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Old 03-21-2012, 10:42 PM   #1
castper
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Cool Changing HVAC Lights in a WRX D.I.Y.

Hey guys i've wanted to do this for a while and i have seen some tutorials for this but none with great descriptions. I am changing the lights not adding bulb covers like trunk monkey did.
Background info:
02 WRX
Bulb Type:
#74 LED bought from http://autolumination.com/74.htm
Looks like this






Ok first lets take a look at what i had, i used regular bulbs which i do not recommend. For brightness and reliability use LEDs Like the one above, anyway this is what i had before, i changed the stock bulbs to blue bulbs.


I know, very dim and bad quality lol


Lets start

Step 1
Remove your radio and trim around the radio.

Step 2
Pull off your HVAC knobs, they will come off if you tug on them, i used needle nose pliers to get the air slider switch off (that thing that changes the air from recirculating and fresh)

Step 3
Remove the HVAC faceplate, there will be two clips on the top, undo those and pull but be very careful not to hit yourself with the faceplate or snap it

and


Step 4
Pull out the stock bulbs from the black twist lock holder thing
Hard to see but there are bulbs in there, just oull them out and you should be good


Step 5
Put your new LEDs in the socket where you removed the old bulbs. If they do not light, take them out and reverse it (LEDs are polarized unlike bulbs)
Then test


Step 6
Once everything is confirmed to be working, put everything back together in the reverse of how you took it apart



Once done it should look something like this




Then Your Done!


Also the stock bulbs come with this ugly green cover on them


I replaced the cap with a different blue one i got
Epic waste of $9 from cost and shipping not to mention they were also too big

Went to Blue bulbs
Then went to LEDs and they are by far the best out of all of those.

Good Luck and if you break something or somehow die its on you
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Old 03-21-2012, 10:49 PM   #2
emazz104
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That's a awesome guide! I started following another one a while back, but I couldn't find those covers anywhere.
This makes it look so simple, I may have to pick up some LEDs, now I just need to get the courage or somebody else to do my cluster haha.
PS: I believe 74s are also referred to as T5 in terms of LEDs because there are a few other similar bulbs that are essentially the same just different wattage's, just like T10 with 168, 194, and all those.

*EDIT: Just ordered a pair of white bulbs, should see them between the 24th and 26th, I'll post them here after!
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Old 03-22-2012, 02:37 AM   #3
wrx.
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Have you done the gauge cluster?
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Old 03-22-2012, 08:46 AM   #4
castper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrx. View Post
Have you done the gauge cluster?
Not yet, I'm still nervous about hitting a needle lol
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Old 11-27-2012, 09:16 PM   #5
rally kid2174
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was this a RS gauge cluster or aint the cluster green so if i put blue leds behind my gauges it will light up blue?????????????? and how many leds 4 the gauges and the hvac cos im going 2 do this mod
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Old 03-22-2012, 09:13 AM   #6
RSXNTN
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The gauge cluster is pretty much the same process, but is way more time consuming and a royal pita!

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Old 03-22-2012, 09:18 AM   #7
skep18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RSXNTN View Post
The gauge cluster is pretty much the same process, but is way more time consuming and a royal pita!

Haha, wow, very cool!
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Old 04-10-2012, 02:51 PM   #8
jazzy_JAE
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RSXNTN View Post
The gauge cluster is pretty much the same process, but is way more time consuming and a royal pita!

did you remove the green micro dot film off of the back of the gauge faces? when i put my red leds in, they were very dim, and i assume it had something to do with that green backing
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Old 10-25-2012, 05:46 PM   #9
KFREX
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzy_JAE View Post
did you remove the green micro dot film off of the back of the gauge faces? when i put my red leds in, they were very dim, and i assume it had something to do with that green backing
I would also like to know the answer to this question
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Old 10-26-2012, 02:24 PM   #10
Redbolt04
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jazzy_JAE View Post
did you remove the green micro dot film off of the back of the gauge faces? when i put my red leds in, they were very dim, and i assume it had something to do with that green backing
+1 to this question. I already went through with the HVAC using a 10" led ribbon and it turned out great. Looking to do the cluster next. If a decent result can be had by simply switching bulbs count me in!
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Old 03-22-2012, 09:21 AM   #11
RSXNTN
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Old 03-22-2012, 09:24 AM   #12
CobbWRX
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I have done.

Hvac
Gauge cluster
Cruise control switch
Fog light switch
Key ring.

And I will be working on my door buttons shortly. I changed all of mine to red though
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Old 03-22-2012, 08:35 PM   #13
castper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CobbWRX View Post
I have done.

Hvac
Gauge cluster
Cruise control switch
Fog light switch
Key ring.

And I will be working on my door buttons shortly. I changed all of mine to red though
Nice! I like the fact that we can also change them to whatever we prefer
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Old 03-22-2012, 10:35 PM   #14
emazz104
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I forgot to ask before, and I'm assuming they do, but do they still properly dim?
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Old 03-23-2012, 11:04 AM   #15
Trudd84
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I am in for do they dim, and that awesome, did you add a red led of the same style for the redline part of the tach? or leave the original? And what color is the light on the button for the a/c when you push it in?

Last edited by Trudd84; 03-23-2012 at 11:10 AM.
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Old 03-23-2012, 05:31 PM   #16
PyroParrish
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looks sick
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Old 03-23-2012, 09:15 PM   #17
CobbWRX
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yes they properly dim i will post pictures of mine asap!
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Old 03-23-2012, 09:45 PM   #18
scoobyrex123
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i want to do my cluster like that bad...
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Old 03-23-2012, 09:50 PM   #19
20blkndyellow02
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i have been looking at all the interior lighting posts and i have honestly no clue on what i would need or even the correct bulbs to use.. i have a 2002 wrx and i want to change all of the interior lighting to amber leds... can anyone give some advice???
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Old 03-23-2012, 11:03 PM   #20
castper
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 20blkndyellow02 View Post
i have been looking at all the interior lighting posts and i have honestly no clue on what i would need or even the correct bulbs to use.. i have a 2002 wrx and i want to change all of the interior lighting to amber leds... can anyone give some advice???
This is going to be to the best of my knowledge, anyone feel free to correct me.

HVAC- look up
Cluster- Same as HVAC #74
Dome- 30-32mm festoon bulb
Map- same as dome
Stock radio- dont know or care because i have an aftermarket radio

any more that you need?
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Old 03-24-2012, 02:04 AM   #21
20blkndyellow02
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Cool

Thanks so much Haha.
I think thats all I needed. Now I just hope I can put it all together correctly!
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Old 03-24-2012, 10:50 AM   #22
Trudd84
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This is legit. If this thread had a link to the door switch thread, as well as... How many #74 tri led bulbs are needed to do the guage cluster, total? Awesome job. How about how did you keep the redline red, and what color is the ac button's little light when you push it in to turn it on? Still green?
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Old 03-24-2012, 03:04 PM   #23
emazz104
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I got my bulbs in today!
Here are a few iPhone pictures.

As you can see the LEDs are a lot brighter, but they are also directional, so the light isn't completely evenly dispersed, but it's very close.


There's the after, I don't have a before, but I like it a lot better. Unfortunately the white on my radio is either a slight blue or green depending on what way you go, so I went with a blue to offset it.
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Old 03-24-2012, 04:10 PM   #24
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i might do this but still go through the trouble for green LED's.
just so they're match all my aftermaret gauges since the green on them is like ULTA MEGA BRIGHT GREEN
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Old 03-24-2012, 04:35 PM   #25
20blkndyellow02
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Was there a greenish backing by the nobs? It might just be my screen but it still looks like a greenish color?
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