ES300: Replacing Cluster Backlighting Bulbs
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Australia
Encountered a problem here. After not beig able to get LED's in time, I had to put the original bulbs back into the cluster, half burnt out. The problem is now, none of them work, and it's all black. Anyone know the reason for this? Do they have to be in some special orer or something? ( <--- That sounds real noobish!)
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: CA
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.
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.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
From: NJ
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.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Australia
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.
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.
I guess I'll put a small neon light in-front of the cluster for night viewing (pictures coming tonight :P)
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: CA
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.
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.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Australia
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.
Though, the Fuel needle is different to the temperature gauge needle, so before painting you should mark the Fuel needle on the back.
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Thread Starter
Lexucanafer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver, Canada
Looks like you've got some two-tone backlighting going on there.
Your tach numbers look blueish and your speedo looks white. Did you contact the guy that sold you the LEDs?
Something else I gotta ask you just out of curiousity -
What does the image in your signature represent?
I see a bunch of little black dots, a larger black blob, what looks like " T L " written on it, and "something?.com" in the bottom right corner, but I can't figure out what it all means.
Your tach numbers look blueish and your speedo looks white. Did you contact the guy that sold you the LEDs?
Something else I gotta ask you just out of curiousity -
What does the image in your signature represent?
I see a bunch of little black dots, a larger black blob, what looks like " T L " written on it, and "something?.com" in the bottom right corner, but I can't figure out what it all means.
Lexus Champion
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,819
Likes: 1
From: CA
Haha My sig = Tuan92129...with a cool ninja dude with a sword carving it, but CL doesn't support GIF Sigs.
Actually, the only blue-white bulb i have left in there is for the temp guage, all the other bulbs are white.
Because the backlighting isn't even, theres spotting, and the darker areas might look blue..
Next time, I'm going to spend a little more $$ for more quality LEds
Actually, the only blue-white bulb i have left in there is for the temp guage, all the other bulbs are white.
Because the backlighting isn't even, theres spotting, and the darker areas might look blue..
Next time, I'm going to spend a little more $$ for more quality LEds
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 2
From: Australia
Yeah... that's a little more difficult to do
I was thinking of "what would happen "if" I may have to replace the neon because it breaks or something"
I'm sick of pulling the cluster out, so it's easier to have the neon out front. Looks cool to
