Gauge Cluster color modifying

[s1l3nced]

Hello all.

2004 Toyota Echo.

I've removed the gauge cluster, and removed the back plastic panel of the gauge cluster to discover not a light bulb for the speedometer (the green main light on the speedo and the main green light on the fuel gauge) but .. what looks like a bunch of string coiled up? I can't seem to remove this piece, it's mounted down by plastic pieces that are apart of the whole plate piece.

I've included pictures... Any advice on how to change this? I want to change the color to blue.





The back of the gauge


The back of the gauge removed to expose the circuit




This is what I'm trying to change, I believe this is the piece which is what makes it green on the speedometer..






So any suggestions as to what i should do to change this?

[bubbah16]

You still have no reply to that thread...

Where are you now with your cluster light change?

I wanna do the same for my 2003.
I see the bulb is burned behind the gas gauge.
I will try to remove the cluster.

I'am not 100% convinced that the middle green object does reflect green inside the cluster.

I wanna try to see if I can change the main A bulbs wich are in pairs can impact the total cluster light.

There are replacement LED bulbs now but I wanna be able to use the dimmer wich apparently has no impact on the LED.

Looking through e*ay to see what's available.

Please share any finds you have since your original post.

[s1l3nced]

Originally Posted by bubbah16

You still have no reply to that thread...

Where are you now with your cluster light change?

I wanna do the same for my 2003.
I see the bulb is burned behind the gas gauge.
I will try to remove the cluster.

I'am not 100% convinced that the middle green object does reflect green inside the cluster.

I wanna try to see if I can change the main A bulbs wich are in pairs can impact the total cluster light.

There are replacement LED bulbs now but I wanna be able to use the dimmer wich apparently has no impact on the LED.

Looking through e*ay to see what's available.

Please share any finds you have since your original post.

Hey,

I actually went a little too far with that. I think the green thing is something I shouldn't have been playing around with. The actual bulbs, there's just 2. They are easy accessibly through the back of the Gauge cluster itself. You just rotate them 90deg (I think, but forget which direction, just use a little pressure and you'll feel it turn) and pop em out.

My question to you is, which LED bulbs do you think we need? What to search for on eBay? I have still not put LED's in but I got a new cluster cuz I screwed up the first one :P So runnin on stock one now.

[bubbah16]

Originally Posted by s1l3nced

Hey,

I actually went a little too far with that. I think the green thing is something I shouldn't have been playing around with. The actual bulbs, there's just 2. They are easy accessibly through the back of the Gauge cluster itself. You just rotate them 90deg (I think, but forget which direction, just use a little pressure and you'll feel it turn) and pop em out.

My question to you is, which LED bulbs do you think we need? What to search for on eBay? I have still not put LED's in but I got a new cluster cuz I screwed up the first one :P So runnin on stock one now.

Well I took out the two major bulb responsible for gas level indicator and speedometer light. In the Toyota part store both bulb are referred to as "A" and they are expensive 10$/each and not in stock. They were tiny and covered with a blue silicon cap. So took out both and went to canadian Tire. The gentleman pointed out to bulb type #74 costed 3.99$ for a pair.

And I went to a led bulb store online CTLumination LLC and only ordered different color silicon cap. They are cheap 29$ each. I will try to install red or amber silicon cap on top of the new #74 buld to see if it changes color significantly.

If it does not I will try 2 LED that are compatible with #74 type.
This is where I'am at.

I also noticed two smaller bulb burned out that are above those A bulb. They seem to light up all indicators at start up. ABS, Turning light signal, high beam, check engine, seat belt warning, door ajar and so on. All bulb are clear with no silicon cap on top but I don't know their real size or type. Definitely not #74, much smaller.

It will be a while until I receive the colored silicon caps.
I will post my results when finished.

[ericlp]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-T5-Gauge...cff416&vxp=mtr

Did the bulbs look like this? I was thinking it would be nice to have a RED background glow coming from the cluster. That being said, do you think the dimmer switch would work with LED's? I wouldn't mind trying this out but... My bulbs are still working. I sometimes can't justify to fix something that's perfectly working good.

One thing you could do is get the original bulb and paint the lens whatever color you want ... that way the dimmer switch would still work.

[bubbah16]

Originally Posted by ericlp

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Red-T5-Gauge-Background-Cluster-LED-Lights-37-73-74-/130557146134?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories &fits=Model%3AEcho&hash=item1e65cff416&vxp=mtr

Did the bulbs look like this? I was thinking it would be nice to have a RED background glow coming from the cluster. That being said, do you think the dimmer switch would work with LED's? I wouldn't mind trying this out but... My bulbs are still working. I sometimes can't justify to fix something that's perfectly working good.

