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

bobbys10man · 05-23-2008, 12:54 PM

what year do you have. I just did mine last week in about 30 mins. Mine is a 2000. There are 4 7mm screws holding the gauge cluster on. take them out and it will come roght out.

Mikey08 · 05-23-2008, 05:50 PM

I'm gonna try again today, but from what I looked at when I took off my bezel again didn't look like it would work lol

01cherryreds10 · 05-23-2008, 11:35 PM

Here's a pic of mine, I'm gonna try adjusting the bulb sockets so the whole cluster gets the same ammount of light, between and tach and speedo there is alot more darkness then the rest of the cluster.

Mikey08 · 05-24-2008, 12:48 AM

I got mine done as well...and btw I did have to drop the column to get the cluster out, once I got the column down it was easy, took the cluster out, only missed on one light, turned it around and it works just fine. I just need to get a few more idiot lights, anyone got some blue ones to spare? I'll post a pic a little later when its dark

Edit: Anyone know what style of light the ones under the dash are? The ones that come on when you open the door? I want to try and find these in red if possible

01cherryreds10 · 05-24-2008, 02:13 AM

www.sylvania.com

Just find what number bulb you want to replace, then go to www.superbrightleds.com site and look for that same one.

If anyone wants to trade my cool white bulbs for their warm white or red WLEDx5 bulbs, shoot me a pm.

Mikey08 · 05-26-2008, 05:29 AM

I have only one complaint about the new cluster. For me, I only ordered 3 idiot lights in blue, and the rest red for the cluster. Now when it is dark out the light from one red LED is visable via the blue LED and the ebrake is illuminated. Other than that it is sweet

Squeegee · 05-26-2008, 09:58 PM

looks good man

Blazin'low · 05-26-2008, 11:16 PM

Took me awhile but I finally got a pic of mine..

Noremac · 05-26-2008, 11:57 PM

why is yoru voltage so low??? looks good btw

Blazin'low · 05-27-2008, 08:12 PM

Thanks...I'm fairly sure my Alternator is fried.

Noremac · 05-30-2008, 12:27 AM

lol, i ordered my bulbs for the gauges a few days ago, but they are gonna get hung up in customs for a week or so probably

Mikey08 · 05-30-2008, 02:34 AM

customs? do you not live in arkansas anymore?

tightextreme03 · 05-30-2008, 06:06 PM

ok, so i was wanting to do this to my wifes s-10 but she wants pink ones...i found loose led's in pink on superbrightleds.com and on ebay, but can anyone tell me how hard it would be to install these since they would not have the resistors prewired into a base and could i just use the bases that are on the gauge panel or would i have to find empty bases?

tightextreme03 · 06-04-2008, 07:53 PM

any suggestions? anyone? anyone?

metalfreak760 · 06-05-2008, 04:54 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by rlith

It's an LED... They're all pretty much the same quality

10 Socketed t1's for the idiot lights, 3 unsocketed t1's for the hvac, 5 194's for the cluster gauges

No reistors needed. If you look at the pics the resistors are built into the base of the bulbs

Idiot lights aren't soldered, they're socketed.

hey i had a quick question for u i got an 03 s10 and i want to change the gauge cluster bulbs and i was wondering if they twist off in the back of the cluster cause thats what it looks like to me but i dont want to mess up anything. but i know how to get to it but i just dont want to have to take off the needles again and the face of the cluster.

tightextreme03 · 06-05-2008, 09:37 AM

yeah, there should be 9 total bulbs on the back that you twist counter clockwise.........they are usually pretty tight so u might wanna use some pliers to get em out and they only twist about a quarter of a turn.

Bozup · 06-05-2008, 03:38 PM

yeah so I finally got the bulbs in and...yeah I dont like the blue. Probably cause the fact my truck is green and I wanna go a different color. That and probably need to whiten the needles on it to. but I wasnt gonna bother with the pics cause I wasnt that impressed with it. So im re order and re install. then ill do a before and after pic.

metalfreak760 · 06-05-2008, 05:49 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by tightextreme03

yeah, there should be 9 total bulbs on the back that you twist counter clockwise.........they are usually pretty tight so u might wanna use some pliers to get em out and they only twist about a quarter of a turn.

ok thanks cause i saw some guy take off the front of his gauges in his blazer so i was worried that i would hvae to do that. but i ordered 6 bulbs for the cluster WLED-x LED Wedge Base Bulbs i got the blue ones. then ordered 4 bulbs for the ac but instead of getting 4 blue ones i got 2 blue to white lol i didnt mean to but forgot when i ordered them to change the color cause i thought it only took 2 so i ordered those then realized it took 4 so ordered those and forgot to get them in blue lol

tightextreme03 · 06-05-2008, 09:20 PM

well there are bulbs behind the gauge face that are for the idiot lights and must be soldered in place, but for the main illumination and the turn signal and high beam lights, they are all on the back

Noremac · 06-07-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey08

customs? do you not live in arkansas anymore?

they are coming from hong kong... they gotta go through US customs...

bobbys10man · 06-11-2008, 12:29 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Noremac

they are coming from hong kong... they gotta go through US customs...

