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DIY: Overhead console illumination...

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Old 01-15-15, 03:04 PM
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ESh
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Default DIY: Overhead console illumination...

One of the biggest drawbacks of this car is the overhead console without illumination, so I decided to **** the TAKUMI's and to get things straight.
I bought 10 LED-s 3V 300 MC, green, 10 resistors (you can put one resistor to every LED or one resistor for all, I made it with one resistor), clear silicone, solder material...




This is the OC (overhead console):



Open the "for glasses" and you'll see this, which has to be opened:



Use flat screwdriver to open...:



Remove those 2 screws:



Pull it down:



Slide your finger between the OC and headliner and pull down, hard:



Then do it on another side and you'll end up with this:



Turn it over and take off this plug by pressing the clip:



This is the back od the OC, remove those 2 screws:



This is the home link ECU, turn it over:



Unplug this by pulling it:



Pull the microphone:

Old 01-15-15, 03:06 PM
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Disconnect the cable on both sides, press the clip and pull:



Just pull:



Remove all the bolts, take the cover off and you'll end up with this:



This is the motherboard of the home link buttons, press those 2 clips and pull up:



Turn it right:



Then take the whole motheboard off:



Button order:



Button number 3, you have to cut this piece of plastic because in that hole you should drill the hole and put the LED:



Drill a 1mm hole from the inside:



Drill a 2mm hole from the outside:



Do the same with all buttons:



DOOR and ON/OFF buttons already have this circle so just drill it:





Put some clear silicone in all the holes and then go over it with your finger:







They should look like this:



...and let the silicone dry.

Cut it, the cables should pass through it:

Old 01-15-15, 03:07 PM
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Solder 2 (1mm) cables, they should be long around 20 cm:



And then put some isolation:



Paste it with super glue, the led should be over the hole:



This is how it should look like. I put some black silicone around the isolation but it is not necessary:



Find + and - wires, solder them to 2 wires, one will be connected to + and the other one to -:



On the plug, you'll find 2 green wires, the middle one is the positive wire, connect + wire to it:



The negative cable is there too but I was so tired to look for it so I connect it to the negative wire that goes to the sunroof motor, it is a thick white/black wire.

This is the result:






They look astonishing, but it took me more than 5 hours to do this. I plan to put two more LED-s for read LED buttons.
Maybe you can find small 12V LED-s so you don't need any resistor. I had to put one because like I said those LED-s were 3V. I used a battery to test each LED after I finished with soldering.
Old 01-15-15, 04:51 PM
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thanks for the disassembly instruction. I'm not really interested in the led install cause I dont use those buttons frequently but I'd like to do something with those 6 terrible reading lights. Maybe you can tackle that problem when u do the leds for the read buttons.
Old 01-15-15, 06:09 PM
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I will do it.

P.S. Can you post the front right door panel removal pdf?

Thanks.
Old 01-15-15, 07:37 PM
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here they are, there are also others dealing with door mouldings, door belt but these should do
Attached Files
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01.pdf (357.3 KB, 232 views)
File Type: pdf
03.pdf (546.8 KB, 224 views)
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05.pdf (562.5 KB, 254 views)
Old 01-15-15, 07:52 PM
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GCL
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Thanks so much for another great DYI.

It's a lot of work but the results are definitely worth it - your install looks great! I am definitely doing this.

I plan on only doing the Homelink buttons and the 2 reading lights. I don't use the "Door"/"On off" buttons all that frequently.

I was thinking of using green LEDs for the Homelink buttons, and maybe white ones for the reading buttons. Not too sure yet. I ordered both 1.8 mm and 3 mm LEDs in both colours.


So the holes that you drilled were 2mm, not 3mm to match your LEDs?
Old 01-16-15, 12:25 AM
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Originally Posted by nevernu
here they are, there are also others dealing with door mouldings, door belt but these should do

Thank you.
Is that the only way I can get to the front speakers?

Last edited by ESh; 01-16-15 at 12:42 AM.
Old 01-16-15, 12:35 AM
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Originally Posted by GCL
Thanks so much for another great DYI.

It's a lot of work but the results are definitely worth it - your install looks great! I am definitely doing this.

I plan on only doing the Homelink buttons and the 2 reading lights. I don't use the "Door"/"On off" buttons all that frequently.

I was thinking of using green LEDs for the Homelink buttons, and maybe white ones for the reading buttons. Not too sure yet. I ordered both 1.8 mm and 3 mm LEDs in both colours.


So the holes that you drilled were 2mm, not 3mm to match your LEDs?
The holes are 2mm. It doesn't matter because the LED-s go over the hole, they don't pass through. They should touch the clear silicone inside.
Old 01-16-15, 02:41 AM
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Originally Posted by nevernu
here they are, there are also others dealing with door mouldings, door belt but these should do
Check out post #7 in XanderES build thread.. Also note his "proTip" for reinstalling the panel. That tip will save you a lot of headache when trying to push the panel back on.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...ld-thread.html
Old 01-16-15, 05:51 AM
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Thank you. You guys rock.
Old 01-17-15, 04:57 PM
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Originally Posted by nevernu
thanks for the disassembly instruction. I'm not really interested in the led install cause I dont use those buttons frequently but I'd like to do something with those 6 terrible reading lights. Maybe you can tackle that problem when u do the leds for the read buttons.
What are you all thinking about doing with the reading lights? So far, the only idea I had is what Sick did -> https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...n-be-done.html
Old 01-17-15, 04:59 PM
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Ljekses, THANKS for bringing this one back to life! The other gap method seemed so promising, but without the pictures, it was hard to tell. Looks GREAT!
Old 01-19-15, 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by LjeksesES
Thank you.
Is that the only way I can get to the front speakers?
I didn't remove my panel completely. I removed the screws/bolts holding the panel to the door and popped it loose. From there I layed down on my garage floor to get to the 4 bolts holding the door speakers in.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es3...-2007-a-3.html look at posts 34 and 36.
Old 01-19-15, 11:18 AM
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Thank you. Done.


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