DIY - Changing the Lights Of Your Ek Dash

[Menzy]

Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk.

Aim:

Change the Lights-Colour of your Ek dash (make it look more unique)

Required:

Philips Screw Driver
1 Wedge Based bulp (I picked Arctic Blue) which is white when its on
4 LEDs (White)
Time
Steps:

Remove the two screws from the top of your dash and remove the black plastic covering by just sticking your hands just under it and pull it slowly ... will come off (if you have trouble like i did just move it around slightly and will come off)

After the plastice covering is all off, remove the 4 screws around the corner of your dash (gauge) and it will come off.

pull it out and look at the back of it and you will find...

1 Big black housing (thats the one with the wedge)
and you will see black and gray housings too

now the LEDs are all one size so you can fit it in both grey and the black ones (the black ones may look smaller but will fit straight in)

to take them out you need to twist it and it will come right off
now some of the black/grey housings are for the warning signs so you dont need to replace all of them.

then stick it like you took it out screw everything back together and your done.


I dont have pics at the moment but will come in soon i promise :)

now as for the aircondition buttons etc ... im still waiting to be night time so i can see where the bulps are and what they need to be replaced with...

hopefully i get the pictures again but this should give you a good idea of what to do (as there is no DIY on how to get it done step by step)

Hope this helps you guys

Any question please ask ahead ...

[Aleksi]

Don't break your promise now Menzy!

How about those pics?

[Dell99]

ok it was easy enuf to do it. Can anyone tell me the bulb code??? not sure if worded properly for the smaller blubs within the cluster? thnxs

[Dell99]

no one??

[kayot1k]

pics of each step would be great indicating where each bolt is etc...

also as dell99 said, part no. with brand would be good also.

[Yasakani]

So anyone know the bulb code?
is it T10 or T5? Are all the ones being replaced 1 size??

[aimre]

the number is mm.

t10 r ur parkers

5 in ur dash

[Menzy]

to everyone here, im sorry! havnt had time to do anything. been flat out.

ill get to them asap!

[Yasakani]

the number is mm.

t10 r ur parkers

5 in ur dash

Thanks aimre,
But I just went and tried it in a EM1, which I thought would be exactly the same as any EK...
What I found was:
it requires,
4 x t5,
1 x t10,
2 at the top which look like t5's, but I couldn't get the little bulbs out of the black pod thingo, so I'm not sure what bulbs they are.

Also, I bought 4 t5 LEDs, and it doesn't seem like it's gonna turn out that great, the LEDs seem to focus all the light on a small area..... But this is just with the 4 smaller lights, maybe when I get the bigger one replaced it'll turn out better.

[Yasakani]

ok, I just installed a red T10 as well, and it does seem to be a lot more effective, but there is only one, so my clusters still aren't lit up brightly and evenly.
I guess I'll have to find some brighter T5's that also spread the light more.

[Dell99]

any pics so we kno wat 2 expect wit LEDs

[elephint]

It's easier to see pics,man..

[Yasakani]

what do you want pics of exactly?

[Dell99]

pic of ur cluster with the LEDs in place. Just wanna c how bad the spot light effect is

[Yasakani]

My camera isn't really suited for taking pics at night, as it can't change exposure times.

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/3717/1001598tr2.th.jpg (http://img187.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1001598tr2.jpg)

I reckon if I changed the other T5 bulbs to brighter ones, it'll actually turn out alright.
Right now only a brighter rated T10 bulb seems to be able to shine through.

[c1v1c96]

Guys, I had tried LED's ages ago and i had the same problem where it wasn't shinning evenly... I even had LED's with more little LED's in them and still didnt work as good!!!

I'm not sure what the best solution is and im still trying to find that best solution.

I was thinking maybe to add more base wedges for more bulbs/LED's to make everything shine evenly. but not sure!

[Yasakani]

Guys, I had tried LED's ages ago and i had the same problem where it wasn't shinning evenly... I even had LED's with more little LED's in them and still didnt work as good!!!

I think there just aren't any T5 LEDs that are bright enough and also spread the light enough at the same time. T10 LEDs seem to be adequate though, but EK dash only requires one of them.

What you can do is just paint the original bulbs like I did, it actually came out quite well, I did an orange colour.

[c1v1c96]

LOL... nuh man, if you color the bulbs it'll make things darker cos its the back of the dails that is amber not the bulbs...

Anyways, if anyone comes up with a better solution then let us know :)

Cheers.

[kelviN]

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f361/kelbzzz/IMGP6169.jpg

here's mine using standard bulbs and red coloured sleeves from autobarn.

