Prelude13
10-29-2007, 07:31 PM
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/newred4a.jpg
Okay, tired of your boring green/blueish gauge cluster lights? Here's my tutorial on how to red-out your gauge cluster :smile:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redness1123.jpg
Materials Needed:
-Autometer gauge bulb covers at www.summitracing.com part #3214
-Testors hobby paint (your choice in color)
-Divider paper/Transparent paper(your choice in color)
-Scissors
-Nail polish remover(optional for part II)
First, refer to Mustardcats site for this writeup: http://mustardcat.brinkster.net/p3g/Interior/InteriorLights/index.htm
He did this to his 88-89 Prelude, whereas i did this to my 90-91 cluster, both having different cluster bulbs and layout.
Step 1. Go to the 3rd gen resource guide sticky and download the manual (http://www.preludezone.com/showthread.php?t=1112) on how to remove your gauge cluster.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg2.jpg
Step 2. Visit http://www.summitracing.com/ and purchase Autometer part #3214. These are aftermarket gauge bulb covers. They sell these in different colors, which ultimately is your choice. Notice that in Dave's(Mustardcats) writeup he tells you to paint the bulbs, we're not going to do that b/c they are going to fade and you must repaint them after a while.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg3.jpg?t=1193701536
Step 3. Go to your local Staples or stationary store and purchase a sheet of transparent paper; transparent paper for overhead projectors is great. Again, you can choose any color you wish, but stick with one theme.
Okay, notice the difference in gauge clusters:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg4.jpg
L-90 R-89
The 88-89 cluster holds 4 bulbs that light up the faces of the gauges whereas the 90-91 only uses 3 and 2 smaller ones that light up the temperature/fuel gauge.
Remove these bulbs and carefully peel off the blue covering that is on the bulbs. They are old and will crack off as in the pic above.
Now, for the 2 smaller bulbs(90-91) here's where it becomes a bit tricky. Purchase a tin of Testors candy apple red paint(at any Hobby store) and coat the 2 smaller bulbs as the Autometer bulb covers are too big for them. See pic below:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg5.jpg
L-Painted temp/fuel bulb R-Original blue cover
Step 4.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert3.jpg
This is where the transparent paper, or binder dividing paper is needed.
The main source of the cluster light is from above. There is a bar that you remove that has 2 small bulbs. Dave suggest you paint them, I do not.
Cut a piece of the transparent paper and fit it as shown:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert1.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert2.jpg
Now after many trial and errors, i've used two sheets of the transparent paper(divider paper) because the red wasn't red enough for me. I ultimately ended up painting 1 layer with the Testors paint and leaving one layer plain to get the desired effect of my red.
After you've done this, recheck all of your bulbs and connect the gauge cluster back...you dont have to install the cluster back fully, you can plug the harness in and check your work if you want to add another sheet or keep a single layer...
The outcome should look like this:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert4.jpg
Pretty nice huh? :smile:
PART II
Now you want to complete your buttons, ie. Gauge surround buttons, climate control buttons ~ refer to Dave's site again: http://mustardcat.brinkster.net/p3g/Interior/InteriorLights/tut3/tut3.htm
Step 1.
Let's tackle the climate control buttons.
Remove these by simply prying them off with a flat head screwdriver, PLEASE be gentle.
Next, take nail polish remover and dab some on a paper towel and carefully rub off the back of each button so that the blue is faded....DO NOT OVERDUE THIS OR YOU WILL REMOVE THE ACTUAL FACE OF THE BUTTONS
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert6.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red8.jpg
I overdid one button and removed the face
Step 2.
Now, with the leftover transparent paper/divider paper, cut a single layer and coat it with the Testors hobby paint that you used to paint the small bulbs:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red7.jpg
Let it dry fully. After they are, cut them in small pieces so that they fit behind the climate control buttons(they do not have to fit snugly or else they wont pop back in:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red6.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red5.jpg
Result:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red3.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red2.jpg
As you can see, the defroster button was the one i overdid it with the nail polish remover :sick: You can take the extra step and physically remove the entire climate control unit as in Dave's tutorial, but at that time i wanted a little contrast with my then Alpine deck...
Step 3.
Let's continue with the gauge cluster surround buttons.
The same method is used here as we did in step 2. BUT PLEASE be careful and remove these buttons with extreme caution. The moonroof button is spring loaded and can easily pop out and become lost...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/newred2a.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/newred3a.jpg
:smile:
Step 4(optional)
As seen above, you can tell that the cigarette lighter and ash tray are now also lit red. This is simple.
All you have to do is remove the ash tray and coat the small bulb that lights up the tray with the Testors hobby paint. The same goes for the lighter, which is clearly located when you remove the center panel.
I've done this mod over 1 year ago and my lights still shine lovely.