One thing you could do is get the original bulb and paint the lens whatever color you want ... that way the dimmer switch would still work.

Yes they do look like this, but the casing in wich they rest is totally different. No they will not work with a dimmer.

Feast your eyes on those. From that page I decided to play it safe and order color silicon cap to put on top of the regular replacement bulb.
I ordered red, amber and purple to see what color does the better effect if any. If it does not work I will try ordering from the seller you showed me. That will be in last resort. Painting them is not an option to consider for now...

http://superlumination.com/74.htm

[bubbah16]

Tried something different tonight. Went in the echo to put back in its place the cluster with the one missing light where the gas gauge is. Just before it was done I decided NOT to put back on the blue silicon cap on the good bulb left, just to see the effect.

Glad I did. The green part in the middle of the back where you thought it was giving green; nope not true. The bare bulb without the blue cap has now givin me a very lite amber feel to the cluster. Pretty nice, much nicer then the old green.

So I will wait to get the red, amber and purple silicon cap and will try out the different effects. So the blue cap is not going back in the cluster.

The light still dimms but I can not tell if the lighting is strong enough without the blue cap. Will try to find a second good bulb tomorrow.

[bubbah16]

Bulb size #74 does not fit. It is a tiny bit to large on the bottom part and the bulb size about 1mm to large also. It won't insert in the gray socket.

I have to find the correct bulb as the toyota dealer doesn't know wich size it is.

I received the silicon color cap but at size 5mm they're way to small.
I could barely fit the red one on top of the bulb; it was stretch way to much.

Even with this fact it gave a pinkish glow on the cluster. Very nice.

I'am still trying to locate the right bulb size and the right size color cap.

Will post pictures when done and complete.

[ericlp]

seems to me like you could use an xacto knife and shave off a bit of plastic on each side to make it fit? It's just a compression fitting as long as the electrical wire going down the side is in contact. I've heard the stories about these bulbs (sockets) that are made a bit too big or even too small. I think different brands have different fits. I would think I'd rather have it a bit large than a bit small, since if it were too small you'd have to resort to hot glue and that might not be a BAD idea to do anyway. I've heard of people saying they pop out because they were a bit tight... Hit a bump bulb pops out. If it were me? I'd widle it down so it fits good, bend the wires and jam them in good for a solid electrical connection then add a small amount of hot glue so it has no chance of vibrating out... I'd just put glue it on top so that you could take an razor and cut it out in case you had to change it again.

Just my thoughts!

Edit:

The main thing here to Know is the TYPE 74 LEDs will fit and work but a regular #74 bulb from autozone Is to large to fit in the stock twist lock. #74 TWIST LOCKS WILL NOT FIT, AND YOU’LL HAVE TO DRILL OUT THE STOCK TWIST LOCKS WITH A # 5/32 DRILL BIT

Thought that might be useful!

[bubbah16]

Originally Posted by ericlp

seems to me like you could use an xacto knife and shave off a bit of plastic on each side to make it fit? It's just a compression fitting as long as the electrical wire going down the side is in contact. I've heard the stories about these bulbs (sockets) that are made a bit too big or even too small. I think different brands have different fits. I would think I'd rather have it a bit large than a bit small, since if it were too small you'd have to resort to hot glue and that might not be a BAD idea to do anyway. I've heard of people saying they pop out because they were a bit tight... Hit a bump bulb pops out. If it were me? I'd widle it down so it fits good, bend the wires and jam them in good for a solid electrical connection then add a small amount of hot glue so it has no chance of vibrating out... I'd just put glue it on top so that you could take an razor and cut it out in case you had to change it again.

Just my thoughts!

Edit:

The main thing here to Know is the TYPE 74 LEDs will fit and work but a regular #74 bulb from autozone Is to large to fit in the stock twist lock. #74 TWIST LOCKS WILL NOT FIT, AND YOU’LL HAVE TO DRILL OUT THE STOCK TWIST LOCKS WITH A # 5/32 DRILL BIT

Thought that might be useful!

Well #74 bulbs did not fit. Tried #73 also neither fitted. Finally 2723LL seems to be the one. They do insert fine in socket are suppose to give you long life. From Sylvania.

I'am still having difficulty to get the right size colored silicon caps with these bulbs. Autolumination keeps sending inappropriate size even though I sent them a picture of my orginal silicon cap right beside a mm ruler. They can't seem to send the right one. Big issues with them. They also have quite a few bad comments on the internet. Project is still not over.