Taka,

How did you manage to take the picture of the instrument cluster while driving at 110 mph? :eek:

Yowee!!

 

Taka,
Come on, you have everyone all hyped up!!!! How did you manage to do the needles!!!!!! Help all of us that are sick of the plain RED light. Also has anyone managed to change the color of the backround to like blue or any other color other than the yellowish white? Someone who knows the trick please help us people!!!! :-(

 

http://www.geocities.com/taka_sc400/index.html

simple page but i just created some description with picture.

 

quick question, does leaving the instrument light on full(bright even when headlights are on) cause the needles to break faster? Should I set them so they dim when headlights are activated?

 

Taka -

I tried your link but it's dead.... PLEASE, PLEASE.... if someone(else) out there can answer the $10,000,000 question on how to fix these POS needle lights please chime in...

spdwyvette
(2001 Corvette, 1993 ES300)

 

taka, i also what to know. i think i read somewhere where someone put white tape on the needle and placed a blue bulb behind the steering wheel to light up the white tape. but wouldn't that totally offset and mess up the calibration of the needle?

 

you guys up there that want to use the short needles instead of the longer one also won't work. the lighter needle will weight too little and own't work

 

hey Jmai, it's been more than a year since I have done this but at least I never notice any calibration of the needle. I'm sure I could have installed it better but since it does the job, I haven't touched since then. You can be more creative and make it look better.

 

Umm, are we going to find out what the $10 trick is?

 

do you not read. go up like 4 post whre i just posted what he did.

 

I guess he confirmed the tape-trick with this post. Sorry for being an idiot

 

just givin ya a hard time Eric. lol. first gen gotta give each other hard time once in a while. lol

 

I have removed the intrument cluster from my "95" Lexus. All that is needed is a NO. 2 Philips screwdriver, to remove the mounting screws, and a flat blade screwdriver to help remove the wire connections from the back of the cluster. The cluster has to be manuvered to get it out of the dashboard. To replace any of the bulbs in the back of the cluster the whole cluster has to be removed. There are also two plastic covers screwed to the back of the intrument cluster which have to be removed. There are eight bulbs which illuminate tachometer and speedometer numbers. There are also about 15 other bulbs for warning lights, like check engine, and to show what gear the transmission is in, for an automatic trans. The bulbs cost about $1.00 (one dollar) each The needles are illuminated with LED's (light emitting diodes). I switched the tachometer needle and the speedometer needle since the LED's in the speedometer needle didn't work. I really don't need a Tach. for the automatic Trans.I spoke with a guy named Sam Woo in California who rebuilds Lexus instrument clusters. I got his number from thr service manager at Lexus of Lansing in Michigan. They send Lexus instrument clusters to him for repair. I thought he might tell me where I could get a nother speedometer needle. He said his suppliers are his secret and wouldn't tell me. Neither would he sell me one. He would rebuild the whole cluster including shipping for $260.00. I told him I could live without the Tachometer.

 

No time to look right now, but there are members here and around that will rebuild these things as well... I've completely rebuilt mine myself - just takes a little led knowledge and the ability to work with very small led's... you can change colors of the needles and everything, just take the factory ones apart... Not easy, but not super hard either...

 

TimothyS, can you e-mail me contact info for Sam Woo please?