IS - 1st Gen (2001-2005) Discussion about the IS models up to the 2005 model

DIY INFO->IS Model Dashlight Color Conversion DIY.

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Old 04-15-04, 04:04 PM
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O. L. T.
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Default IS Model Dashlight Color Conversion DIY.

Brought to you by your friends at LLS

LLS was born here on CL and I have always tried to help people as best i can. That's why i became a supermoderator. LLS traditionally focus's on Led needles, therfore the backlight is just becoming an LLS specialty as of recently (within 6 months ago). Though we like to roll with the punches and stay current, since the IS doesn't have led needle like all other model Lexus do, we really do not have a lot of interests in the IS models. About the only thing i can do for you is get you on the right track with the worlds best German led's ever made.If you want any, contact me for great Cl deals. Otherwise anything i do by way of the IS will be by special request.

Let's get started on our backlight conversion so you can get your ride hooked up.

Reviewing the following pictures, you can see that the IS cluster is vastly different from any other Lexus model cluster. For one, there are no led lit needles. For two, rather than a strait backlight setup, it is fired with EL Glow* technology. where the cluster is made of a specially molded plexiglass that is designed to carry the light from a single source and spread it evenly over a large area. No other Lexus uses this technology.



Follow the yellow arrows to see that they point to the entrapment spot where light will be fed into the EL molded plastic. This entry point is where it will absorb the light like a sponge and transfer it to another point in the cluster.




Last edited by O. L. T.; 04-18-04 at 09:48 PM.
Old 04-15-04, 04:05 PM
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Now in this next pic you can see how the led's must be angled to accept the El molding input so that the light will shine directly into the El opening. Why would you do this? Remember the spotting you have heard so much about? If you don't hit that spot where the El mouth opens up, you won't be spreading light properly. Therefore it will spot. All you have to do is simply angle the led's properly and WOOT, the spotting is gone



Last edited by O. L. T.; 04-18-04 at 09:46 PM.
Old 04-15-04, 04:05 PM
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Another cool trick with the LED's is what we call "Shadow Lighting". I have found it to be very useful in the center gauges where it is harder to transfer light. By using shadowing techniques, not only do you get better lighting in your center gauges, but the effect is very cool at night. Here is an example of Shadowing.....



Last edited by O. L. T.; 04-15-04 at 04:10 PM.
Old 04-15-04, 04:05 PM
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Lastly, here are some more examples of "getting it right" when aiming the led's. In this first pic you can see where the mouth of the opening is for the El lighting in this pic of the tach. Look on the right side, see that piece angled down? It is right above the input where the bulb used to be.



Now, if you angle the led properly when hitting the mouth of the opening, you can go from just a dull blue glow like i have seen people create, to a brilliant blue that can even be seen during the daytime at high noon!
Look at that!



Last edited by O. L. T.; 04-15-04 at 04:11 PM.
Old 04-15-04, 04:05 PM
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When you get a few led's lined up in the hole, you can angle them at different angles to hit each mouth of each are. There are several El mouths in each hole, so multiple led's are nessesary. I prefer to use 25, simply because i want it to be as bright and even as possible.

Here is the first hole. This is in the top area of the cluster on the left side. After you are done, you should have this part of your cluster lit. I am doing this as a quickie as i am typing this to you, so i may not have everything perfect...lol.

Old 04-15-04, 04:06 PM
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Here are the board components and locations where you will be adding the LED's.





Old 04-15-04, 04:14 PM
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The proper amount of LED's to do this DIY is 25. I ONLY use top grade German LED's. They are 8,000 to 10,000 mcd hyper blue 4 volt military grade LED's. If you were to purchase these at retail they would run 25 x $14.99 = $375 i will be happy to get anyone interested a set of 25 10k led's for $80 if you just ask. This will include resistors. You can have any color between green, blue, red, or white.

Last edited by O. L. T.; 04-15-04 at 04:14 PM.
Old 04-17-04, 10:26 AM
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talgrl626
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white or red is would be cool!!

how about for the rest models
Old 04-17-04, 10:41 AM
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flipside909
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Damn! I like it. I will send you my guages eventually. When I can find time to NOT drive my car.
Old 05-15-04, 11:13 AM
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Originally posted by flipside909
Damn! I like it. I will send you my guages eventually. When I can find time to NOT drive my car.
Go hit up 13s_is300. He has a loaner cluster while yours is out.
Old 06-16-04, 01:40 AM
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Let there be bling Dual color Shadowboxer.




Last edited by O. L. T.; 06-16-04 at 01:41 AM.
Old 07-08-04, 12:25 AM
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..and in pure white.
Attached Thumbnails DIY INFO->IS Model Dashlight Color Conversion DIY.-whiteshadowboxer.jpg  
Old 07-13-04, 09:24 AM
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L. L. S.
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Wanna get your very own?

http://lextech.org/osCommerce/produc...5e366c16ee86d3
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