Ok well after a lot of trial and error I have found a way to light the gauges evenly using LEDs. If anyone has tried swapping out there regular bulb lights for LEDs they probably know the lighting isnt even. So here is how you fix that problem
1. Head over to http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=ACCENTS and buy yourself a line of LEDs. They look like this, they are for motorcycles but are 12v so it works for us.
They come in a bunch of colors, I chose red.
2. I seperated the wire into 4 sets of 2 by yanking the wire out of one side of the LED. I did this so it would be easier to position behind the gauges.
3. You now need to take apart the gauge cluster. You can find out how to do that here: http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?t=48154 (Note: You dont have to take it completely apart only up to this step.
3. When you have your gauge cluster at the step above you want to start placing the LED string. Each LED comes with double sided tape on the back so just peel it off and stick. But watch out because the tape is very strong and once you stick it, it wont stick again if you pull it off. After about 2 or 3 tries I found this setup was the best.
Notce there are only 3 sets of 2 leds there. This is because I used the 4th set on the P R N D 2 1 thing cause I have an automatic. You can use the 4th set for whatever.
4. Next you want to take out the twisty thing that holds the stock gauge lights in place. Feed the ends of each set of LEDs through the closest hole. Strip the ends and solder them in place.
Above I marked which side is positive and which is negative.
5. Now before you put your gauge cluster back together plug it in to make sure all the LEDs light up. If not you probably soldered the wires wrong. Once you make sure everything lights up put your gauge cluster back together and reinstall it.
6. Now sit back and admire your brighter evenly lit gauges. (thumb)
Sorry about the bluriness of the picture but I took it at night without a flash and I didnt have my tripod. But you can easily tell the LEDs looks beautiful.
1. Head over to http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?product=ACCENTS and buy yourself a line of LEDs. They look like this, they are for motorcycles but are 12v so it works for us.
They come in a bunch of colors, I chose red.
2. I seperated the wire into 4 sets of 2 by yanking the wire out of one side of the LED. I did this so it would be easier to position behind the gauges.
3. You now need to take apart the gauge cluster. You can find out how to do that here: http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/showthread.php?t=48154 (Note: You dont have to take it completely apart only up to this step.
3. When you have your gauge cluster at the step above you want to start placing the LED string. Each LED comes with double sided tape on the back so just peel it off and stick. But watch out because the tape is very strong and once you stick it, it wont stick again if you pull it off. After about 2 or 3 tries I found this setup was the best.
Notce there are only 3 sets of 2 leds there. This is because I used the 4th set on the P R N D 2 1 thing cause I have an automatic. You can use the 4th set for whatever.
4. Next you want to take out the twisty thing that holds the stock gauge lights in place. Feed the ends of each set of LEDs through the closest hole. Strip the ends and solder them in place.
Above I marked which side is positive and which is negative.
5. Now before you put your gauge cluster back together plug it in to make sure all the LEDs light up. If not you probably soldered the wires wrong. Once you make sure everything lights up put your gauge cluster back together and reinstall it.
6. Now sit back and admire your brighter evenly lit gauges. (thumb)
Sorry about the bluriness of the picture but I took it at night without a flash and I didnt have my tripod. But you can easily tell the LEDs looks beautiful.
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