green
bright blue=stock green
clear=stock green
bright purple=yellow-y white. Go figure.
Any suggestions?

I think I may resort to the purple bulb approach. That is, if I can find any high temp spray the right color.

I also dropped one of the bulb holder mounts into my dash, so I'll be making a trip to subaru tomorrow afternoon.

The climate control hoopla. Oh my! I spent the better part of 3 hours prodding at that sucker. Finally got it off. I have photos. I'm going to need 2 new bulbs for that, and 7 blue or red LED's to replace the green ones that turn on when you select a vent option, and someone to teach me how to solder.

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:57 am

Did some soldering on Jeff'z car today. . .. bring that ish up north if you're out of options.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:58 am

providing jeff gets NOWHERE near my car, I may just do that. Though i'd have to do it during the afternoon....

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 4:27 pm

When you look at the cluster and the buttons and stuff, are they tinted green? If not how about going to a local arts and crafts store, and picking up some of that paper that is sort of see through but not completely, not tissue paper but a little bit thicker, I cant think of the name right now. I used that on my last car to change from green to red, it worked and looked pretty red but wasnt that bright. I'm sure a brighter bulb back there would've worked and made it look really good, but I didn't feel like goin through the trouble of getting one. How long did it take you to get all that stuff off and were there anytimes when you thought you were going to break anything?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 6:55 pm

How is the brightness after applying the color? Do you have to turn it up a click?

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:18 pm

Okay... Goodness. I broke my temp gauge off.

Got the tach off. The plastic itself is sort of a greenish color. I think if i get a bright enough blue led, and have my friend hook that up where the bulb is supposed to be, we can make it work. when i shined my red led keychain thing through it wasnt bright enough.

I'm off to the yard for a new temp gauge, and to subaru for a light socket, and perhaps some advice. They dont make aftermarket gauges for the b1 legacies, do they?

ciper · Post by **ciper** » Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:31 pm

Aftermarket faces yeah. If you dont find one you should ask in the parts forum, there are at least three legacy being parted out.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 6:45 am

Okay, so the LED plan is a no go. There's not enough room to fit an led and capacitor in that mount. Also, the nail polish that i used as a test burnt off on my way home tonight, so I gotta find a high temp stained glass paint. Any suggestions?

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 8:11 am

what about engine enamel? or vinyl dye?

LegacyPunk · Post by **LegacyPunk** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:19 am

http://www.procarparts.com

They sell a White guage face for our cars, it lights up blue or green indiglo, i put blue bulbs in my dash but somehow they all faded back to green.

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 9:12 am

LegacyPunk555 wrote:http://www.procarparts.com

They sell a White guage face for our cars, it lights up blue or green indiglo, i put blue bulbs in my dash but somehow they all faded back to green.

Oh damn. . . this sounds like the best solution, yet. You have any info on a place that sells th is?

JasonGrahn · Post by **JasonGrahn** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 7:58 pm

The whole white face is a little too *blingbling* for me. Though i do like the look it has at night.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 10:29 pm

Yes I really don't like the white look of it. It just wouldn't fit, plus i dont like those light blue circles on the inside, I say just go witht he stock guages and try to change the colors

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 1:18 am

Guys. . . I think Laurel is going to be VERY excited about this.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 4:11 am

its quite bling-bling, but i'm so fed up with this business(best i've done so far is pink) that I think a bit of "customizing" of this white face may do the trick.

If i cut out a circle in my stock black over-thingy around the temp and fuel gauges, i think it may look okay. I ordered one at any rate. lol.

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 4:13 am

SWEET!

Personally, I don't think it'll be bad at all. At any rate, it'll match the Pioneer deck you're putting in there after a while.

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 4:40 am

Here's the current gauge situation. Now they dont actually look like that. The blue color is just something my camera made up. They actual color that shows through is that pale pink...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sra ... 06031c.jpg

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 4:43 am

These reverse EL gauges. . . . 100x better, Laurel.

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Dash Light Switchover...

Dash Light Switchover...