How-To: Change Interior Light's Color

[Pheonix]

HowTo: Change color of interior lights using LED replacement bulbs

Warning: anyone with an amber interior, P5, MP3, MSP, or ES, this may not be as easy as stated, the red film may prevent most of the color from shining through and it may need to be removed.
this should be ideal for anyone with an LX or DX vehicle.


The good news is, you only effectively need two kinds of bulbs, Size #74 and #194( 168 ).

You can replace the festoon dome bulb( 3022 ) with an led replacement but beware that a penny cannot be found on the floor without a flashlight or sufficient night vision.

The other bulb, which I have not found how to deal with, is the interior lights dimmer and fog light switches.
I would not know where to find a replacement one of these, given the case it burnt out. The color of the light is just the sticker with the bulb figure on it, painting that would be much less of a headache.

Super Bright LEDs has a very nice selection of LED replacement bulbs for automobiles. And they aren't too expensive like most sites.

Here is your list of bulbs, if you scroll half way down, you'll find bulbs and descriptions for bulbs which we'll be using.

On the Buy Now page, they have all the bulbs listed plainly but you can choose your color before added it to your cart.
the #194s are at the bottom, and the #74s and festoons are on the Next Page

 

[Pheonix]

Gauge Cluster All thats needed is a Philips head screw driver and a towel
Main Illumination: 2 #194 bulbs and 1 #74

The gauge cluster uses two large #194 bulbs and the rest are all #74.
Just the two #194 bulbs and a single #74 over the fuel( fuel/temp ) will light up the cluster enough. The other bulb is far off to the right and barely shines.

[ Pic not uploaded yet ]

Unscrew the two screws on the top.
And then grip the bottom of the bezel and pull outward, it will just pop right out.

Unscrew these three screws --------------------Lay down a towel so you dont scratch your interior.
Turn Signals: 2 #74 bulbs
All others are individual #74 bulbs.

I recommend the 6Led bulbs for the 194, the single large bulb doesnt seem to illuminate very thoroughly in the cluster

There should be enough room to reach back and twist out the bulbs

The leds will only work one way, so if they dont light turn them around or just put the holder in the other way.

Taking the cluster out will give you a good idea where the bulbs are but becomes more difficult if you have to check if the bulbs light.

AC Center Dash
Pair of stereo removal tools( stock ones $3 @ autozone )
Main Illumination: 2 #74 bulbs

remove stereo

Bulbs are located on either side of the fan speed dial

Blue seems to shine through the red ---Red makes blue part of temp not visible

The dials have some grease on them so its not an entirely sanitary job while changing these bulbs.

 

[Pheonix]

bump for another

Keyhole, Dome, License plate, trunk and sidemarkers to come.

 

[enigM@]

i tried this already with a red L.E.D.

it didn't glow as much as i expected.. it was sorta just like 2 red dots in the bulb

 

[skilletrx]

ne pics of ur setup?

 

[Pheonix]

i havene't uploaded them yet, they are on yahoo

 

[ghost]

Pheonix,
you will not be able to do this. ALOT of people have tried this, but the actual dash and ac inlays have the translucent red material on them. You cant scratch it out, and you cant bleach it out. We have tried this in our club for ever. This is the closest we got to changing the color, and its not perfect.

 

[Pheonix]

so the amber gauges do have the material actually on the gauge plastic.
i saw green parts on my lx cluster but only in some areas.

any pics of the inside of the cluster?

i thought people just took out the red stuff in the AC controls!!

 

[ghost]

I can get it for you by tonight, We have an lx cluster, and a p5 cluster apart.

 

[Pheonix]

is the color in the same area on the P5's or is it everywhere like in the AC controls?

 

[ghost]

the color is in the same area, but the MP3/P5/MSP are red.

 

[Pheonix]

strange how that little bit of red can effect it so much, carefully placed i suppose.

i tried red in mine but it was far too dim for me.
i wanted either red with blue turn signals or blue with red turn signals.

 

[ghost]

go to this website, its not cheap, but you can get the guages customized to your liking. Again its not cheap, but they will def work.

www.speedhut.com
www.importintelligence.com

 

[N2OInferno]

What about the turn signals? Those are green in the P5. Any idea if I can change the color of those?

So the P5 can't be changed to blue.. Overlays it is then.. but how about the HVAC stuff. Is that tinted red also or is that just bulbs?

 

[SpicyMchaggis]

all i want is ES orange-red color A/C controls so it will match my MSP gauges...SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

So all of this only works on sedans? I am planning to change my map lights & most of the exterior bulbs.

You can also find LEDs at a good price here: http://www.42draftdesigns.com/leds.htm

 

[ZapWizard]

Could someone put together an inventory of the LED types and number needed for each part of the console?

For example, how many are needed for the gauges, and how many for the A/C?

 

[Pheonix]

So all of this only works on sedans? I am planning to change my map lights & most of the exterior bulbs.

You can also find LEDs at a good price here: http://www.42draftdesigns.com/leds.htm

it should work on the hatch and speed just fine. except for the overlay,
there was a link in the How-To remove the center console. which lead to a nice tutorial with pics of someones red lining

i have crappy autozone sidemarker leds.
but i like the more white look of the license plate.

my friend has rear turn signal leds but they are so small, i think the ones on SBLeds are bigger. 30 LEDS

ZapWizard: 2 #74 AC, 4 #74 2 #194 for cluster and turn signals

 

[Pheonix]

What about the turn signals? Those are green in the P5. Any idea if I can change the color of those?

So the P5 can't be changed to blue.. Overlays it is then.. but how about the HVAC stuff. Is that tinted red also or is that just bulbs?

the turn signals are #74 bulbs, same with the keyhole light

most of the HVAC are little #74 bulbs so they should be easy enough.

 

[ZapWizard]

Thanks.