[Yasakani]

LOL... nuh man, if you color the bulbs it'll make things darker cos its the back of the dails that is amber not the bulbs...

Anyways, if anyone comes up with a better solution then let us know :)

Cheers.

?? :confused:
My dash lights were originally a greenish/white colour.

If you paint the bulbs orange, then it'll emit orange light.

[c1v1c96]

That looks awesome kelvin... what sort of sleeves were they, hard plastic or rubber? How much did they cost you as well?

And Yasakani, i'm not sure what cluster you had but unless you use transperant paint then the light will be blocked IF it does still shine through after... It's just coz ive tried it and that's what happened to me man.

Now i've changed my dails from stock to those white ones but they use factory lightening and its un-even... so i got to figure out a way to make it all even cos it shits me :(

[Yasakani]

And Yasakani, i'm not sure what cluster you had but unless you use transperant paint then the light will be blocked IF it does still shine through after... It's just coz ive tried it and that's what happened to me man.


Yeah, I did use transparent paint/dye, its the sort of dye that is meant to paint glass and crockery, so it sorta gives it a stained glass window effect. I put a thin layer, and it seems just as bright as stock.

Regarding those sleeves, I'm not sure about this myself as I have never used any, but reading what others have said on these forums, if you get the red ones, they would fade eventually into a pinkish colour.

[c1v1c96]

yer exactly rite about what you said all together... I think the only solution for more and even lightening is to add more bulbs some how with the existing ones.

Somone out there has to have done this b4, we have to find him :p lol

[xtat1k]

does anyone know how to change bulbs for the dc2 climate control ?

[kelviN]

That looks awesome kelvin... what sort of sleeves were they, hard plastic or rubber? How much did they cost you as well?

And Yasakani, i'm not sure what cluster you had but unless you use transperant paint then the light will be blocked IF it does still shine through after... It's just coz ive tried it and that's what happened to me man.

Now i've changed my dails from stock to those white ones but they use factory lightening and its un-even... so i got to figure out a way to make it all even cos it shits me :(

thanks dude

They were t10 sleeves and t5 sleeves. u need 2 t10 and 4 t5 from memory. They were rubber and was $4-$5 for a pack of 5? From autobarn.

Also this was done on my civic coupe vtir. The original colour was greenish white and this was because there was blue bulb covers as stock over a yellowish light.

[1996ek1]

If yous all want red dash lighting, yous will be right, but if you want a different colour, like me, i did blue, you have to take the dials out, and ascetone the back of them, to remove the orange light diffuser so the colours can come through.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/g488/DASH.jpg
Yea, 140's a hotspot, and 220 too dull, something ill fix when im not feeling too lazy.

You cant see my left needle because the bulb up top has blown, but y when ever i put a bulb in its place, it just blows for some reason. But you can acctually see it at night, its just the photo

[Yasakani]

thanks dude
They were t10 sleeves and t5 sleeves. u need 2 t10 and 4 t5 from memory. They were rubber and was $4-$5 for a pack of 5? From autobarn.


I think my coupe had 1xT10, and 4xT5, and an extra 2 T5 for the top of the cluster to shine down to light up the needles.



If yous all want red dash lighting, yous will be right, but if you want a different colour, like me, i did blue, you have to take the dials out, and ascetone the back of them, to remove the orange light diffuser so the colours can come through.


Yeah, I think the hatches have orange/amber light stock?
Coupes have a whitish/verylight green light as stock.

[1996ek1]

Yea, the hatches light is really SHIT.
Soon im taking center apart to put blue LED's in.

[civic88]

does ur artic blue actually look nice n white? i bought the narva artic blue and its freakn more yellow den my original bulbs lol

[J-Rome]

I just put white dials in and the light above my tacho blew. Anyone have an idea what bulb I need to replace that?
I can still see it as the back lights still work but it sh!ts me cos I'm a bit of a compulsive perfectionist

[Yasakani]

you mean the lights that shine onto the front of the gauges to light the needles?

They are T5 bulbs.

Those two at the top seemed harder to pull out of their socket when I tried to replace them, I think they are soldered in so I didn't bother.

[J-Rome]

Yeah they are the ones.
Yeah i couldn't get it out either.
Figured they were soldered, glued, bolted and screwed in.
Guess I'll just take it to the auto electrician

[1996ek1]

No, just pull them harder.
They will come out...

[tron07]

Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself nor Ozhonda take any responsibility for the outcomes of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!


This is the conversion of my previous Civic.


