I decided to do some experiments with leds... and here's the conclusion

do: blue and white
dont do: red and amber

the only color I didnt try is the UV color... but I dont think anyone wants it anyway :D

here how I did it:

I tried the leds from 2 different website: #74 for the cluster

autolumination.com perfect size, plastic butts easy to swap

superbrightleds.com wont fit to the cluster
Turn the lights switch off before doing this

1. remove the cluster frame by removing 2 bolts attached upside down, and pull the frame out (there's two small clips holding it)

2. remove the 3 bolts that's holding the cluster, and take the cluster out so that you can reach the back. The 02-03 models need 5 bulbs.

attn: some bulbs are polarized... when you install a blub and it lit right away, take the bulb out of the socket and put it the other way around

here's what I tried

I didnt have a photo of my orange cluster, but it sucks anyway :p

blue bulbs... nope, not blue enough
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/feiron/Mod%20folder/148-4877_IMG.jpg

red leds
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/feiron/Mod%20folder/152-5230_IMG.jpg

blue leds
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/feiron/Mod%20folder/IMG_0049.jpg

white leds
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v447/feiron/Mod%20folder/153-5380_IMG.jpg

If there's more interest or confusion in doing this I'll try to make a photoed instruction :)

cool...this is helpful...did you remove the green film? do the whites not look that white or is it just the pic? i was thinking about doing mine in white...but hadnt really seen it done beofre...

also ...the superbrightleds that you tried were just the bulb or the base also? i see the different in sizes of the bulbs.....but i dont know if the bases would also be different...

I really like the Blue LEDs that you used...

I know you said #74 on autolumination.com but the only #74 i found was to get bulbs...

I've read almost every single HVAC and cluster change of bulbs but i still have yet to be able to find the exact bulbs that people are talking about. I think i know the process of installing them, but I just need to find those leds! I don't mind if you tell me that it's completely obvious and that they were right under my nose the whole time... i'll be the first to say "ahhh... duh, i'm retarded", but until then i still want to find them.. lol

cool...this is helpful...did you remove the green film? do the whites not look that white or is it just the pic? i was thinking about doing mine in white...but hadnt really seen it done beofre...

I didnt do anything else other than changing the blubs with leds :)

and the white is bright... not visible at daytime tho... unlike those electric clusters on the legacy and stis :) but still look awesome at night

also ...the superbrightleds that you tried were just the bulb or the base also? i see the different in sizes of the bulbs.....but i dont know if the bases would also be different...

I tried comparing the two #74 leds from both vendors... the ones from superbrightleds is a little bigger...

I really like the Blue LEDs that you used...

I know you said #74 on autolumination.com but the only #74 i found was to get bulbs...

I've read almost every single HVAC and cluster change of bulbs but i still have yet to be able to find the exact bulbs that people are talking about. I think i know the process of installing them, but I just need to find those leds! I don't mind if you tell me that it's completely obvious and that they were right under my nose the whole time... i'll be the first to say "ahhh... duh, i'm retarded", but until then i still want to find them.. lol

http://autolumination.com/74.htm go there and just scroll down my friend :)

Thanks, i did actually see that... it just said "bulbs"... so i was unsure if those were the first "blue bulbs" you posted or the second (better looking) picture of "blue leds"

Were those #74 the same that you used for the hvac? i found this on another post:

According to the other posts I've seen it looks like if you're doing bulbs you'll need:
8 (+/- 2) size 74 bulbs for the Instrument Panel
1 (+/-1) size 74 bulbs for the Keyring
2 (+/-2) size 194 bulbs for the HVAC

Does that seem like the right amount/kind of bulbs? I think you said you only needed 5 for the instrument panel. I'm just planning on ordering some bulbs, but i'd like to try to get them all at once, no sense in spending a ton in shipping for leds

how does that change the color of the needles?

also, why not red? it looks a little dim but not too dim and i like the look of it better...

red is ok IMO, but its just not right enough...

the needles will only change color to red.... when you put red leds... with other leds they'll stay yellow

Thanks, i did actually see that... it just said "bulbs"... so i was unsure if those were the first "blue bulbs" you posted or the second (better looking) picture of "blue leds"

Were those #74 the same that you used for the hvac? i found this on another post:

According to the other posts I've seen it looks like if you're doing bulbs you'll need:
8 (+/- 2) size 74 bulbs for the Instrument Panel
1 (+/-1) size 74 bulbs for the Keyring
2 (+/-2) size 194 bulbs for the HVAC

Does that seem like the right amount/kind of bulbs? I think you said you only needed 5 for the instrument panel. I'm just planning on ordering some bulbs, but i'd like to try to get them all at once, no sense in spending a ton in shipping for leds

depending on which year your car is... 02 and 03 clusters are the same so they should need the same amount :)

those 5 are for the speedo, rpm, fuel, and temp... the other lights suchs as turn signal and the tripmeter are extras... its always a good idea to buy spare :)

i think i'll do red once the holiday season dies down... i've never liked really bright guages, i keep them one or two steps down most of the time.

i might go try to get red 194s for the HVAC right now.

I tired the same bulbs on the 04 gauges, 74's from autolumination.com. Neither the red or blue where anywhere near bright enough. in addition the stock bulbs are two different sizes in the cluster.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d635b3127cce9c19fc645d3a00000016108Bbs2TJy1aW

okay, for 2002-2003...

the HVAC are NOT 194. 194 are way too big and they are what you use for your sidemarkers and parking light front thingys. they are 24.

i too just tried this and i took off the green condoms...

the HVAC are not 'filmed' on the back so they shine a dull yellow/orange light that is emitted from the bulb without it's green condom.

the guage cluster, however, does have a green film on it and even without the green condoms STILL SHINES GREEN.

just look at how much brighter the HVAC is than the guages in the above pictures for proof.

i do not think this is going to result in a BRIGHT guage cluster until you open up the guages, pop off the needles and scrape off the green film backing.

okay, for 2002-2003...

the HVAC are NOT 194. 194 are way too big and they are what you use for your sidemarkers and parking light front thingys. they are 24.


I use 2 butt-trimmed #194 for my hvac.. and I swap the leds by removing the hvac face.. I'll take a photo of it when I get home

yeah, feiron knows what he is talking about.

i follwed his directions for the hvac and it worked just like he said.

next i am moving onto the speedometer, and expect it to work, just like he said.

i have a 2002, and i will post pics later..

dan

I tired the same bulbs on the 04 gauges, 74's from autolumination.com. Neither the red or blue where anywhere near bright enough. in addition the stock bulbs are two different sizes in the cluster.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4d635b3127cce9c19fc645d3a00000016108Bbs2TJy1aW
okay so how many of each are there? i was waiting to do this to my RS when i got a definate response......so do they not fit at all? or are there #24 LEDS?

#24 is for the hvac.... #74 is for the cluster... surprisingly I found that not all #74 will fit the cluster...

I bought #74 from 2 websites and only the one from autolumination.com fit...

Please, Everyone- Read the FAQ on how to change your hvac and radio controls that is Sticky'd at the top of this forum... especially the posts on page three...

and it helps if you go ahead and take everything apart(all you need is a phillips head and some prying hands) and look at just what you're getting yourself into.

The one thing I'm not sure of... Does the odometer reset if you disconnect the gauge cluster???

i didn't want to find out last night as i poked around, so i just left it plugged in and tilted it so i could get to the bulbs.

of course the problem with leaving it plugged in is that you have to work around the steering wheel, which becomes a problem when you want to find out exactly which blub lights exact portion of the gauge cluster

i was refering to the comment that the MY04 cluster has two types of bulbs...i was clarify whether or not it was in the gauge cluster or in all the gauges and hvacs together...

The one thing I'm not sure of... Does the odometer reset if you disconnect the gauge cluster???

The trip odometer will reset, but the main one will not change.

awesome thank you.

yeah, feiron knows what he is talking about.

i follwed his directions for the hvac and it worked just like he said.

next i am moving onto the speedometer, and expect it to work, just like he said.

i have a 2002, and i will post pics later..

dan

glad you did yours well :)

the next generation of the subies better have either red or blue interior lights... green makes me sick :alien:

The one thing I'm not sure of... Does the odometer reset if you disconnect the gauge cluster???


No, just the trips reset.

well i took out my cluster in my MY04RS and yeah the bulbs are different....i dont know if you can just replace the #24's with #74's ...but there are 2 #24's in there.......i will take it apart again and take some pics if anyone is interested....