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Okay, you guys wanted it, so here it is. I'm kind of kicking myself for
not taking pics of the install, but I found the ones here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/cybertech.enr/howto.html
Worked just fine for me...except for a few places that I'll note. Let's
get started!
----------DISCLAIMER----------
You do this at your own risk...if you f&#k it up, it's your own fault.
If your car explodes, don't blame me...etc, etc. Basically just be
careful.
----------SUPPLIES----------
1) a 15watt (or greater) soldering iron with a FINE tip (very fine)
2) some solder (I used a light duty rosin core)
3) 11 red LEDS. (maybe more, depending on how much you do, but this
covers the basics) If possible get T1 size and 12v. I ended up using 4
T1 3/4 size 12V (which was a pain in the ass) and the rest T1 size 2v
with resistors
4) 470 Ohm resistors. You'll need one for each 2v led you use, but they
are not required for the 12v ones
5) 6 5v 300mcd blue LEDS. I tried the 2600mcd ones and they look like
ass.
6) Some thin wire (20-24 gauge)
7) A piece of breadboard you can break into pieces (4" x 4" or so)
8) A desoldering pump, or desoldering braid.
9) Red cellophane
All the above parts are available at your local Radio Shack(except the
cellophane, which you can get at any crafts store). Trust me, cause
that's where I got it all.
----------PROCEDURES----------
Remember, look at the pics in the link above. It'll make stuff easier.
Ahh, where to begin...how bout:
A) MAKING THE CLUSTER LED ASSEMBLY
You'll need to do these steps twice, once for each assembly
1) break your breadboard (Or cut it with a dremel) so you have
about a 3-4" strip that is 1/2 to 1/4 of an inch wide. Basically one
entire row of holes.
2) Place 3 LEDS evenly spaced in SERIES (see note) across the
breadboard.
*NOTE* Series means connect the negative of the first LED to the
positive of the second, then the negative of the second LED to the
positive of the third. For those that don't know, the positive side of
an LED is the longer lead, or the lead attached to the SMALL PART INSIDE
THE LENS.
3) solder the LEDS together and solder a piece of wire (about
5") to the positive of the first LED and the negative of the third LED
4) Marvel at your work!
B) THE GAUGE CLUSTER
1) Pop off the dummy plug just to the right of the gauge cluster
(where heated seats would be on a Jetta) and remove the screw that's
behind it.
2) Pop out the ABS warning light assembly and remove the
headlight switch and take out the screw that's behind there
3) Pry along the edges of the cluster shround and it'll come
loose.
4) Remove the two screws holding the cluster assembly in.
They're both towards the top left and right.
5) Remove the cluster assembly from the car
6) On top of the cluster is a white assembly. Remove the bulbs
by twisting counter clockwise and pry the metal pieces off of it and
unclip it.
7) Go here if you want RED LCD Screens:
http://www.gaugelights.com/lcdscreens.html
8) Place one set of LEDS in each of the rectangle holes in the
cluster, NOT IN THE WHITE PART YOU UNCLIPPED. This is because they
won't give enough light if they are up too high. You'll have to play
with the placement quite a bit to get it right.
9) Use a hot glue gun, or whatever method you like to fasten
them in the right place
10) Place the white cover back on, and reattach the metal bits.
11) Find a way to attach the positive wires to the TOP metal
strip (top meaning the top if you are looking at the cluster right side
up from the back) and the negative to the bottom. I soldered then hot
glued...but the solder didn't take very well on it's own.
12) Clip the white piece back down
13) Put back in car, turn on and enjoy!!!
C) ALL THE BUTTONS
1) well guys, this is just tooooo hard to explain without pics.
Go here:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/cybertech.enr/projects.html
to get the jist of it. So, I'll just give you some pointers.
a) try REALLY HARD to get 12v T1 size LEDS
b) if you can't you can use 470 Ohm resistors on 2v
LEDS, but it's REALLLLLLLLY hard
c) always take note of the position of the LEDS before
your remove them so you know what is positive and what is negative!
d) if you plan to do all the buttons, save yourself a
little trouble and buy a euro light switch from potter. One with red
lighting already in it. Doing the light switch would be near, if not
completely, impossible.
e) be patient, and try things out often and before you
reassemble everything
f) TAKE YOUR TIME...THIS IS A HARD MOD...SO DON'T SCREW
UP YOUR CAR!
I thought I'd be able to explain it all, but like I said, each button is
it's own thing. If you want to try this mod, you need to have enough
sense to figure out how to do each one on your own. Especially if
you'll be using resistors, because that takes quite a bit of creativity
to find places to put them. I REALLY REALLY REALLY recommend getting
some 12v leds. That'll make your life SOOOOO much easier. Just let me
know if you have any questions. I'll be putting up more pics and
updating my site tonight. So be sure to check it out tomorrow.
L8z,
Fiction
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