Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to!

ThorRacing01 · 11-07-2005, 07:45 PM

hey watrboy821 what leds did you use?? link please

monkeydude3602000 · 11-07-2005, 08:24 PM

Ok questions about the 1st gen guages.

1. Will the 5 bulbes light up all guages not including idiot lights.
2. I will have to do no soldering just replacing the guage bulbs correct?
3. Will red look funny with that blue thing under the needle?
4. Since I am going with red will the needle be close to red? Or jus bright orange?
5. How do you get a 1st generation cluster out?

Sorry about all the questions but I am a total noob at this.

Watrboy821 · 11-08-2005, 11:52 AM

I used the 5s on the small gauges and a 6 on the tach and speedo. I think 5s all around would work better though. I did my hvac too but i have to redo them with different colors now. I got mine at superbrightleds.com.
this is a 5:

this is a 6:

Watrboy821 · 11-08-2005, 11:53 AM

oh and the tabs that you have to pull out of the bulbs are a pain in the ass, they cut my fingers.

monkeydude3602000 · 11-08-2005, 04:58 PM

That somewhat explained it but I still dont know how to get the cluster out...

Watrboy821 · 11-08-2005, 06:15 PM

for a 94-97: Unbolt all the black pieces under the dash and drop them, now unbolt the piece right under the steering column and then go in the ashtray/change thing and there is a bolt in the top left corner to take out. Now take the 2 screws out in the black piece in front of the gauges. Then take the two 15mm bolts holding the steering column up off and let it rest on the seat. Now pop the bezel off and there will be five bolts holding a white thing on around the gauges, take those out and the gauge cluster will pop out. Take the 5 big bulbs out and replace them. reverse to reinstall.

monkeydude3602000 · 11-08-2005, 06:31 PM

I have a 93' 1st Gen. I know about the new ones but no one has told how to take out the cluster on a 1st gen.

Watrboy821 · 11-08-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by monkeydude3602000

I have a 93' 1st Gen. I know about the new ones but no one has told how to take out the cluster on a 1st gen.

sorry about that, wish i could help you out. you questioned if the needle would turn red. My needles stayed bright orange on my 2nd gen so i am going to paint them white so they turn blue with the lights on.

monkeydude3602000 · 11-08-2005, 08:40 PM

Good! I want them orange. So can anyone help me with getting my cluster out?

Watrboy821 · 11-08-2005, 10:39 PM

you should pm rlith, i think he did a first gen also

monkeydude3602000 · 11-09-2005, 11:44 AM

Nevermind, I found a how-to on 1st gen clusters at s-series.org

Heres the link for it... Very helpfull tutorial.
http://s-series.org/Sections-article39-p1.html

Kris_Tunetso · 11-09-2005, 12:41 PM

Awesome tutorial! Thanks for the link monkeydude.

monkeydude3602000 · 11-09-2005, 09:22 PM

Ya its good but there is a couple things not explained too well. Like how you have to take off the cover under the steering column and undo the clip around the column for the shifter. I guess they made the tutorial for people with a stick... Overall good tutorial though.

Kaptain03sonoma · 11-10-2005, 02:26 AM

Just a quick question, but does anyone know how to remove the needles off the guages (speedo, fuel, etc.) on a 03 4.3l auto sonoma? I am replacing with leds now and want to paint the needles white instead of orange, but I dont want to break the needles off in the process.

andocommando · 11-10-2005, 02:29 AM

i think u can use a fork, BUT make sure u mark the locations of them so when u put them back on they will be right

rll9147 · 11-10-2005, 08:53 AM

I use a flat tip screwdriver never thought of using a fork I am not sure a fork will fit under them. The flat tip will work you just have to do it slowly and don't pull the needle from the tip or you will break it.
And like Ando said make sure you mark or take a picture of where the needles are while in the truck with it off before you remove them. I would put them back on with the panel in the truck also to make it work perfect.

Kaptain03sonoma · 11-11-2005, 02:17 AM

Thanks, hopefully it all turns out well. Cant wait until my leds arrive in the mail. www.superbrightleds.com is the best, worked out great when I replaced my cars lights a few years back.

monkeydude3602000 · 11-11-2005, 06:28 PM

also waiting for LEDs!

