ES300: Replacing Cluster Backlighting Bulbs

[Parker Gen]

Originally Posted by tuan92129

In the other thread about removing the cluster etc...the master of all Lexus clusters (OLT) Said that the bulbs are so old that they are on the verge of burning out, and that when the cluster is in the car, there is a very small amount of voltage that keeps them alive.?
Did you put the screws back in? they connect to the circuit board underneath. Also, make sure the plastic circuit board clips are pushed back in.

Yeah I put all the screws and stuff back so...

I guess I'll put a small neon light in-front of the cluster for night viewing (pictures coming tonight :P)

[Parker Gen]

Well, here is a picture of my chrome needles!!!

[tuan92129]

Whoa! those are shiney
Does the needle still light up?
Since my needles still all work, I'm just painting two strips on each side of the red light so its like
========== <-
How did you take out the needles? Do i just pull them out?

Finally uploaded some pics of the led cluster at night.

[Ariyanna]

Guys what I did was solder 64 LEDS into the cluster and that takes patients and time especially if you want the lighting to look even through out the cluster and not have spotting. You have to calibrate the needles when u put them back on the cluster thats what I meant about calibrations. There has to be at least the 3 LEDS per number and 2 LEDS for the in between lines to even the lighting up, it takes practice to understand how LEDS work and practicing on something else is the best thing to do first before soldering your cluster.

[Parker Gen]

Yeah, all you do is just pull the needles gently off the cluster from the front. They are held in by 2 little pins so you don't even have to mark where you took them off, because they can only go back in in one way.
Though, the Fuel needle is different to the temperature gauge needle, so before painting you should mark the Fuel needle on the back.

[Parker Gen]

hahaha. Yes it's a crazy world out there! :razz:

[chuckerst]

so how does turning on the parking lights only help? doesn't everything light up the same with the parking lights on?

[tuan92129]

During the day, if you have your parking light off, and the cluster knob on the lowest level, the cluster will light up about 50% intensity. When the parking lights are turned on, the cluster backlighting will be off. I keep my lights either very dim or off, especially since i live in Socal where it is very hot. You are pretty much just turning your lighting down to save the little amount of life it has left.

[chuckerst]

ya learn sumthin every day!-dang it, that woulda been nice to know about 50000 miles ago! -oh well, thank you very much anyway.

[jtsosie]

Again, awesome write-up! Thank you!

Has anyone tried using the UltraViolet LEDs?
Would they make the white numbers glo, and would they solve the burnt out needle problem too; would they make the needles glow red?

Another thing I'd like to do is tint that smoked glass on the instrument cluster so the needles and all are not visible unless the car is on.

Thanks,
Josh

[Lexucan]

Originally Posted by jtsosie

Again, awesome write-up! Thank you!

Has anyone tried using the UltraViolet LEDs?
Would they make the white numbers glo, and would they solve the burnt out needle problem too; would they make the needles glow red?

Another thing I'd like to do is tint that smoked glass on the instrument cluster so the needles and all are not visible unless the car is on.

Thanks,
Josh

You've got a couple of interesting ideas, but doubt that they would work well. Since the backlighting LEDs are behind the face of the cluster, they wouldn't be able to illuminate the burnt out needles, even if they were coated with a flourescent paint.
And tinting the window on the cluster even darker than it already is would probably make the gauges and needles hard to see, even when the car is on.

[NICES300]

Just ordered #286

[lexguy300]

Has anyone had the fuel and water temp needles get stuck they wont move has anyone experience this prob?

[Vooduguru]

Okay stupid question, how do I get the air bag light back off once I didn't follow the instructions and had the key on when I took the cluster off

[Vooduguru]

Anyone????