Camry SE dashboard color

[Cyndrix]

I just today got my new Camry SE. It's a great car, but I really don't like the orange lights used in the dashboard as I have always had a green dashboard in the past.

So my question is, how hard is it to change the color of the dashboard lights? Living in Atlanta, I'm sure there are tons of car customization shops around town, I just want to know if this is a common and easily accomplished practice. Ever heard of anyone doing it?

[yotatechie04]

With the new Camrys, I've heard that they're aren't actually light bulbs in the instrument cluster, they're actually LEDs. I've seen where people have taken these off, although you need to have some experience working with soldering irons and electronics. You need to literally crush the LEDs off the board after stripping the gauges and such completely down, and then place new ones of the color you wish on the board and solder them in place. Very tricky thing to accomplish in my opinion, and you'd need a really steady hand...which is something I wish that I had.

[niwre]

try to unscrew two screws on the guage panel. and slowly take out the frame. you need to unscrew 4 screws holding the guages then pull it out. you can unplug the bulbs which is located at the back side by turning it counter clockwise. take out the bulb. you can purchse different colors for this.

[yotatechie04]

There are no bulbs in the gauge clusters in the new Camrys. They all have LEDs instead.

[Cyndrix]

You said you've heard that the new Camrys have LEDs....how certain are you that this is the case?

I ask because the type of light emitted by the dashboard just really doesn't look like LED light.

[yotatechie04]

http://www.sounddomain.com/member_pa...=216257&page=6

Someone who has done the color conversion themselves in a new Camry. This is a definite source of information that there are LEDs and not lightbulbs inside of the Gen 5 instrument cluster.

[Cyndrix]

Well, I guess you're right!

Now the question....to attempt this myself or take it to a pro.

Thanks for the link!

[Cyndrix]

BTW, that forum gives an excellent tutorial for changing the dash LEDs and clock color...

But, do you know of anywhere that tells how to change the color on the air conditioning controls? I don't know if that color is determined by LEDs like the dash, or just a plastic overlay like the clock.

Thanks!

[yotatechie04]

I'm not really sure whether or not there is anything posted on the climate controls, although I can look and see what I can come up with, and let you know. If you can handle anything electronic related, then I'm pretty sure you can manage yourself. Just as long as you follow all of the directions that are given in that tutorial. If you doubt that you can do it, even in the least bit, then take it to a professional and have it done.

[Cyndrix]

Well, I can't find any professionals in the Atlanta area who seem to know how to tackle this job. I've found great customizers who don't do electrical work and then some electrical people who have never worked on LED Camry gauges before, so I don't trust them.

I've never done any auto work before, but I've successfully installed mod chips in Playstation 2s, so I can do soldering work.

My biggest concern honestly is the removal of the needles. I'm also a little worried about not liking the new LEDs (if they're too bright, ugly, or whatever) since it sounds like you have to destroy the factory LEDs to get them off. Aside from that, I think that I can probably handle this job.

All I really need to know is what I'll need for the A/C controls, and also, do you have any idea what watt soldering iron is appropriate for the Toyota circuit board? I use a small 15 watt for the PS2, but that thing doesn't even get hot enough to melt most solder. Of course, if you go too hot, you can damage the board.

[yotatechie04]

I figure that you can tackle this task yourself. If you doubt the other people, so-called "professionals" who have never messed with it before, then don't let them. The replacement LEDs are fairly cheap, so if you don't like them, you can just purchase some other ones, no real reason to worry about crushing the factory ones off the board. I suppose if you wanted to save them from being destroyed, you could always take the soldering iron to them and try to remove them without damaging them. I think you'll need something a little higher than a 15 watt, I'm not exactly sure. You really don't have to worry about removing the needles, it's not actually as hard as it may seem, and you won't break them if you apply force. They are relatively easy to set back in the exact position they were in during reassembly, so you shouldn't encounter any problems. Like I said, I will get on looking for something for those climate controls A.S.A.P. Let me know if I can help you with anything else.