99 Sdime · 11-11-2005, 07:16 PM

how do you do it for a '99 ?? pretty much the same thing

NickZigaitis · 12-06-2005, 07:48 AM

I just wanted to the thank the original poster of this thread for the great idea he came across and shared with the rest of us regarding the L.E.D. conversion.

I swapped all lights out with Red L.E.D.s and the Bight indicator with a Blue and the Turn Signals Indicators with a Green L.E.D..

The Red L.E.D.s are the cluster type with 5 bulbs, 4 in opposite directions and 1 forward.

Here is a pic. Thanks again.

rlith · 12-06-2005, 07:53 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by NickZigaitis

I just wanted to the thank the original poster of this thread for the great idea he came across and shared with the rest of us regarding the L.E.D. conversion.

I swapped all lights out with Red L.E.D.s and the Bight indicator with a Blue and the Turn Signals Indicators with a Green L.E.D..

The Red L.E.D.s are the cluster type with 5 bulbs, 4 in opposite directions and 1 forward.

Here is a pic. Thanks again.

Looks great!

NickZigaitis · 12-06-2005, 08:07 AM

Yeah, I was real pleased. You guys weren't lying. The needles do look like little light sabres.

s10FoxRida125 · 12-08-2005, 03:12 PM

a great mod for any star wars fan. lol

s10FoxRida125 · 12-09-2005, 01:39 AM

hey how much did all the leds cost you guys al together?

NickZigaitis · 12-09-2005, 07:19 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by s10FoxRida125

hey how much did all the leds cost you guys al together?

To be honest I bought the light a while back from Superbrightleds.com. I just fired the truck up the other day so I got a quick pic of the guages. Don't quote me but I think I spent around $25-30.

carson84 · 12-18-2005, 04:11 PM

do you need to have resistors for the idiot lights? what about the gauge lights? oh, its going in a 2000 model.

carson84 · 12-18-2005, 04:18 PM

oh and what size are the idiot lights? 3mm or 5mm?

comics22 · 12-18-2005, 04:22 PM

the resistors are built into the led socket, so no worries there!

and NickZigaitis, those look nice! i gotta switch my cluster led's to the ones u have cuz i have the ones where they all shine forward andi haev a big bright spot right by my 40mph...

ya i paid about that much to for mine but well worth it IMO.

carson84 · 12-18-2005, 05:32 PM

anyone have a pic of the 98+ HVAC controls w/ the LEDs?

pewter_dime_99 · 12-18-2005, 08:53 PM

so if i want to just do my speedo and the 4 gauges around it, all i would need is the 5 194's??? its for a 99 w/ no tach

carson84 · 12-18-2005, 09:24 PM

i believe thats right

sdime98 · 12-18-2005, 09:29 PM

ok..this is sorta complicated for me....i wanna do my hvac controls, and all my gauge controls, sorry to copycat, but i want mine to look just like NickZigaitis's

the bright green flashers, blue high beam, and all red gauges, along with the all red hvac's....

someone give me a breakdown..

11-07-2005, 07:45 PM	#101
ThorRacing01 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,391 Location: newport news,va User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! hey watrboy821 what leds did you use?? link please
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-07-2005, 08:24 PM	#102
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Ok questions about the 1st gen guages. 1. Will the 5 bulbes light up all guages not including idiot lights. 2. I will have to do no soldering just replacing the guage bulbs correct? 3. Will red look funny with that blue thing under the needle? 4. Since I am going with red will the needle be close to red? Or jus bright orange? 5. How do you get a 1st generation cluster out? Sorry about all the questions but I am a total noob at this.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 11:52 AM	#103
Watrboy821 God I hate you guys Age: 21 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 168 Location: South Jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I used the 5s on the small gauges and a 6 on the tach and speedo. I think 5s all around would work better though. I did my hvac too but i have to redo them with different colors now. I got mine at superbrightleds.com. this is a 5: this is a 6: Last edited by Watrboy821 : 11-08-2005 at 12:00 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 11:53 AM	#104
Watrboy821 God I hate you guys Age: 21 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 168 Location: South Jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! oh and the tabs that you have to pull out of the bulbs are a pain in the ass, they cut my fingers.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 04:58 PM	#105
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! That somewhat explained it but I still dont know how to get the cluster out...
	[Reply w/Quote]


S10Forum is the premier S-Series Site on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads. Please Register - It's Free!

