A/C and Defrost button bulb swap...help!

[Dan3215]

Hey guys! OK so this is where I'm at, I'm trying to figure out what bulbs I need to change the color of the A/C and Defrost buttons in in my Gen 4 Camry. I want to change the GREEN for the button images to red to match the rest of the HVAC and Gauge Cluster but I can seem to find a definite answer to which bulbs I I need to do this. I know I need a Neo 4mm for the A/C but for the Defrost it takes both 3mm and 4mm but I do not know which one is for the Image and which one is for the little orange light that lights up to show it's on? I think I need a 3mm but I just want to be sure! I'd go take it apart but it's -1 here in MN and plastic no like the cold and I don't feel like takin it apart when I"ve got TYN. Thx guys!








* Oh and should the D indicator when in gear be Red or Blue?

[carsrus]

Stock is green for the d indicator, I would go with blue with your color scheme.

Im curious too about the A/C and defrost since mines have been burnt out for a while. I think there dealer only/non replaceable.

[xpeed]

There are threads about this. For the A/C indicator, I believe you have to solder it in for the bulb are attached to the unit itself. The Neo 4 is the "icon" logo color. The Neo 3 for the defroster is the color for the defroster, while the Neo 4 is the "icon" logo itself.

Here's the DIY I did.

Gen 4-4.5 DIY Changing your bulbs inside your center console

[DM616]

I believe the 3mm is for the writing, and the 4mm is the light.

For the A/C, to change the light, you have to solder. It's a pain in the ass. I wrote this for it:

DIY: A/C Button Light and Cigarette Light Swap

Also explains the cigarette lighter too...which I need to re-do since my new led broke off and doesn't light anymore <_<

I would make the gear lights the same color except for reverse...seems better than just changing the light for when in drive. Would do red if the rest is blue.

Also, what kind of bulbs did you use for the HVAC ? It looks like all the red is pretty bright and spread evenly unlike mine...I've been using 5 SMD #74s...

[Dan3215]

Yea i'm gonna change all the gear lights, and I like the idea of having R dif than the rest. When not in use they all actually faintly glow red so I'm thinkin blue would go nicely. To answer your question I used a 74-xhp3 LED because it has a 360 degree light dispersion pattern so I don't have to deal with hot spots surrounded by dimly lit areas. Didn't realize there was soldering involved with the neo's...I thought they were just twist out and twist in.....Have to look into that write up!

[DM616]

No, there's no soldering with the neo wedges. But if you want to change the indicator light for when the A/C is on...you will need to solder.

Lemme ask, with those 74-xhp3...is it bright red for each icon, or it trails off near the end icons? I have a 74 with 5 SMDs (3 facing front and 2 on the side) and it trails off near the end which bothers me.

[xpeed]

^ Take a look at mine. Even though it's white, there are even dispersion and no hotspots but it gets faintly dimmer towards the furthest sides but barely noticeable.

[Dan3215]

Yea like he said the 360 dispersion of light does a great job of evenly lighting the entire display. If you go with red LEDs the red portion of the temp control will glow more because it's getting a double dose of red, but it doesn't look out of place as the rest is also quite bright. Definitely a great upgrade and having a deck that can match colors is a perk! .....ok so as far as the A/C and Defrost I'm only really interested in changing the icon color to match and get those two blah green spots out of my display. Thud indicator lights can stay as I honestly don't care about those too much, especially if it's more complicated than it needs to be. SO! Can i change the "icon" color from the green you can see to red with just a neo wedge swap? Thanks for the input for far!