Ok, so I have seen write-ups for changing the instrument panel lights before. However, I can't find any on this site. I could be missing it, so if I am, please just let me know where to find it.
I am looking to replace my in-dash light from the amber to a neon blue. Does anyone know where I can buy replacement bulbs? Also need a good write-up of how to remove dash and replace the bulbs. Help anyone?
Robbie, it's not a matter of replacing bulbs, what needs to be done is the LED's have to be swapped out. LED's are cheap, however it's not an easy task unless you have a proper soldering iron, fine tweezers and a very steady hand. I do a lot of electrical work and I've had it done on mine and there's no way I could do it...I rely on an electrical engineer friend to help me out with these.
The LED's you need are PLCC-2's. 3 for the gauge cluster and 4 for the clock.
Here's a link to them.
http://www.oznium.com/plcc-2
You can use these to change out the HVAC lights...
http://www.oznium.com/corvette-c5-led
5mm LED's in the AC vents are real easy to do. Some prefer to pull the dash (read: ME) yet others work around it by pulling the radio and dash speakers and feeding wires in that way.
Dash removal DIY is here....
http://www.xbsite.com/forum/diy-dash-removal-t-679.html
Pull power from the cig lighter to your switch. Run pwr wire from switch to LED's. I use insulated 18-22 gauge connectors for easy replacment if they burn out. Tie all the grounds together and ground them on the ground wire bolt on the passenger side (once dash is removed, you'll see it).
So for the HVAC, you just need to replace them with the C5 lights. The others need to be done with a soldering iron?
yep thats right. if im not misten you have to swap the bases of the C5 lights too.
yep thats right. if im not misten you have to swap the bases of the C5 lights too.
Nope...no swaping. Just unscrew the OEM lights and drop these little babies in there. They will however only work one way, and they don't have the positive lock the OEM one's do. If you install them and they don't work, pull them out and rotate the base 180 degrees.
Do you think it would look like crap if I just change the instrument panel lights and not the dash next to the speedo? I just am not good at soldering or know anyone that can.
my dash lights are OEM and my HVAC lights are white. that doesnt look bad at all. but with blue... it might. no way of knowing until you try it.
Ok... Maybe I should go with the White... The lights aren't that expensive so I might try the blue and if not, I will order the white. Thanks for the input.
anytime man, thats what we're here for. glad to have you on the site.
Not a great picture and it really looks brighter in person, but these are the blue c5 lights
i didn't use the C5 lights i did something a tad bit different.
this is a older pic of my dash, i need some newer ones at night
If my Box is Black, do you think I should be starting to do blue lights or should I go with another color?
do any color you want.
LEDs are kinda like tattoos, you can't do just one.
so make sure of the direction you want to go.
also use the flat head type for all the inside stuff.
i had most of my stuff done when i found out about the flat heads and had to go back and replace them all. im much happier now.