Need Advice before moving on: Backlight LED for Dash

[firedawg81]

Ok so two of the LED's have gone out on my dash, the ac and the rear defroster. So now when its dark and my headlights are on they dont show up. I went to chevy the other day and they told me a pretty funny joke, and the joke was they have to replace the whole head unit with the ac and heat switches and all to replace the lights and this will cost me a nice chunk of 150$ to replace two LED's. So im guessing there has to be any easier way to replace them seeming that chevy doesnt sell these lights. Just wanted to ask opinions before I move on. I might pop my dash off today and take a look but I thought id ask. Thanks


Forrest

[BlenderWizard]

Either do it there way or get your soldering gun ready, because those are soldered in. Chuck 16 has changed out his HVAC lights with LED's. If GM (and everyone else, for that matter) would use LED's instead of the little incandescent bulbs they use, none of this would be a problem.

[chuck16]

It's actually not to bad of a job. If your steady with a soldering gun then you can swap them out to LEDs. I've done my Stereo as well; as most of them were burnt out. The cool thing, is that you can pick any colour you like...

[Ape0r]

Just had my head unit replaced for that under warranty, $245 parts an labor for GM to pay. Would have just soddered new LEDs if it weren't under warranty.

[RahX]

i love led lights but the only thing i dont like is the fact that you cant control how bright they are =\

[korndogg]

Im planning on doing all of my interior lights with LEDs. I just wish someone would put together step by step how to do all of the lights with pictures. Im a visual guy and I need pictures. I dont even need explanations of the pics lol..i can usually figure it out. I know theres threads out there but I dont know where all of them are lol.

[firedawg81]

excellent thanks for the advice..the the sodering iron i go!

[kmschna]

Chuck, what would it entail to turn off a light on my dash? My ABS modual shot craps 2 years ago and am quite comfortable with standard braking. However, I would love to turn that ABS light out on the dash. Any ideas/instruction?

[chuck16]

Originally Posted by RahX

i love led lights but the only thing i dont like is the fact that you cant control how bright they are =\

You can control the brightness of them by choosing different Resistors. All you would have to do is have a variety of Resistors handy and test them on your bench until you get the desired Intensity. I used 270 Ohm Resistors in my Stereo and it's pretty decent on the eyes. The other thing you have to keep in mind is that the LEDs, for the most part, are providing indirect light. They are in there to illuminate from behind so the plastic will eat a lot of the light that the LED emits.

[chuck16]

Originally Posted by korndogg

Im planning on doing all of my interior lights with LEDs. I just wish someone would put together step by step how to do all of the lights with pictures. Im a visual guy and I need pictures. I dont even need explanations of the pics lol..i can usually figure it out. I know theres threads out there but I dont know where all of them are lol.

Hey Korndogg,

If you want some pics of my Stereo swap I'd be happy to email you them. They don't show the back of the circuit board but, it's pretty straight forward. I also have a diagram illustrating the + and - terminals on the board.

[chuck16]

Originally Posted by kmschna

Chuck, what would it entail to turn off a light on my dash? My ABS modual shot craps 2 years ago and am quite comfortable with standard braking. However, I would love to turn that ABS light out on the dash. Any ideas/instruction?

Hey Man,
I would think that the way to turn it off would be just to pull the bulb from the back of the dash. Pull your cluster out and see what's back there for illumination. I haven't pulled my cluster yet as all the bulbs in there are still working great... If it's an LED I'm pretty sure you could just de'solder it off the board and it wouldn't illuminate any more.
Cheers
Evan

[BlenderWizard]

Originally Posted by chuck16

Hey Man,
I would think that the way to turn it off would be just to pull the bulb from the back of the dash. Pull your cluster out and see what's back there for illumination. I haven't pulled my cluster yet as all the bulbs in there are still working great... If it's an LED I'm pretty sure you could just de'solder it off the board and it wouldn't illuminate any more.
Cheers
Evan

The 99-02 just has a little twist lock bulb, like the larger gauge lights. Should be very simple to remove.

[kmschna]

Thanks for the information,..I will try when the weather permits.

[kenwood guy]

hey chuck I remember seeing a tread where you showed how to swap the lights or is it me being dumb??

[korndogg]

Originally Posted by chuck16

Hey Korndogg,

If you want some pics of my Stereo swap I'd be happy to email you them. They don't show the back of the circuit board but, it's pretty straight forward. I also have a diagram illustrating the + and - terminals on the board.

Sure man Ill take whatever you have. [email protected]

Thanks!!

oh and do you know if it is actually possible to switch every light inside the truck to and LED?? Cause if I do this, I want it all to look the same.