How to change the color of a 5th gen's gauge cluster

[Oceanborn]

Alright, I've heard many people ask how, so here you go!

Here's what you'll need:

A short Phillips head screw driver
A long Phillips head screw driver
A flat head screw driver
4 T1.5 Gauge Lights (I got LED T1.5s from Superbrightleds.com, but you can also order colored incandecent bulbs... You might want to try them because I think they will spread the lgiht better.)

http://i1.tinypic.com/8b9mr6d.jpg


<(STEP 1)>
Remove the trim around the Gauge cluster, There are two screws up top and two clips at the bottom. Use the short phiilps head for the screws then use your flat head to pop the clips.

http://i17.tinypic.com/713rd38.jpg

<(STEP 2)>
After you've removed the trim piece, there are four screws you must remove. Two up top and two near the bottom corners of the gauge cluster.

http://i8.tinypic.com/6ly1eeo.jpg

<(STEP 3)>
Now you must pull the gauge cluster out just enough where you can undo the 4 wires out of the back. There is a white one on the left side, 2 Blue clips on the top and one more green one right in the middle of the back.

http://i3.tinypic.com/80yyp0p.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/6xb4g07.jpg

<(STEP 4)>
Remove the 4 bulbs that are circled in red.

http://i2.tinypic.com/81sm8m8.jpg

Then replace them with your new bulbs, they should look something like this

http://i4.tinypic.com/6wqh9xi.jpg

<(STEP 5)>
Once you have replaced the bulbs, plug all 4 clips back into the guage cluster then turn your parking lights on. Most of you will do this in the day so bring a thick quilt out to your lude. The point of the quilt is to block all the light so you can check and see if all your bulbs are lit. So cover yourself and the gauges and check, you should see light on all 4 gauge faces. If some didn't light then unclip your gauge again and rotate whichever bulb didn't light 180 Degrees. These bulbs must face the right direction for them to light. Once you've rotated any that didn't work plug it back in and check it again. They should be lit.

Reinstall your gauges and trim in reverse order and your done!

http://i3.tinypic.com/73139lf.jpg
(You can see what I mean, the LEDs work well but the light spread isn't completely even.)

Hope this helps anyone who was thinking about doing this!


EDIT: Here are links to two places to order T1.5 Bulbs.

This is a great site for car LEDs but like I said, the T1.5s don't spread light very well.
http://superbrightleds.com/mini-wedge.html
(All the way at the bottom)

I've also bought products from this site, they have a better selection of T1.5s but you will need to buy the twist and lock bases they have on the page.
http://autolumination.com/74.htm

[thomas97]

nice write up! i was curious about this too

[Brash22]

This is gonna sound stupid, so I"ll say it first:

Isn't the clear bit that the light shines through tinted orange? And if that's the case how does it effect the use of a different colour?

Great write up, easy to follow which is what we like.

[ogsmakdade]

nice write up. I think I wouldn't use the LED's though. I like even light.

::thumbs up::

[mizlude]

Nice man looks good. I might have to switch up the color on my 4tg gen with those bulbs ( not the leds ). And to brash go put any color light bulbs behind your amber blinkers and it will show up ( all but blue )

[Oceanborn]

I agree, the LEDs don't work that well, I'm ordering some incandescents soon and I'll use the LEDs in my climate control (Write up coming soon!)

[edge2lyfe]

It's a good write-up and I'm surprised the orange needles didn't affect how the green shines thru them...nice.

[vabapesta]

where u get the incandescents from?

[Oceanborn]

where u get the incandescents from?

http://autolumination.com/74.htm

[vabapesta]

which bulb is the right one for 5th gen?

[Oceanborn]

The first three, just don't forget you have to get a twist and lock base for each of them.

[ninety3lude]

do 5th gen and 4th gen(non el) gauges have the same size lights? what bulbs do you use for climate control?

[vabapesta]

any body have good even results from using the incandescants?

[Poppet182]

Which incandescents will work in the 5th gen cluster?

[Oceanborn]

http://autolumination.com/74.htm

The fourth bulb on that page. I think it's called a #74 Wedge base or something.

[Poppet182]

I agree, the LEDs don't work that well, I'm ordering some incandescents soon and I'll use the LEDs in my climate control (Write up coming soon!)

I would be all for changing the climate control colours too. Hope to see your write up man.

[prelude24]

so wait.........which light do you RECOMAND so that the light is spread evenly and when is the climate control write up hapening cuz i wanna do it all at the same time :)

[Oceanborn]

I would recommend incandescents for all gauges... And I'm actually just about to order the other bulbs I need for the Climate Control... Give me like two weeks at the most.

*Edit*
I'm also going to doing a write up on changing the cruise control/sunroof bulbs. Look for that about the same time.

[prelude24]

can u post the pics of how the actual lightbulb looks? i dont want to buy the wrong ones lol

[Oceanborn]

For the gauge cluster or the climate control?

[prelude24]

both lol....becuase i plan on making it all Blue

[Oceanborn]

I'll make a complete list of what you need for both, just give me like two more days for all my lights to get here and make sure I have the right ones :P

[prelude24]

i went to NAPPA and some other performance stores and they only have stock blulbs, none of them had blue ones like i want so i have to buy them online. I dont want to order the wrong ones so thats why im askin for like a direct link to the ones i need or a pic....thx alot

[Oceanborn]

Yeah, your gonna have to hold on because all my LEDs got here today and I need to do some more reserch about the climate control.

