Interior color change tutorial: Clock

WejR20X · 05-16-2006, 06:03 PM

Now that everyone knows how to change the color of the lights of everything from the gauge cluster to hvac and even the "Auto" light on the window switch, the only thing that is left is the clock.

Sticking out like a sore thumb it taunts us all with its green glow while everything else is nice and matching.

Here is a QUICK (read: 10-15 minutes) tutorial on how to change the color of the clock from green to white. I did not have enough time to try and change it to other colors but feel free to experiment and please post your results!

Supplies Needed:
- flathead screwdriver
- clear scotch tape
- red cellophane paper (found at your local party or arts & crafts store)
- thats it for now

Step 1: Remove the clock from the car

pry up the pod with a flathead screw driver and tug the part closer to the windshield first then pull the part closer to the AC vents next.

after you loosen it from the brackets unplug the clock and take it on indoors.

Step 2: Remove the clock from the pod

take a flathead screwdriver and pry it on both sides of the clock to remove it from the pod.

Step 3: Remove cover from the clock

take your flathead and pry the clips on the top and bottom of the clock to take off the cover of the clock, be careful as the minute/hour/set buttons are loose and will fall out.

after you take the cover off, the clock will look like this...

Step 4: Apply cellophane paper to clock

take your sheet of cellophane paper and cut it to match the screen of the clock. Then using clear tape, tape it onto the screen as tight as possible meaning try not to leave any gap inbetween the cellophane and the screen.

Note: please be careful and do not apply too much pressure when taping. The metal pins suspending the screen are very weak and will bend under pressure.

your finished product should look like this...

Step 5: Reassembly

Reassemble everything back starting with the cover (make sure the buttons are all in place) then put the clock back in the pod, plug it back in and reinstall the pod back in the car.

here are the resulting pictures...

Before:

After:

I will try to get some night time pictures up soon.

This exact proceedure is to get the clock from green to white only...to change it to a different color i.e. blue, just add a piece of blue cellophane paper on top of the red one. Remember the more layers added the darker the color but also the darker the clock so decide carefully.

As with all other DIY projects...

This is to be done AT YOUR OWN RISK, I do not assume any responsiblity for any damage done to your car/parts.

Good luck!

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KAX · 07-12-2006, 09:15 PM

night shots?

WejR20X · 07-13-2006, 12:33 AM

will post when i get back in the states...i'm currently in korea right now.

renhoek · 07-13-2006, 02:23 AM

Great post & very timely for me. Thanks. Just one thing....

You place red film to make the colour white? That's a typo right?

Then if you want a blue readout, you put blue film on top of the red?

Interesting thread. Them fluoro displays sure are tricky!

WejR20X · 07-14-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renhoek

Great post & very timely for me. Thanks. Just one thing....

You place red film to make the colour white? That's a typo right?

Then if you want a blue readout, you put blue film on top of the red?

Interesting thread. Them fluoro displays sure are tricky!

that is indeed not a typo, as you can clearly see in the pictures the red film changes it white. if you want blue just put blue film on top of the red.

i have not modded my clock so that it stays bright with the lights on but in total darkness (driving on the highway) it is just the right brightness for my eyes.

no hint of the red film can be seen at any time of day.

Crump · 07-15-2006, 03:51 PM

It looks good, but seems a lot darker with one layer.

Smoby · 08-11-2006, 12:33 PM

So has anyone made it display red? What would you do? Put another layer of red on.

I will go search right now to see if it has been covered.

wrx2k4blue · 11-06-2006, 11:35 PM

Not a great mod if it makes the clock darker. It can be hard enough to see the clock during the day, but if it's the only way to get it red, then so be it.

I'm not sure if there'd be any better way to make it red since these are LED's, not bulbs

CpuZapper · 11-07-2006, 01:21 AM

Actually, it appears to be a vacuum flourescent display, which are tough to find in red. You can tell because when they turn on or off there's a little bit of a lag and they fade in and out, whereas an LED is instant. I've seen them in kind of an amber color though, but the wiring inside and the illuminating shapes are application specific. They work with matrix though, and it shouldn't be too hard to translate it into the circuits for a set of 7 segment LED displays, or an inverted LCD which would make it look like the ones on an STi. I guess I'll have to pull mine out and give it a try.

Handsdown · 11-07-2006, 03:52 AM

i'm so sick of not being able to see my red clock in the day time that i'm going to take the red off.

color doesn't matter, information matters.

