Dashboard Lighting - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Chunkywolf · 05-13-2009, 11:58 PM

I currently am planning to replace my dashboard lights(the green filtered ones) with red LEDs. I have already ordered the 194 bulbs for the main part of the instrument cluster, but I am wondering what size twist lock sockets are used in the AC/Heat modules. They are definitely smaller than the 74 bulbs that are listed as the only other bulb in the instrument panel.
Does anyone know what size/style of socket they use?

mmejia · 05-27-2009, 10:26 PM

I researched for a while for that and I believe the guys said that 74 bulbs would fit. If my memory serves me correctly, it was 5 194's and 2 74s. I'm actually ordering them as I speak from V-leds, so I'll tell you if I messed up!

UPDATE: Couldn't get the red 74s...out of stock.

PS. Noticed you were in Arlington Heights, IL. I closeby in Addison Maybe we can start a little Avalon thing. Haha...most people hate me for fixing up my Avalon.

EDIT: This is a good list of the bulbs used in the Avalon

Low Beam Headlamp Light Bulb Size: 9006
High Beam Headlamp Light Bulb Size: 9005
Parking Light Bulb Size: 168
Front Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 1156
Rear Turn Signal Light Bulb Size: 1156
Tail Light Bulb Size: 1157
Stop Light Bulb Size: 1157
High Mount Stop Light Bulb Size: Assembly or 921
License Plate Light Bulb Size: 168
Back Up Light Bulb Size: 1156
Front Sidemarker Light Bulb Size: 194
Glove Box Light Bulb Size: 74
Dome Light Bulb Size: DE3175
Step/Courtesy Light Bulb Size: 194
Trunk/Cargo Area Light Bulb Size: DE3021
Instrument-General Light Bulb Size: 194 or 74

Chunkywolf · 05-27-2009, 11:48 PM

I ended up just buying some of each of the 3 neo fitting sized LEDs, it turns out that the bulbs in the AC/Heat units are Neo4 bulbs, which are used with a 4mm LED. I ordered mine from superbrightleds.com, and they work pretty well, but I need to wire up a few more bulbs because the lightpipes don't work with the LED's narrow beam.

The main cluster(4 194s) looks pretty nice with it, but the camera washes it out a bit:

I haven't seen the need to swap out the 74 bulbs since the indicator lights aren't normally lit.

mmejia · 05-28-2009, 12:43 AM

You could probably also get some mylar to keep more light in and have it be more even lighting. It would also keep it from bleeding into PRND lights and such.

Jigg007 · 06-02-2009, 06:11 PM

Did I just hear a cook/lake county avalon club?

mmejia · 06-02-2009, 08:21 PM

I'm actually in DuPage County but that's close enough. Definitely a possibility.

Jigg007 · 06-02-2009, 09:27 PM

I thought I would tease everybody too.

Nothing is a drop in replacement, its all leds, solder, and molding. :P

mmejia · 06-02-2009, 10:15 PM

That's a lot of work. Your footwell lighting fades with the dome light right? Where did you tap the wire at to get it to work with the dome light?

Chunkywolf · 06-02-2009, 11:55 PM

It's pretty decently documented in Jigg's cardomain, page 3. Well mine may be a little more bland, I'm slowly working my way into modding this car, and I'd much rather not bite off more than I can chew

Edit: actually, after looking again, it seems that he doesn't add how he got it to be switched

Jigg007 · 06-03-2009, 05:02 AM

You can splice in at the driver side kick panel. The same wire also runs up the driver side front roof support by itself mostly.

Kyle_Mains · 06-04-2009, 12:01 AM

any chance of a wiring diagram with what wire that is??

I've had my Avalon for just a few months and have been on Jigg's CarDomain from day one getting inspiration for the stuff I've done (audio/video/lighting).

Edit: wow all of us talking are from northern illinois.

mmejia · 06-04-2009, 11:29 AM

I'm telling you it's a sign. We gotta start this club. Maybe then we could have some stuff manufactured for cheaper if we do it as a group. We should do it! Haha.

Kyle_Mains · 06-04-2009, 05:57 PM

I'm down. Us Avalons need Projector headlights to.

mmejia · 06-04-2009, 08:55 PM

I've been looking all over the place for projector lights that could at least be modified a little to make it fit, but the only solution that I have found is getting just the project units and cutting up our headlight housings and custom fitting them in...I would do it, but having the projectors line up correctly and be aimed right would be hard.

Kyle_Mains · 06-04-2009, 09:05 PM

It seems to be a learned skill. the write ups i've seen on it have seemed excruciatingly time consuming. If it was just one headlight on a car it would be fine but the fact that you have to make two identical ones that line up perfectly makes it seem so far out of reach.