SAMIAM
01-05-2009, 04:35 PM
i actually posted this on my350z the other day....hopefully a mod can make it permanent on here....... :mrgreen:
Like the title say's, a replacement mod for the stock alarm/indicator l.e.d. on the top of the dash. very simple mod, only takes about 15 minutes.
Tools/supplies needed:
Wire cutters, solder gun (optional), heat shrink (optional), electrical tape, drill and corresponding bit, small slot tip (flathead) screw driver, 1 l.e.d. (your choice on color/brand etc)
The l.e.d. I chose was a simple one from pep boy's that came in a 3 pack for 10 bucks. -The reason I chose that type is that it doesn't need a resistor or anything. You could also use one of the super-bright led's from/for an alarm that you can pick up at a car audio shop or in the accessories at a circuit city or someplace similar.
here's a pic of what i used...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics055.jpg?t=1231136110
First thing you'll do is take the small flat head and gently wedge the tip under the lamp housing on the left (driver's) side of the dash (from the center console side so you have leverage) and pop the housing out of the dash. (you may have to pry a little from the opposite side as well)
Once you get it out you have two options, simply cut the wire leading to the harness on the lamp housing or try and take the housing for the stock led out, but doing this make no sense since your replacing the led anyways. so, I simply cut the two wires right at the base of the housing so i'd have plenty of wire to play with. The wiring going to it will pull right out of the dash (about 10-12" of wiring) with little effort.
Now that the housing is out you will notice the led housing inside of it. simply disconnect it (push clips) from the assembly. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics050.jpg?t=1231136533
now you'll have the stock led holder as a paper weight
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics052.jpg?t=1231136694
now you'll take the housing and drill out the stock clear portion in it with the appropriate sized bit. very easy to do and very little resistance as it is extremely thin. I did it from the top down using an 1/8" bit.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics056.jpg?t=1231136824
now mount the new led in the hole you just drilled. i mounted mine by placing it in the hole and adding a few drops of super-glue around it's edges to ensure a moisture proof seal between the led and the plastic housing.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics057.jpg?t=1231137083
once that's dried, it's now time to connect the led to the stock wiring. the two stock wires are red and green green is negative and red is power. hook up the wires (solder if your going to solder), wrap them in your electrical tape or heat shrink etc. and your ready to put it back in. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics058.jpg?t=1231137237
feed the wiring back into the dash
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics059.jpg?t=1231137294
and your ready to try it out.........
off......
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics068.jpg?t=1231137415
and on.......
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics069.jpg?t=1231137458
now you have an led in your dash that's visiable for more than 4". this one you should be able to see across the parking lot. as you can see in the pic above, it's bright even in the daylight. mines been done for a few months now and no issues. comes on and off with the key out of the ignition.
and just for the sake of it......here's a pic of my z i put it in.....
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics003.jpg?t=1231137568
hope this helps all of you out there. just thought it was a good, simple and effective mod. (and cheap too :icon38:) happy motoring.........
Like the title say's, a replacement mod for the stock alarm/indicator l.e.d. on the top of the dash. very simple mod, only takes about 15 minutes.
Tools/supplies needed:
Wire cutters, solder gun (optional), heat shrink (optional), electrical tape, drill and corresponding bit, small slot tip (flathead) screw driver, 1 l.e.d. (your choice on color/brand etc)
The l.e.d. I chose was a simple one from pep boy's that came in a 3 pack for 10 bucks. -The reason I chose that type is that it doesn't need a resistor or anything. You could also use one of the super-bright led's from/for an alarm that you can pick up at a car audio shop or in the accessories at a circuit city or someplace similar.
here's a pic of what i used...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics055.jpg?t=1231136110
First thing you'll do is take the small flat head and gently wedge the tip under the lamp housing on the left (driver's) side of the dash (from the center console side so you have leverage) and pop the housing out of the dash. (you may have to pry a little from the opposite side as well)
Once you get it out you have two options, simply cut the wire leading to the harness on the lamp housing or try and take the housing for the stock led out, but doing this make no sense since your replacing the led anyways. so, I simply cut the two wires right at the base of the housing so i'd have plenty of wire to play with. The wiring going to it will pull right out of the dash (about 10-12" of wiring) with little effort.
Now that the housing is out you will notice the led housing inside of it. simply disconnect it (push clips) from the assembly. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics050.jpg?t=1231136533
now you'll have the stock led holder as a paper weight
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics052.jpg?t=1231136694
now you'll take the housing and drill out the stock clear portion in it with the appropriate sized bit. very easy to do and very little resistance as it is extremely thin. I did it from the top down using an 1/8" bit.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics056.jpg?t=1231136824
now mount the new led in the hole you just drilled. i mounted mine by placing it in the hole and adding a few drops of super-glue around it's edges to ensure a moisture proof seal between the led and the plastic housing.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics057.jpg?t=1231137083
once that's dried, it's now time to connect the led to the stock wiring. the two stock wires are red and green green is negative and red is power. hook up the wires (solder if your going to solder), wrap them in your electrical tape or heat shrink etc. and your ready to put it back in. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics058.jpg?t=1231137237
feed the wiring back into the dash
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics059.jpg?t=1231137294
and your ready to try it out.........
off......
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics068.jpg?t=1231137415
and on.......
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics069.jpg?t=1231137458
now you have an led in your dash that's visiable for more than 4". this one you should be able to see across the parking lot. as you can see in the pic above, it's bright even in the daylight. mines been done for a few months now and no issues. comes on and off with the key out of the ignition.
and just for the sake of it......here's a pic of my z i put it in.....
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/shvd64cdy/iiphonepics003.jpg?t=1231137568
hope this helps all of you out there. just thought it was a good, simple and effective mod. (and cheap too :icon38:) happy motoring.........