[prelude24]

yea man ima order them right when i know exactly which ones, so jus let me know

[inmate]

thank you soo much man

[mckillio]

Has anyone tried blue bulbs for this yet? If so, do you have a picture? I would prefer blue but if the needles look weird then I'll probably just go with white. Also, do you think that blue LEDs would show up better than the green ones?

[Oceanborn]

Blue should be fine. It will be a little more evenly spread than the green. But white would be the best for brightness and spread.

[snakerb]

Nice thread, think I'll get that done the the girly...

[mckillio]

Alright, I'll test it out and get some pictures up when I get it done.

[mckillio]

Does anyone know if the T1.5's are used for the cruise/sun roof and the climate control as well. How many bulbs go in each?

I got cool white LED's for my map lights as well as the courtesy lights and they are amazing, incredibly bright and incredibly clear. They accidentally sent me red ones for the dome, trunk, and license plate lights. (I went with a wider angle bulb for these)

[Oceanborn]

Here you go, when I ordered more LEDs to do my climate control, I did my buttons too, I just never got around to the write up... so here you go!

http://preludezone.com/showthread.php?p=142087#post142087

[mckillio]

I just got done doing this mod. I did want to mention though, when removing the trim piece lower your steering wheel, it makes it a lot easier.

http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos4994/3/27/36/74/83/5/583743627306_0_ALB.jpg

[mckillio]

Also, I used different LED's then Oceanborn. I used the ones from the top of this page http://autolumination.com/74.htm "The Widest, 3x Brightest and Best #74 Leds Ever Made!" They are much brighter and spread the light much better as well.

[Oceanborn]

I'm glad to hear that those work... I was being cheap as I wasn't positive if it would work. :biggrin:

[MNLuder]

Noob Question. If you keep the stock bulbs they still will work if you put them back in right?

[Oceanborn]

Yessir, that wont be a problem.

[MNLuder]

Thanks. I'm thinking about doing this either blue or white. Just worried it would look craptastic and I'd be stuck. Any pics of blue or white?

[98BB6SH]

great write up. LED's are the way to go for this mod!

[h22red]

do these bulbs work?
http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/74_3led_r_wm.jpg

[sightnsound]

Has anyone on here tried a white bulb replacement? My buddy has an 04? Accord and his gauge cluster has the numbers lit up in a hyper white and it looks pretty sick. Im just curious if anyone has tried white on their 5th gen.

[bdizzel124]

Nice write up. I wish i could do it to my 4th gen

[Oceanborn]

H22red, Yes those work and let me tell you, they work well.

[h22red]

I'll get them and post up pics

[omgosh!]

very tempted to do this mod ^__^ thanks for putting the DIY up! ill probably be doing it this weekend :D

[Oceanborn]

No problem, and I want to see pics :wink:

[omgosh!]

No problem, and I want to see pics :wink:

as soon as i get it done ^__^ im doing red hehe, i hope it looks nice. ps i like your signature!

[omgosh!]

blah cant get the first two screws off lol

[omgosh!]

yaya all done ^__^

[snakerb]

^^^ Post pics so we can see what it looks like.

[omgosh!]

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/576/s7000471yb8.jpg


maybe white would have been nicer :[

[98BB6SH]

omgosh, those red lights look sick. nice mod. how long did it take you?

[snakerb]

Yeah those are real nice omgosh, maybe I should try it but I think I'd want blue instead.

[omgosh!]

omgosh, those red lights look sick. nice mod. how long did it take you?

like 15 mins? :P the first screws had to be taken off with a star bit head not a regular screw driver.. and thanks!

[omgosh!]

Yeah those are real nice omgosh, maybe I should try it but I think I'd want blue instead.

i think blue would've been nice, red isnt really bright :[ i think i could have been fine with white also

[bass 1]

i think blue would've been nice, red isnt really bright :[ i think i could have been fine with white also


which type of bulbs did you use? Im thinking about getting the tri-power whites but its $21 for 4 bulbs and 4 twist bases

[Oceanborn]

DO IT!! The tri's are the best

[bass 1]

ok... well im convinced... i guess ill buy them :biggrin:

Im also going to get all the bulbs i need to convert the sunroof/ac controls/ cruise, and everythign else in the dash... ill be sure to post pics when im done

[Rpontious]

i have this done to mine in blue i will take some pictures tonight and post them on here
: )

[inmate]

Instead of ordering, can you buy at autozone?
Also you can put led or actual light bulb? What are the sizes and is the stock light a LED? What are the sizes to order?

[Oceanborn]

These bulbs can't be bought at an Advance Auto or Autozone. You can use an incandescent bulb instead of an LED, however, they don't give off near enough light. The sizes are in the original post.

[pfeifer30]

Which way does the led go into the twist and lock. I feel like im going to snap the led in half

[pfeifer30]

Scrap that the handi cap figured it out :biggrin:

[Hondamugen103]

lets se some pictures. I was just gonna tint the inside lens of the cluster, gas/temp, clock. and not sure about everything else.