Did you order though superbrights?????

Noremac · 06-15-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by bobbys10man

Did you order though superbrights?????

no.. some seller named enkmall or something along those lines.. here is two bulbs installed. i had to get going to work, so thats all i had time to do and get the dash back together..

sorry for the crappy picture.. and here is teh link to the bulbs i bought.. they left on june second from hong kong, and got to my PO box somewhere between the 6th and the 10th fo this month

Noremac · 06-15-2008, 11:15 PM

here is the link to the bulbs that i bought... i am gonna finish them up tomorrow probably before work...

Blazin'low · 06-16-2008, 08:43 PM

Haha looks sick like that, put the 2 center ones in and leave the rest. Or do the rest red, like the guy who made this thread.

layinlow88 · 06-25-2008, 02:30 PM

ok guys.....did anybody save the pics from the very first post??

Mikey08 · 06-27-2008, 03:17 AM

its really easy, i had to do it without the pics...

pull off the dash bezel, then unscrew the kickpanel below the wheel, drop that down, look underneath the wheel find the two bolts holding the column in and unscrew those, drop the column straight down, take out the 6 screws holding the column in and pull it out

Noremac · 06-27-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey08

its really easy, i had to do it without the pics...

pull off the dash bezel, then unscrew the kickpanel below the wheel, drop that down, look underneath the wheel find the two bolts holding the column in and unscrew those, drop the column straight down, take out the 6 screws holding the column in and pull it out

if you have tilt, you pull the screw from teh gauge bezel out, pull teh kick panel off, to reveal two more screws, pull those off, the gauge bezel is unbolted now... get that out of your way, then pull 4 screws that hold the gauge cluster in, pull the big grey plug out of the top, pull teh black backing off, replace the lights, and reassemble... simple...

Squeegee · 06-27-2008, 10:50 PM

its completely different for a first gen

Mikey08 · 06-28-2008, 04:47 AM

only homos drive 1st gen

2003Xtreme · 07-08-2008, 03:41 AM

I am going to add to this forum because I have a junk cluster that I have been playing around with to see what colors look good in the gauge and I noticed that when I put a red bulb in place of the turn signal light socket that from the front side the turn signal was still green. Take in consideration I did paint the bulbs to red. Is that what is making the difference in why it will not show through? BTW I went through the lights in my door panels my head light switch panel, air bag panel and the HVAC Panel and took some duplicolor touch up paint and painted all the bulbs and it looks just as good as the pics that people have posted up on here. So if anyone is looking for a cheap way to changed the colors just paint them. The gauge lights on the other hand... I am going to order because I do not believe it will look too good. Another thing I want to add is that the idiot lights are not paintable either. I tried that on my junk cluster and hooked it up and it had no effect on them so its a replacement for those no matter what you do. my truck is red and the theme i have for it is red, but I do not care for the way the red gauge looks so I believe I am going to go with the blue colored ones for my cluster.

layinlow88 · 07-08-2008, 03:55 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey08

only homos drive 1st gen

come over here so i can give you a swift kick in the ass

anywho....for any awesome 1st gen owner....i've completed the task...and have taken step by step pics

but in my above post...i was askin for a fellow 2nd gen owner...kthxbye

05-23-2008, 12:54 PM	#401
bobbys10man Registered Dreamer Age: 25 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 619 Location: Lafayette, IN User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! what year do you have. I just did mine last week in about 30 mins. Mine is a 2000. There are 4 7mm screws holding the gauge cluster on. take them out and it will come roght out.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-23-2008, 05:50 PM	#402
Mikey08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I'm gonna try again today, but from what I looked at when I took off my bezel again didn't look like it would work lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-23-2008, 11:35 PM	#403
01cherryreds10 Wanna see some magic? Age: 18 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,830 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Here's a pic of mine, I'm gonna try adjusting the bulb sockets so the whole cluster gets the same ammount of light, between and tach and speedo there is alot more darkness then the rest of the cluster.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-24-2008, 12:48 AM	#404
Mikey08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I got mine done as well...and btw I did have to drop the column to get the cluster out, once I got the column down it was easy, took the cluster out, only missed on one light, turned it around and it works just fine. I just need to get a few more idiot lights, anyone got some blue ones to spare? I'll post a pic a little later when its dark Edit: Anyone know what style of light the ones under the dash are? The ones that come on when you open the door? I want to try and find these in red if possible Last edited by Mikey08 : 05-24-2008 at 12:51 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-24-2008, 02:13 AM	#405
01cherryreds10 Wanna see some magic? Age: 18 Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,830 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! www.sylvania.com Just find what number bulb you want to replace, then go to www.superbrightleds.com site and look for that same one. If anyone wants to trade my cool white bulbs for their warm white or red WLEDx5 bulbs, shoot me a pm.
	[Reply w/Quote]


