modifed instrument cluster

[harofreak00]

This cluster is from 00Beast’s 00 SSEi. Most of the display bulbs were burnt out so I couldn’t sell it. I figured I would try to fix it before I junked it. Last time I tried to take one of these apart, the pins that the gauge needles mount to pulled right out of the motors when I pulled off the needles. The cluster was ruined. I didn’t really change my technique, but this time everything came apart perfect. Here is what I found.


















These were the only 3 bulbs that worked 100%. Some of the others would work if I flicked them, but they wouldn’t stay on. Weird.


Here are the bulbs I replaced them with. I probably could have found a better match, but I happened to have these laying around and wanted to see if they would work. I replaced all 8 display bulbs.


While I had everything apart, I figured I should customize it. I have added blue LED’s into my radio (theftlock LED), my ECC, heated seat switches, traction control switches, fog light switches, and rear view mirror. Why not the cluster, right? I replaced all 7 LED’s that light up the orange part of the “P, R, N, D, 3, 2, 1” with a 5mm blue LED. Here is the result. It might not be for everyone, but I love it.



Here is a video of it in use.

[Gumball]

what happens when 6-7 of us watch the video at the same time? PB goes a little slower

pretty cool never the less

[RJolly87]

I thinking the little seatbelt dude needs to go blue too. Actually, what can you not turn blue ?

[harofreak00]

Basically, anything on the board that is an LED can turn blue pretty easily. To convert those incandescent bulbs to blue LED's would be tricky because of the addition of a resistor. The airbag dude is something I never see, I always wear my seatbelt.

I was going to do the turn signal arrows, but they aren't LED's. I think just the "PRND321" is enough.

[ohenry5]

Cool mod Andrew.

[laxmangl]

Very cool, the blue looks great!

[TenGHz]

I like it.

[Twister97]

Very nice! I also agree that the gear selector should be enough blue.

[SLEighride03]

that's sweeet!!!!!

[2000Silverbullet]

Very cool mod and I like how easily you seem to be able to pull things apart.

What is the size and description of those replacement bulbs? Where do you find them?

Why don't they make them like my older Pontiac that has plug in bulbs.

All my bulbs still work for now.

[harofreak00]

I used ML-2174 bulbs as the replacement, they probably aren't the direct replacement, but they work. They are 5x11mm.

[olblueeyesbonne]

The stock bulbs that were burnt out were the same as the display bulbs in 94-03 1.5 DIN Pontiac radio's.
There's a seller on ebay who sells them for $18 and I've ordered a couple for a local car dealer.
If anyone is looking to buy any he'll sell them directly for a $3 discount which is how I went about getting them.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-PONTIAC-DELCO-D ... 7C294%3A50

[EWC88]

Man that looks great! I need to do this to my car cause I have some spots were you can tell the bulbs are burnt out and it bothers me so bad. On a scale from 1-10 (10being hardest) what do you rate this as? What tools were all needed?

[harofreak00]

7 or 8... its delicate work. You have to know that there is a chance of breaking the cluster when you pull the needles off.

Just basic tools and a soldering iron.

[EWC88]

Ok, do you have a write up on how to do this?

[harofreak00]

If you can't figure it out from these pics, you shouldn't be doing it.

[00Beast]

These lights look very cool in person. Good Job, Andrew!

[SuperSLE]

Now I want to see a custom overlay for the gauges made up. I tried to figure out how to get this apart and decided not to mess with it. Cool to see it done.

[J. Baker]

i'de so love to get my hands on a gxp cluster! i dig the white ANYONR NO WHERE I CAN FIND ONE 4 MY 02

[2003blackbonniese]

that looks SICK!!! great mod, did it take long?