Dash lights!!! 2 down alot to go!

[ryana89]

So I didn't take as many pics because the process is pretty much the same with the foglight, only differences is in how you get the LED to fit and which terminal.
So heres a little run down now that all the lights work.

First up was the actual light control switch


The light switch separated itno its 'sections'


One of the first things I noticed was the old grease/crap left all over the terminals, gave them a quick wipe off...




And because I could, went to Autobarn and got a tube of Dielectric grease and put a small dab on each terminal tab


Then soldered another 3mm LED and 470ohm resistor in

[ryana89]

Unfortunatly I got engrossed in working on it to much from here and compled the A/C switch and Demister switches without taking photos.

But heres the end result




As the A/C and demister have 2 lights (on to tell you when the swith is on and one to light it up when you turn the lights on).

The ones to tell you that the switch has been activated work (better) now.



And Im not sure how I managed to do this, but when I soldered the LED into the Light switch, I somehow attached it to the terminals that are always live when the ignition is on, but LED's can apparantly last for over 10 years (constant use) so Im not to worried.




Next will have to be the Cluster (tacho/speedo)...... if Im gain

[Spyda]

Nice work mate. Heep of these write ups around.
Ive done this a couple of times, and it doesnt get any easyer lol. I found the light switch is the hardest.
I found it easyer to use a LED strip or small neon for the dash.
If anyone out there wants to replace the original globes with original globes, Jaycar sells the little bulbs.

[ryana89]

I'd like to bring this thread back just to give some thought's on the LED's.

I found that the LED's were far to bright at night, I could have used a higher OHM resistors but that brings me to my second issue.

Blue LED's were just far too tacky (in a classic Euro car), a bad choice by me at the time

I changed back to the original bulb set up (with new bulbs from Jaycar)




Much nicer

[walshydub]

Gotta agree, the original lighting looks a lot better, less 'aftermarket' look. Tackled the clocks yet?

[ryana89]

Tackled the clocks yet?

Nope

I opened up the cluster a few week's back with the intention of "replacing" the idiot lights, aswell as replacing the speedo cable a few days ago.

I don't want to ever open up or take the cluster out again haha.

[RedMk2Gti]

Ryan

A side question, do you use standard 1.5w cluster bulb ? I'm thinking about change them to 2w cos the Mk2 cluster light is absolute crap. just wonder if it'll cause any issues.

[ryana89]

I used these little 1.2W bulbs from Jaycar

12V Mini Lamps - Large - Jaycar Electronics

I havn't changed any of the cluster bulbs, but the problem I found is how much heat the bulbs can put out.
Even with tiny little 1.2w bulbs, the switch's feel noticabley warm at night.

Drop into Jaycar and ask if you can play around with various bulb's ect, I spent 30minute's or so just mucking around in store haha