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05-26-2008, 05:29 AM	#406
Mikey08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I have only one complaint about the new cluster. For me, I only ordered 3 idiot lights in blue, and the rest red for the cluster. Now when it is dark out the light from one red LED is visable via the blue LED and the ebrake is illuminated. Other than that it is sweet
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-26-2008, 09:58 PM	#407
Squeegee Pat FTW! Age: 23 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 9,590 Location: Dillon, SC User is: Online	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! looks good man
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05-26-2008, 11:16 PM	#408
Blazin'low Murdered out Age: 21 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 55 Location: PA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Took me awhile but I finally got a pic of mine..
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05-26-2008, 11:57 PM	#409
Noremac damned 4banger Age: 19 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,380 Location: Jonesboro Arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! why is yoru voltage so low??? looks good btw
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-27-2008, 08:12 PM	#410
Blazin'low Murdered out Age: 21 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 55 Location: PA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Thanks...I'm fairly sure my Alternator is fried.
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-30-2008, 12:27 AM	#411
Noremac damned 4banger Age: 19 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,380 Location: Jonesboro Arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! lol, i ordered my bulbs for the gauges a few days ago, but they are gonna get hung up in customs for a week or so probably
	[Reply w/Quote]

05-30-2008, 02:34 AM	#412
Mikey08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! customs? do you not live in arkansas anymore?
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05-30-2008, 06:06 PM	#413
tightextreme03 Derrick Age: 26 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 860 Location: Jax, FL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! ok, so i was wanting to do this to my wifes s-10 but she wants pink ones...i found loose led's in pink on superbrightleds.com and on ebay, but can anyone tell me how hard it would be to install these since they would not have the resistors prewired into a base and could i just use the bases that are on the gauge panel or would i have to find empty bases?
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-04-2008, 07:53 PM	#414
tightextreme03 Derrick Age: 26 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 860 Location: Jax, FL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! any suggestions? anyone? anyone?
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-10-2008, 02:25 AM	#432
sonomanator -119 point(s) total