I hope you enjoy this mod! :smile:
Okay, tired of your boring green/blueish gauge cluster lights? Here's my tutorial on how to red-out your gauge cluster :smile:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redness1123.jpg
Materials Needed:
-Autometer gauge bulb covers at www.summitracing.com part #3214
-Testors hobby paint (your choice in color)
-Divider paper/Transparent paper(your choice in color)
-Scissors
-Nail polish remover(optional for part II)
First, refer to Mustardcats site for this writeup: http://mustardcat.brinkster.net/p3g/Interior/InteriorLights/index.htm
He did this to his 88-89 Prelude, whereas i did this to my 90-91 cluster, both having different cluster bulbs and layout.
Step 1. Go to the 3rd gen resource guide sticky and download the manual (http://www.preludezone.com/showthread.php?t=1112) on how to remove your gauge cluster.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg2.jpg
Step 2. Visit http://www.summitracing.com/ and purchase Autometer part #3214. These are aftermarket gauge bulb covers. They sell these in different colors, which ultimately is your choice. Notice that in Dave's(Mustardcats) writeup he tells you to paint the bulbs, we're not going to do that b/c they are going to fade and you must repaint them after a while.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg3.jpg?t=1193701536
Step 3. Go to your local Staples or stationary store and purchase a sheet of transparent paper; transparent paper for overhead projectors is great. Again, you can choose any color you wish, but stick with one theme.
Okay, notice the difference in gauge clusters:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg4.jpg
L-90 R-89
The 88-89 cluster holds 4 bulbs that light up the faces of the gauges whereas the 90-91 only uses 3 and 2 smaller ones that light up the temperature/fuel gauge.
Remove these bulbs and carefully peel off the blue covering that is on the bulbs. They are old and will crack off as in the pic above.
Now, for the 2 smaller bulbs(90-91) here's where it becomes a bit tricky. Purchase a tin of Testors candy apple red paint(at any Hobby store) and coat the 2 smaller bulbs as the Autometer bulb covers are too big for them. See pic below:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/redg5.jpg
L-Painted temp/fuel bulb R-Original blue cover
Step 4.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert3.jpg
This is where the transparent paper, or binder dividing paper is needed.
The main source of the cluster light is from above. There is a bar that you remove that has 2 small bulbs. Dave suggest you paint them, I do not.
Cut a piece of the transparent paper and fit it as shown:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert1.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert2.jpg
Now after many trial and errors, i've used two sheets of the transparent paper(divider paper) because the red wasn't red enough for me. I ultimately ended up painting 1 layer with the Testors paint and leaving one layer plain to get the desired effect of my red.
After you've done this, recheck all of your bulbs and connect the gauge cluster back...you dont have to install the cluster back fully, you can plug the harness in and check your work if you want to add another sheet or keep a single layer...
The outcome should look like this:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert4.jpg
Pretty nice huh? :smile:
PART II
Now you want to complete your buttons, ie. Gauge surround buttons, climate control buttons ~ refer to Dave's site again: http://mustardcat.brinkster.net/p3g/Interior/InteriorLights/tut3/tut3.htm
Step 1.
Let's tackle the climate control buttons.
Remove these by simply prying them off with a flat head screwdriver, PLEASE be gentle.
Next, take nail polish remover and dab some on a paper towel and carefully rub off the back of each button so that the blue is faded....DO NOT OVERDUE THIS OR YOU WILL REMOVE THE ACTUAL FACE OF THE BUTTONS
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/gert6.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red8.jpg
I overdid one button and removed the face
Step 2.
Now, with the leftover transparent paper/divider paper, cut a single layer and coat it with the Testors hobby paint that you used to paint the small bulbs:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red7.jpg
Let it dry fully. After they are, cut them in small pieces so that they fit behind the climate control buttons(they do not have to fit snugly or else they wont pop back in:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red6.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red5.jpg
Result:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red3.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/red2.jpg
As you can see, the defroster button was the one i overdid it with the nail polish remover :sick: You can take the extra step and physically remove the entire climate control unit as in Dave's tutorial, but at that time i wanted a little contrast with my then Alpine deck...
Step 3.
Let's continue with the gauge cluster surround buttons.
The same method is used here as we did in step 2. BUT PLEASE be careful and remove these buttons with extreme caution. The moonroof button is spring loaded and can easily pop out and become lost...
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/newred2a.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a329/Bpark13/newred3a.jpg
:smile:
Step 4(optional)
As seen above, you can tell that the cigarette lighter and ash tray are now also lit red. This is simple.
All you have to do is remove the ash tray and coat the small bulb that lights up the tray with the Testors hobby paint. The same goes for the lighter, which is clearly located when you remove the center panel.
I've done this mod over 1 year ago and my lights still shine lovely.
I hope you enjoy this mod! :smile: