Low Budget DIY Solution for Burnt Out Needles
08-04-07, 01:44 PM
#31
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Well in the needle there are no resistors first of all. Its a long strip of smd leds. And with making your own led strip theres two problems. Lack of space, and whatever you make has to be EXTREMELY light weight otherwise the needle wont function properly. But yes, pictures would be very nice and good luck!
08-04-07, 02:11 PM
#32
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I'm sorry but there has to be some type of resistor..even if they are built into the led itself, which I doubt because of the size and the year they were built. The resistor adjusts the amount of current that flows through the led. Without it the inrush of current would blow the led so fast that you would not even see it light...the led will draw as much current as possible, that is why the resistor is put into the circuit.
Yes I will provide pics of the whole manufacturing and install process...
Yes I will provide pics of the whole manufacturing and install process...
08-04-07, 02:33 PM
#33
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lol, you are right, if there wasn't a resistor the leds would be crispy brown in 2 seconds. But i swear i couldn't see em, pretty odd.
But if you can get this to work i really wanna see it
But if you can get this to work i really wanna see it
08-16-07, 08:45 AM
#35
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Great DIY Lexucan. and excellent write up. I recently acquired a 93ES with 168k. Of course, 3/4 needles were burned. I followed thru and i have the needles at night.
One questions (problem) I hope that you can give me some pointers.
The needles seem to work. but the speedometer needle seems stuck around 30mph area. Ie. it wouldn't go pass 30mph even when i'm driving 50mph. I have to tap (hard) the dash then it will swing up to the proper speed.
there is something that's stuck there. I felt it when i move the needle with my finger. The funny thing is, when i flip the cluster upside down, the needle would move freely. I couldn't feel the same 'click'.
any idea of how to get that 'dust' out of the motor??
I'm thinking of getting a replacement cluster with working needles...
it is worth it, because the needles would burn out too.
08-16-07, 12:31 PM
#37
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08-16-07, 01:00 PM
#38
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Thank for the quick reply.
It felt more like the 'spring' is somehow stuck.
The needle is not touching / rubbing on the face of the cluster. otherwise, it'll have scrape mark as the needle turns. There is about 1mm of room between the needle and the face.
I sprayed (a little) wd40 toward the motor from the pin, thinking (hoping) that it'll blow out the dust.
It felt more like the 'spring' is somehow stuck.
The needle is not touching / rubbing on the face of the cluster. otherwise, it'll have scrape mark as the needle turns. There is about 1mm of room between the needle and the face.
I sprayed (a little) wd40 toward the motor from the pin, thinking (hoping) that it'll blow out the dust.
08-19-07, 06:00 PM
#40
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what if i want my backlighting a different color? can i do that, and what if i want white on white as in white needles with white backlighting how would i do the white needles?
08-19-07, 06:17 PM
#41
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White needles are not possible since the center strip (the part of the needle that the LED light shows through) is not clear but an amber color. No LED will look white behind the amber strip.
08-21-07, 08:33 AM
#42
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you can def. do it... I replaced the OEM backlighting to Blue LEDs.
To be honest, this red (needles) on blue background doesn't look that appealing to me.
The 'redline' doesn't show thru. i think i might as well change it to white bg (how lexucan did it)
As for my problem... i dont think it's the needle because even w/out the needle, i still feel the 'click' when i move the 'pins'. It is not smooth like the tach motor or the other motors.
09-14-07, 08:30 AM
#44
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Burnt out needles
OK, here's where you all slap yourselves on the head and say, "now he's a real dope!" I think I read all I can find on this issue and am 100% convinced it's way beyond my tiny abilities. Don't know which end of a screwdriver to hold. Asked my mechanic and he shook his head and said, "man you're talking some money for me to try that." Have a 95 ES with 192K and I'm getting things fixed one at a time. Probably a stupid question, but does anyone have any ideas where I could go to get the cluster looking real good again, stock or otherwise? I know it'll cost $$, but I just want it right again.
09-14-07, 08:37 AM
#45
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OK, here's where you all slap yourselves on the head and say, "now he's a real dope!" I think I read all I can find on this issue and am 100% convinced it's way beyond my tiny abilities. Don't know which end of a screwdriver to hold. Asked my mechanic and he shook his head and said, "man you're talking some money for me to try that." Have a 95 ES with 192K and I'm getting things fixed one at a time. Probably a stupid question, but does anyone have any ideas where I could go to get the cluster looking real good again, stock or otherwise? I know it'll cost $$, but I just want it right again.
Well, there is always www.lextech.org if you want to spend bucks.