05-16-2006, 06:03 PM	#1
WejR20X Scooby Specialist Member#: 58101 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: MI/NJ Vehicle: 2002 WRX PSM	Interior color change tutorial: Clock Now that everyone knows how to change the color of the lights of everything from the gauge cluster to hvac and even the "Auto" light on the window switch, the only thing that is left is the clock. Sticking out like a sore thumb it taunts us all with its green glow while everything else is nice and matching. Here is a QUICK (read: 10-15 minutes) tutorial on how to change the color of the clock from green to white. I did not have enough time to try and change it to other colors but feel free to experiment and please post your results! Supplies Needed: - flathead screwdriver - clear scotch tape - red cellophane paper (found at your local party or arts & crafts store) - thats it for now Step 1: Remove the clock from the car pry up the pod with a flathead screw driver and tug the part closer to the windshield first then pull the part closer to the AC vents next. after you loosen it from the brackets unplug the clock and take it on indoors. Step 2: Remove the clock from the pod take a flathead screwdriver and pry it on both sides of the clock to remove it from the pod. Step 3: Remove cover from the clock take your flathead and pry the clips on the top and bottom of the clock to take off the cover of the clock, be careful as the minute/hour/set buttons are loose and will fall out. after you take the cover off, the clock will look like this... Step 4: Apply cellophane paper to clock take your sheet of cellophane paper and cut it to match the screen of the clock. Then using clear tape, tape it onto the screen as tight as possible meaning try not to leave any gap inbetween the cellophane and the screen. Note: please be careful and do not apply too much pressure when taping. The metal pins suspending the screen are very weak and will bend under pressure. your finished product should look like this... Step 5: Reassembly Reassemble everything back starting with the cover (make sure the buttons are all in place) then put the clock back in the pod, plug it back in and reinstall the pod back in the car. here are the resulting pictures... Before: After: I will try to get some night time pictures up soon. This exact proceedure is to get the clock from green to white only...to change it to a different color i.e. blue, just add a piece of blue cellophane paper on top of the red one. Remember the more layers added the darker the color but also the darker the clock so decide carefully. As with all other DIY projects... This is to be done AT YOUR OWN RISK, I do not assume any responsiblity for any damage done to your car/parts. Good luck! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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07-12-2006, 09:15 PM	#2
KAX Scooby Specialist Member#: 63292 Join Date: Jun 2004 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Warner Robins, GA Vehicle: 2000 Subaru 2.5RS 2002 WRX powered	night shots?

07-13-2006, 12:33 AM	#3
WejR20X Scooby Specialist Member#: 58101 Join Date: Mar 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: MI/NJ Vehicle: 2002 WRX PSM	will post when i get back in the states...i'm currently in korea right now.

07-13-2006, 02:23 AM	#4
renhoek Scooby Newbie Member#: 71339 Join Date: Sep 2004 Chapter/Region: International Location: Victoria, Australia Vehicle: 1995 WRX STi RA 1995 WRX STi LS1	Great post & very timely for me. Thanks. Just one thing.... You place red film to make the colour white? That's a typo right? Then if you want a blue readout, you put blue film on top of the red? Interesting thread. Them fluoro displays sure are tricky!

07-15-2006, 03:51 PM	#6
Crump Scooby Specialist Member#: 72305 Join Date: Oct 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Orange County, New York Vehicle: 2006 Sti Sgm 15 FXT CBSP	It looks good, but seems a lot darker with one layer.

08-11-2006, 12:33 PM	#7
Smoby Scooby Specialist Member#: 97642 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: SWIC Location: Phoenix, AZ Vehicle: 2002 Wrx Sedan MBP	So has anyone made it display red? What would you do? Put another layer of red on. I will go search right now to see if it has been covered.

11-06-2006, 11:35 PM	#8
wrx2k4blue Scooby Specialist Member#: 59048 Join Date: Apr 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Worcester County Massachusetts Vehicle: 2013 WRX Hatchback Blue	Not a great mod if it makes the clock darker. It can be hard enough to see the clock during the day, but if it's the only way to get it red, then so be it. I'm not sure if there'd be any better way to make it red since these are LED's, not bulbs

11-07-2006, 01:21 AM	#9
CpuZapper Scooby Newbie Member#: 124563 Join Date: Aug 2006 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Hillsboro, OR Vehicle: 2008 WRX Dark Gray Metallic	Actually, it appears to be a vacuum flourescent display, which are tough to find in red. You can tell because when they turn on or off there's a little bit of a lag and they fade in and out, whereas an LED is instant. I've seen them in kind of an amber color though, but the wiring inside and the illuminating shapes are application specific. They work with matrix though, and it shouldn't be too hard to translate it into the circuits for a set of 7 segment LED displays, or an inverted LCD which would make it look like the ones on an STi. I guess I'll have to pull mine out and give it a try.

11-07-2006, 03:52 AM	#10
Handsdown Scooby Guru Member#: 29355 Join Date: Nov 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: seattle	i'm so sick of not being able to see my red clock in the day time that i'm going to take the red off. color doesn't matter, information matters.