06-05-2008, 04:54 AM	#415
metalfreak760 Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 21 Location: Las Vegas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by rlith It's an LED... They're all pretty much the same quality 10 Socketed t1's for the idiot lights, 3 unsocketed t1's for the hvac, 5 194's for the cluster gauges No reistors needed. If you look at the pics the resistors are built into the base of the bulbs Idiot lights aren't soldered, they're socketed. hey i had a quick question for u i got an 03 s10 and i want to change the gauge cluster bulbs and i was wondering if they twist off in the back of the cluster cause thats what it looks like to me but i dont want to mess up anything. but i know how to get to it but i just dont want to have to take off the needles again and the face of the cluster.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-05-2008, 09:37 AM	#416
tightextreme03 Derrick Age: 26 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 860 Location: Jax, FL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! yeah, there should be 9 total bulbs on the back that you twist counter clockwise.........they are usually pretty tight so u might wanna use some pliers to get em out and they only twist about a quarter of a turn.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-05-2008, 03:38 PM	#417
Bozup Lucky Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 405 Location: Lawrence KS User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! yeah so I finally got the bulbs in and...yeah I dont like the blue. Probably cause the fact my truck is green and I wanna go a different color. That and probably need to whiten the needles on it to. but I wasnt gonna bother with the pics cause I wasnt that impressed with it. So im re order and re install. then ill do a before and after pic.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-05-2008, 05:49 PM	#418
metalfreak760 Registered User Age: 21 Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 21 Location: Las Vegas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by tightextreme03 yeah, there should be 9 total bulbs on the back that you twist counter clockwise.........they are usually pretty tight so u might wanna use some pliers to get em out and they only twist about a quarter of a turn. ok thanks cause i saw some guy take off the front of his gauges in his blazer so i was worried that i would hvae to do that. but i ordered 6 bulbs for the cluster WLED-x LED Wedge Base Bulbs i got the blue ones. then ordered 4 bulbs for the ac but instead of getting 4 blue ones i got 2 blue to white lol i didnt mean to but forgot when i ordered them to change the color cause i thought it only took 2 so i ordered those then realized it took 4 so ordered those and forgot to get them in blue lol
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-05-2008, 09:20 PM	#419
tightextreme03 Derrick Age: 26 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 860 Location: Jax, FL User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! well there are bulbs behind the gauge face that are for the idiot lights and must be soldered in place, but for the main illumination and the turn signal and high beam lights, they are all on the back
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-07-2008, 12:06 PM	#420
Noremac damned 4banger Age: 19 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,380 Location: Jonesboro Arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey08 customs? do you not live in arkansas anymore? they are coming from hong kong... they gotta go through US customs...
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-11-2008, 12:29 AM	#421
bobbys10man Registered Dreamer Age: 25 Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 619 Location: Lafayette, IN User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by Noremac they are coming from hong kong... they gotta go through US customs... Did you order though superbrights?????
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-15-2008, 09:22 PM	#422
Noremac damned 4banger Age: 19 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,380 Location: Jonesboro Arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by bobbys10man Did you order though superbrights????? no.. some seller named enkmall or something along those lines.. here is two bulbs installed. i had to get going to work, so thats all i had time to do and get the dash back together.. sorry for the crappy picture.. and here is teh link to the bulbs i bought.. they left on june second from hong kong, and got to my PO box somewhere between the 6th and the 10th fo this month
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-15-2008, 11:15 PM	#423
Noremac damned 4banger Age: 19 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,380 Location: Jonesboro Arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! here is the link to the bulbs that i bought... i am gonna finish them up tomorrow probably before work...
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-16-2008, 08:43 PM	#424
Blazin'low Murdered out Age: 21 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 55 Location: PA User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Haha looks sick like that, put the 2 center ones in and leave the rest. Or do the rest red, like the guy who made this thread.
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-25-2008, 02:30 PM	#425
layinlow88 GET LAYED!! Age: 19 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,938 Location: Camden, AR User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! ok guys.....did anybody save the pics from the very first post??
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-27-2008, 03:17 AM	#426
Mikey08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! its really easy, i had to do it without the pics... pull off the dash bezel, then unscrew the kickpanel below the wheel, drop that down, look underneath the wheel find the two bolts holding the column in and unscrew those, drop the column straight down, take out the 6 screws holding the column in and pull it out
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-27-2008, 07:38 PM	#427
Noremac damned 4banger Age: 19 Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,380 Location: Jonesboro Arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey08 its really easy, i had to do it without the pics... pull off the dash bezel, then unscrew the kickpanel below the wheel, drop that down, look underneath the wheel find the two bolts holding the column in and unscrew those, drop the column straight down, take out the 6 screws holding the column in and pull it out if you have tilt, you pull the screw from teh gauge bezel out, pull teh kick panel off, to reveal two more screws, pull those off, the gauge bezel is unbolted now... get that out of your way, then pull 4 screws that hold the gauge cluster in, pull the big grey plug out of the top, pull teh black backing off, replace the lights, and reassemble... simple...
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-27-2008, 10:50 PM	#428
Squeegee Pat FTW! Age: 23 Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 9,590 Location: Dillon, SC User is: Online	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! its completely different for a first gen
	[Reply w/Quote]

06-28-2008, 04:47 AM	#429
Mikey08 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 713 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! only homos drive 1st gen
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-08-2008, 03:41 AM	#430
2003Xtreme Registered User Age: 18 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 50 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! I am going to add to this forum because I have a junk cluster that I have been playing around with to see what colors look good in the gauge and I noticed that when I put a red bulb in place of the turn signal light socket that from the front side the turn signal was still green. Take in consideration I did paint the bulbs to red. Is that what is making the difference in why it will not show through? BTW I went through the lights in my door panels my head light switch panel, air bag panel and the HVAC Panel and took some duplicolor touch up paint and painted all the bulbs and it looks just as good as the pics that people have posted up on here. So if anyone is looking for a cheap way to changed the colors just paint them. The gauge lights on the other hand... I am going to order because I do not believe it will look too good. Another thing I want to add is that the idiot lights are not paintable either. I tried that on my junk cluster and hooked it up and it had no effect on them so its a replacement for those no matter what you do. my truck is red and the theme i have for it is red, but I do not care for the way the red gauge looks so I believe I am going to go with the blue colored ones for my cluster.
	[Reply w/Quote]

07-08-2008, 03:55 AM	#431
layinlow88 GET LAYED!! Age: 19 Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,938 Location: Camden, AR User is: OffLine	Re: Convert Your Cluster & Control lights to LED's How-to! Quote: Originally Posted by Mikey08 only homos drive 1st gen come over here so i can give you a swift kick in the ass anywho....for any awesome 1st gen owner....i've completed the task...and have taken step by step pics but in my above post...i was askin for a fellow 2nd gen owner...kthxbye
	[Reply w/Quote]