You will need to remove the screw and slowly pull out the black cover.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2414000-2414999/2414344_13.jpg

This is how it looks after you pull it out. There will be like 4 screws holding the meter cluster to the dash.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2414000-2414999/2414344_14_full.jpg

This is how the back of the cluster looks. You can change the bulbs or just change the silicone sleves like what I did.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2414000-2414999/2414344_15_full.jpg

Sleves I got from Repco.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2414000-2414999/2414344_16.jpg

On the top of the cluster, there are 2 more bulbs, these bulbs illuminate the needles. I tried using red, but it doesnt looks that nice, and I went with blue instead.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2414000-2414999/2414344_18_full.jpg


More pictures here.
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2414344/2


Have fun trying.

[c1v1c96]

Hey guys,

I have found the best type of LED's for you and they will work fantastic 99% cos of they're design the will spread out very widely and evenly :)

Check out the pic below of what they look like and they will come in 5 T5's and 1 T10 for your EK Dash... Blue, White, Red available for $29.99 plus delivery if your outside melbourne.

Thanks.

[c1v1c96]

Oops, it says pic size is too big but its only 5.60KB :s i dont get it..

Anyways, PM Me and i will email you the pics :)

Thanks.

[Chris S15]

would these work?

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=ZD0281&CATID=&keywords=blue+led&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4783d54a01477322273fc0a87f9c06db/Product/View/Z3907

[Chris S15]

Hi All,
Good news. Went to Jaycar yesterday and the salesman said to go to this website as it's the best place to get led lights for the car. no modding, no wiring, just straight replacement.

http://www.ledshoponline.com/automotive_dashboard_bulb.htm

Just orderd them. i'll post up a guide once i've got them.

[integra95]

has any one used these bulbs ^^^^ is it a direct replacement...whats the best colour to use in LED and has anyone tried it in a DC2 dash???

[Deano_EK]

im also intrested in how they worked out in the EK ????

[integra95]

is it similar for dc2s, has anyone done it in a dc2 and got pics. i i just bought a new dash cluster would it be easier to put the sleeves on the new dash then just chuck it in my car?

[finalazy]

does anyone know what size the bulbs are for the ek dash. i wanted to use sleeves but t5 was too small and t8.5 and t10 were too big.

only the 2 at the top were t5

[kenni.nguyen]

Does anyone know the size of the bulbs used for an eg 4Dr, are they the t5's and the t10's? if so how many of each.

thanks!

[kelviN]

does anyone know what size the bulbs are for the ek dash. i wanted to use sleeves but t5 was too small and t8.5 and t10 were too big.

only the 2 at the top were t5

T5 is correct for ek dash...u have to really try to get it on but cos its a real tight fit

[xStickersx]

Has anyone actually done this and had it work, besides the dude earlier that used acetone to remove the orange from the back of the dial?

I used the sleeves today, put blue on, and it's still orange, just more dull.

Actually looking for something that will work.

thanks

[A.G.System]

sleeves are useless

just goto autobarn or somewhere similar and buy a pack of LEDs.

[kenman90]

If yous all want red dash lighting, yous will be right, but if you want a different colour, like me, i did blue, you have to take the dials out, and ascetone the back of them, to remove the orange light diffuser so the colours can come through.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x300/g488/DASH.jpg
Yea, 140's a hotspot, and 220 too dull, something ill fix when im not feeling too lazy.

You cant see my left needle because the bulb up top has blown, but y when ever i put a bulb in its place, it just blows for some reason. But you can acctually see it at night, its just the photo

how did u go about ascetoning the diffuser? looking at doing the same as you but not sure how to go about it

[A.G.System]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/agsystem/DSC00391.jpg

This is on my EG.

NO ascetoning required. Just used blue Leds and made sure to sand paper the ends to avoid hotspots (diffuses the light better instead of it beaming forwards)

You may notice the cold spot around 120 that was because i sanded the edge wrong. Need to redo that one to make it even all over.

[kenman90]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y139/agsystem/DSC00391.jpg

This is on my EG.

NO ascetoning required. Just used blue Leds and made sure to sand paper the ends to avoid hotspots (diffuses the light better instead of it beaming forwards)

You may notice the cold spot around 120 that was because i sanded the edge wrong. Need to redo that one to make it even all over.

What sandpaper u use ne will do? and u just practically sanded the orange away yes?

[A.G.System]

any fine grit sandpaper will do.

hell even roughing the leds on concrete will do the job. Not that i would recommend that.

i sanded away nothing.

I just took the LED itself from being a clear lens to a frosted looking lens at the TIP ONLY!

