Climate control LED conversion process (and write-up)

[importsnrice]

So I have that infamous 4th gen climate control problem so I had to take it out and re-solder it. When I had it out, I decided *expletive* it and just re-build the whole thing with LED's. My goal is to get rid of everything that light's up green on my car and change it to blue(already have blue gas/temp gauges, cluster, and VAFC). I'm planning on changing the 3 light bulbs which come on with running lights to hyperwhite LED's and the little green indicator light's to blue. I got the LED idea from an auction I saw on eBay with the blue indicator buttons.

http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/d2/f3/6549_1.JPG

*Note in this thread, I will be only giving a write-up on how to change the indicator light's. Everything else will be a link to another write-up,*



First off, you have to take out the climate control from the car. Here's the write-up I used *propz to hojemwod*

http://preludezone.com/showthread.php?t=6659
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p237/hojemwod/writup015.jpg
If your climate control is giving you problem's, re-solder these connections. If not, then continue on.



Now what I did was take the 3 bulb's that light up the climate control when the running lights are on and converted them to LED's.

http://www.ledautomotive.com/HowToGuides/97-01Prelude/ClimateHowTo.asp *propz to whoever wrote that*

Bulb vs. LED
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Pic-0017.jpg

Before:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Pic-0016.jpg

After:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Pic-0015.jpg


Now, what I did was take out the old LED's. There are 7 green ones and 1 orange one (for defroster). To do this,

I'll continue the write-up for the indicators in a bit when I get pic's up... Stay tuned!

[DJ Prelude]

good job man. keep this updated, im interested in this.

[Prelude_Ryd3r]

Likewise...I'm thinkin of doin blue lighting all around on the inside of my car, trunk included, this would be a nice touch.

[HondaNeedsBoost]

nice write up...


it shall be moved tho

[ChicagoRSX]

looks nice, going to have to think about doing this when I take mine apart to re-sodder it.

[importsnrice]

Well I still have the problem finding the blue 3mm LED's so I ordered em from Hong Kong or something like that. They should be here in about a week or 2 but I'll do a write-up on how to take the old LED's out.

There are 8 LED's (7 green and 1 orange) that have to be removed and replaced. Each one has it's own little housing that protects it and well, keeps it housed in lol.
Each housing has 4 clips and there is a little trick to get the housing and the LED's out.

First, take the housing and unclip one of the top corners of the housing:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture538.jpg

Then, take your solder iron and heat up the solder that is on the lead. When the solder is heated up, twist the housing gently so the lead pries out:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture539.jpg

Then, do the same with the other lead and wa-la, you have a LED out:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture540.jpg
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture541.jpg

Now go and do those 3 steps with the rest of the 7 housings.
Also, be careful to not burn the clips with the soldering iron when you're trying to heat the solder up.

What's good about the housing is that it has a + marking on it so you know which lead goes where when you're putting the LED's back in. Not sure if you can tell where it is in this pic:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture542.jpg

Now I'm not going to be doing the rest until my LED's come in but I'll do a demonstration of how to put the new one's in place in a bit! :cool:

[HondaNeedsBoost]

is that rolling rock i see?:cool:

also comin along nicely

[ChicagoRSX]

is that rolling rock i see?:cool:

also comin along nicely

lol aren't you below the drinking age boost? lol:friday:

[HondaNeedsBoost]

ya know...u didnt have to say anything

[thomas97]

dude hahahaha thats a panda express box not rolling rock, IDiOT

[importsnrice]

Haha Panda Express FTW!!! :-p

Still waiting on the LED's. If anyone wants me to finish this write-up, I could use the normal LED's to show you how to do it if you're gonna do a different color. Just LMK.

[importsnrice]

Got the LED's in today! :) The fitment was an issue because these came with the little round surface that sticks out a bit. To fix that, I took my wire cutters and trimmed it and it fit in perfectly.

LED:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture571.jpg

Trimming:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/LEDtrim.jpg

Fitment:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Picture572.jpg

I'm going to solder tomorrow cause I'm tired and got a major headache so I'll post up a write up on how to finish everything tomorrow.


BTW, if you need blue LED's, just give me a PM. I got some extra's.

[importsnrice]

Me and Ross tried it out today and it came out amazing! The blue LED's are so bright!

Running lights:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Pic-0010-2.jpg

Running lights w/ buttons pressed (BRIGHT! B)):
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h289/importsnrice/Pic-0009-3.jpg


I loved how they came out. I wish the LED's weren't so bright but it came out nice. I'm gonna try the sanding trick. I'm also glad I did the Bulb to LED conversion. It gives the climate control a nice smooth neon look.

[bass 1]

wow looks great! SO BRIGHT!

Glad to know when mine come in the mail, it'll work!

[clere]

I have an autometer cobalt tach so the bright blue is not an issue :D

[clere]

Just did this yesterday. Resoldered the board and bam, my electronic vent mover guys work again :D So I'll have to see if my rear defrost will actually work now. I will have time to test that this week when it gets stupid and cold again after a 75 degree weekend lol.

Looks awesome though. Was a pain in the ass. We blew a few LED's when we used a drill battery to test each one after it was done and accidently touched wrong sides since its such a small bastard lol.

[hojemwod]

Just did this yesterday. Resoldered the board and bam, my electronic vent mover guys work again :D So I'll have to see if my rear defrost will actually work now. I will have time to test that this week when it gets stupid and cold again after a 75 degree weekend lol.

Looks awesome though. Was a pain in the ass. We blew a few LED's when we used a drill battery to test each one after it was done and accidently touched wrong sides since its such a small bastard lol.

your rear defrost should work if the light comes on and sometimes you can hear the relay click when you press the button. you can also put your hand on the rear window and feel if it gets warm

[starbai]

are there any DIY's on how to change the EL guages to blue? is it possible?

[hojemwod]

are there any DIY's on how to change the EL guages to blue? is it possible?

im sure its possible but is it wise? probably not. i wouldnt mess around inside those guages too much lol

[DrZoidberg]

scratch that. bought the solderless led's from the earlier stated website.

[inmate]

http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/d2/f3/6549_1.JPG

Quick noob question: what exacly is the function of that button with the car symbol. Refresh the air?

[hojemwod]

http://i16.ebayimg.com/01/i/000/d2/f3/6549_1.JPG

Quick noob question: what exacly is the function of that button with the car symbol. Refresh the air?

that lets you choose if you want the air to be recirculated or brought in from the outside

[DrZoidberg]

did it with led automotive non-soldering led's. took like 2 hours of not knowing what i was doing. but looks good