11-08-2005, 06:15 PM	#106
Watrboy821 God I hate you guys Age: 21 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 168 Location: South Jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! for a 94-97: Unbolt all the black pieces under the dash and drop them, now unbolt the piece right under the steering column and then go in the ashtray/change thing and there is a bolt in the top left corner to take out. Now take the 2 screws out in the black piece in front of the gauges. Then take the two 15mm bolts holding the steering column up off and let it rest on the seat. Now pop the bezel off and there will be five bolts holding a white thing on around the gauges, take those out and the gauge cluster will pop out. Take the 5 big bulbs out and replace them. reverse to reinstall.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 06:31 PM	#107
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I have a 93' 1st Gen. I know about the new ones but no one has told how to take out the cluster on a 1st gen.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 08:16 PM	#108
Watrboy821 God I hate you guys Age: 21 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 168 Location: South Jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by monkeydude3602000 I have a 93' 1st Gen. I know about the new ones but no one has told how to take out the cluster on a 1st gen. sorry about that, wish i could help you out. you questioned if the needle would turn red. My needles stayed bright orange on my 2nd gen so i am going to paint them white so they turn blue with the lights on. Last edited by Watrboy821 : 11-08-2005 at 08:17 PM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 08:40 PM	#109
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Good! I want them orange. So can anyone help me with getting my cluster out?
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-08-2005, 10:39 PM	#110
Watrboy821 God I hate you guys Age: 21 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 168 Location: South Jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! you should pm rlith, i think he did a first gen also
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-09-2005, 11:44 AM	#111
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Nevermind, I found a how-to on 1st gen clusters at s-series.org Heres the link for it... Very helpfull tutorial. http://s-series.org/Sections-article39-p1.html
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-09-2005, 12:41 PM	#112
Kris_Tunetso Amateur mini-trucker Age: 22 Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 149 Location: Bolivar, Missouri User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Awesome tutorial! Thanks for the link monkeydude.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-09-2005, 09:22 PM	#113
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Ya its good but there is a couple things not explained too well. Like how you have to take off the cover under the steering column and undo the clip around the column for the shifter. I guess they made the tutorial for people with a stick... Overall good tutorial though.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-10-2005, 02:26 AM	#114
Kaptain03sonoma Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 186 Location: Davenport, IA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Just a quick question, but does anyone know how to remove the needles off the guages (speedo, fuel, etc.) on a 03 4.3l auto sonoma? I am replacing with leds now and want to paint the needles white instead of orange, but I dont want to break the needles off in the process.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-10-2005, 02:29 AM	#115
andocommando mmmm dr. pepper Age: 21 Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 8,163 Location: central AR User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! i think u can use a fork, BUT make sure u mark the locations of them so when u put them back on they will be right
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-10-2005, 08:53 AM	#116
rll9147 UNDER CONSTRUCTION Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3,226 Location: Hubert/Jacksonville/Camp Lejeune, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I use a flat tip screwdriver never thought of using a fork I am not sure a fork will fit under them. The flat tip will work you just have to do it slowly and don't pull the needle from the tip or you will break it. And like Ando said make sure you mark or take a picture of where the needles are while in the truck with it off before you remove them. I would put them back on with the panel in the truck also to make it work perfect.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-11-2005, 02:17 AM	#117
Kaptain03sonoma Registered User Age: 26 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 186 Location: Davenport, IA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Thanks, hopefully it all turns out well. Cant wait until my leds arrive in the mail. www.superbrightleds.com is the best, worked out great when I replaced my cars lights a few years back.
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-11-2005, 06:28 PM	#118
monkeydude3602000 I just ate a honda. Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,102 Location: Princeton, Ky User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! also waiting for LEDs!
	[Reply w/Quote]