[kenman90]

man i did what you said and it worked great yea just i get a dull spot in the 5-6000 revs and the middle of the fuel indicator but besides that good stuff

[A.G.System]

You can get around the dull spots by using the 4 in 1 leds.

The main reason you get that dull spot is that you would normally use a T10 globe there. The ones that you have in your parkers.

You can use the 4in1 Led just its harder to stop hotspots. Just trial and error with positioning. I also found using black nail polish on the tips of 2 of the leds helped diffuse the light from one side, so it didnt come across so intense.

Hope all this makes sense?

[kenman90]

yea it does ill go see if it works ill let u know if it does thanks for the tips

[be3p69]

does anyone know the best way to change the bulbs for a ek?

[Hiikaru]

Question:

Do i need to remove the steering wheel to take out teh cluster?

[na-118]

no you don't need to remove steering wheel, just undo the leaver, and let it hang the lowest point, remove the two bolts on top of the cluster surrounding, slowly pull and jiggle it out, and there should be 4 bolts 2 top 2 bottom undo that and remove

[Hiikaru]

I just removed my cluster and twisted off the lights. they just normal bulbs and a holder or something. and i went to Jaycar and found T5 but they were these tiny lights. now how do i put these together?



Edit: nevermind -.-
you can just pull the bulbs out the holder. and im guessing you just plug in the T5s

[egpowargh]

so u cant use any other color cause the dials already have an orange thing on em?

[civicluv]

just wondering if the dash face is tinted in your ek? i've pulled mine apart in my ek and noticed the bulbs were clear. i'm just wanting to change mine to green. but there is no point puling the dash apart again if i need to change the dash face first.

[civicluv]

how do you get into the back of the dials to ascetone them? i've had my dash out before but couldnt see how to get the circuit board off the back of the dials to get in there.

[redefine]

you can get the dials out via a couple of screws on the back of the cluster, but that takes the whole gauge out, not sure how to separate face of it, but it should be enough room

here's a pic, from whoever posted them up a couple of pages back where you can see the screws


This is how the back of the cluster looks. You can change the bulbs or just change the silicone sleves like what I did.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2414000-2414999/2414344_15_full.jpg

[an93l]

Wow nice work.

[flipfire]

I believe you need these T10 wide angle LEDs to spread the light evenly

http://www.ledshoponline.com/images/T10%20refractror1.jpg

http://www.ledshoponline.com/images/T10SMT.jpg

http://www.ledshoponline.com/images/t5w1a.jpg

and these T5 wide angles.

http://www.ledshoponline.com/images/t5w120.jpg

http://www.ledshoponline.com/images/T5SMT1.jpg

[omganinja]

Heres mine. Damn T10 bulb produces a different colour to the T5s. I'll post more pics when i fix this. Also, not sure what happened to my needles for the fuel and temp.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1384/dscf0576n.jpg

[Hiikaru]

Heres mine. Damn T10 bulb produces a different colour to the T5s. I'll post more pics when i fix this. Also, not sure what happened to my needles for the fuel and temp.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/1384/dscf0576n.jpg

did you do that acetone thing?

[omganinja]

Yep, had to. Its a tad messy, make sure if you do it, take your time and do small parts at a time. If you try do too much at once excess may spill over to the front side. (See area between 90 and 100km/h in my pic) I used almost all of a 250ml bottle of acetone (alot was wasted) and a very small paint brush (from K&H touchup paint).

[Hiikaru]

Yep, had to. Its a tad messy, make sure if you do it, take your time and do small parts at a time. If you try do too much at once excess may spill over to the front side. (See area between 90 and 100km/h in my pic) I used almost all of a 250ml bottle of acetone (alot was wasted) and a very small paint brush (from K&H touchup paint).

I want to do that, but im not sure how to go about it. ive opened my cluster and the plastic casing. And ive heard that i shouldnt touch the needles. can anyone give me a quick run down on how to acetone?

[omganinja]

Take out each gauge one at a time by removing the casing and the screws on the circuit board. You'll see dotted white patches on the back of the plates, this is where you need to apply the acetone and rub with a cloth. This will melt the film, thus removing the orange filter layer. Just be careful not to get any acetone on any electronics and try not to move the fuel needle. I moved mine accidentally but it went back to the correct place after starting the car and driving around the block.

[Chriskoss]

Just to confirm is it OK to replace the T5 wedges in the dash with T10's? they take the same voltage dont they?

[omganinja]

If you can get ones that fit in the t5 sockets, or get t10 sockets that fit in the t5 socket holes. Yeah, they're both the same voltage.