11-11-2005, 07:16 PM	#119
99 Sdime I'm white. Age: 19 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,567 Location: Lake Charles, Louisiana User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! how do you do it for a '99 ?? pretty much the same thing
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-06-2005, 07:48 AM	#120
NickZigaitis I Like Fire....HaHaHa Age: 78 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,684 Location: God Damn Garage, STL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I just wanted to the thank the original poster of this thread for the great idea he came across and shared with the rest of us regarding the L.E.D. conversion. I swapped all lights out with Red L.E.D.s and the Bight indicator with a Blue and the Turn Signals Indicators with a Green L.E.D.. The Red L.E.D.s are the cluster type with 5 bulbs, 4 in opposite directions and 1 forward. Here is a pic. Thanks again.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-06-2005, 07:53 AM	#121
rlith Insane Network Engineer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 5,967 Location: Pittsburgh, PA. User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by NickZigaitis I just wanted to the thank the original poster of this thread for the great idea he came across and shared with the rest of us regarding the L.E.D. conversion. I swapped all lights out with Red L.E.D.s and the Bight indicator with a Blue and the Turn Signals Indicators with a Green L.E.D.. The Red L.E.D.s are the cluster type with 5 bulbs, 4 in opposite directions and 1 forward. Here is a pic. Thanks again. Looks great!
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-06-2005, 08:07 AM	#122
NickZigaitis I Like Fire....HaHaHa Age: 78 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,684 Location: God Damn Garage, STL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Yeah, I was real pleased. You guys weren't lying. The needles do look like little light sabres.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-08-2005, 03:12 PM	#123
s10FoxRida125 s10 en it up Age: 20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 314 Location: YAKIMA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! a great mod for any star wars fan. lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-09-2005, 01:39 AM	#124
s10FoxRida125 s10 en it up Age: 20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 314 Location: YAKIMA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! hey how much did all the leds cost you guys al together?
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-09-2005, 07:19 AM	#125
NickZigaitis I Like Fire....HaHaHa Age: 78 Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 4,684 Location: God Damn Garage, STL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by s10FoxRida125 hey how much did all the leds cost you guys al together? To be honest I bought the light a while back from Superbrightleds.com. I just fired the truck up the other day so I got a quick pic of the guages. Don't quote me but I think I spent around $25-30.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 04:11 PM	#126
carson84 yeah, its photoshopped Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 322 Location: Valley Grande, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! do you need to have resistors for the idiot lights? what about the gauge lights? oh, its going in a 2000 model.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 04:18 PM	#127
carson84 yeah, its photoshopped Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 322 Location: Valley Grande, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! oh and what size are the idiot lights? 3mm or 5mm?
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 04:22 PM	#128
comics22 Pac is a hackin! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,280 Location: Middle of freakin IL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! the resistors are built into the led socket, so no worries there! and NickZigaitis, those look nice! i gotta switch my cluster led's to the ones u have cuz i have the ones where they all shine forward andi haev a big bright spot right by my 40mph... ya i paid about that much to for mine but well worth it IMO.
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 05:32 PM	#129
carson84 yeah, its photoshopped Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 322 Location: Valley Grande, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! anyone have a pic of the 98+ HVAC controls w/ the LEDs?
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 08:53 PM	#130
pewter_dime_99 finally bagged!! Age: 20 Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 371 Location: Mattoon. Il User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! so if i want to just do my speedo and the 4 gauges around it, all i would need is the 5 194's??? its for a 99 w/ no tach
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 09:24 PM	#131
carson84 yeah, its photoshopped Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 322 Location: Valley Grande, AL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! i believe thats right
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-18-2005, 09:29 PM	#132
sdime98 shitbox98 Age: 23 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 43,738 Location: Laurel Hill, NC User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! ok..this is sorta complicated for me....i wanna do my hvac controls, and all my gauge controls, sorry to copycat, but i want mine to look just like NickZigaitis's the bright green flashers, blue high beam, and all red gauges, along with the all red hvac's.... someone give me a breakdown..
	[Reply w/Quote]

12-23-2005, 08:39 PM	#133
mj550 Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 248 Location: Ohio User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to!