How-to: Change the color of your 00-02 Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban gauges

[ScottyBoy]

Here are step by step instructions on how to change the color of the guages in your instrument cluster in any 99-02 GMT-800 truck or SUV. This is a very quick and easy mod, as no soldering is involved and it takes less than 30 minutes start to finish.This write-up only applies to 00-02 guage clusters. 2003-2006 have the bulbs soldered to the board and the cluster has to be completely disassembled to replace the bulbs.
Here is a list of all the supplies and tools you need to accomplish this:
6- size 194 or equivalent wedge base LED bulbs of your color choice.
Here are the bulbs I used:
http://a763.g.akamai.net/7/763/1644/9/app.infopia.com/img/image/fp/VPID/4481018/size/250
6 - twist lock bulb bases for a 194 size bulb.They should look like this:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02180.jpg

-a 7mm nutdriver or 7mm socket and ratchet with at least a 6 inch extension on it
-a flatheaded screwdriver or nylon pry/trim removal tool


First, remove the instrument cluster/radio dash bezel. This plastic trim will pop off with your bare hands, no tools are needed to remove it. You will need to move the gear shifter all the way to the right (preferrably with the engine off) to get the bezel offf of the dash. Now use your 7mm socket or nutdriver to unscrew the four 7mm screws holding the instrument cluster in the dash. Now lift out the cluster and unplug the harness from the top of it. Now you need to pry the back off of the cluster to get the bulbs out. Just use your screwdriver and work your way around the cluster release each of these tabs.
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02170.jpg

once you get the back cover off of the cluster it should look like this:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02182.jpg
The 6 black bulb bases you see will actually be gray. (I took the picture after I replaced the bulbs) Simply remove your 6 stock gray bulbs and bases by twisting them a 1/4 turn and popping them out. Now replace them with your 194 LED bulbs with the twistlock bases. Here are my LED bulbs and twist lock bases compared to the stock bulbs:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02181.jpg
Now put the back cover of the cluster back on, but don't pop all the tabs back on just yet. Go plug it in to your dash and test it out. Turn on the parking lights and see if all your LED's are lit up. If not, take out the ones that areant and flip them around. LED's are directional, so they will only work if installed with the polarity one way. Once you verify they are all functioning properly, re-install everything the reverse of removal.
Here are some before and after pics of mine.
Before:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02169.jpg
After:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02184.jpg
And here are some more after shots to show how they match the rest of my blue interior LED's that I did:
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02186.jpg
http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02189.jpg

The write ups to the rest of my interior LED's can be found at the following links:
LED Power window switch mod (http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16838)

LED AC control panel mod (http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16839)

[Tahoewhat]

Apprecaite you taking the time on these writeups your doing. (even though mines different)

[ScottyBoy]

Apprecaite you taking the time on these writeups your doing. (even though mines different)

Just trying to share the knowledge. And I did post that 03 and up guage clusters are different and need to be soldered. Actually the soldering isnt the hard part, you have to take off the needles and its a severe pain to get them re-calibrated once you put the needles back on.

[PUNKYOU007]

Anyone have any troubles with these? I have had to get 4 leds replaced in the last 2 months. I got mine from Superbrightleds

[denalianyone]

Anyone have any troubles with these? I have had to get 4 leds replaced in the last 2 months. I got mine from Superbrightleds

Yea I had a few problems with some of the leds blinking and then eventually burning out. I put back in the factory ones and no problems ever since.

[andrewmoore13]

i swapped mine over to LEDs and i haven't ad any issues since

[ScottyBoy]

Mine have been blue LEDs now for about a year or so, and no issues yet.

[boostedgsxr1k]

where can you buy the leds from?

[boostedgsxr1k]

also are you using a single led bulb or does the bulb have nemerous leds in it? Because I have found single and 5 led bulbs

[ScottyBoy]

also are you using a single led bulb or does the bulb have nemerous leds in it? Because I have found single and 5 led bulbs

Depends on hiw bright you want the cluster. I have the ones with 5 SMT LEDs on them. You can get any 194 bulb you want, just don't get one that is too big or wide cuz then it won't fit into the cluster.

[Jarheadgixxer]

This looks awesome man. Thanks for the write ups

[nachigh2010]

What size are the twist lock bases that you used because I went to pick some up and the parrts store had multiple sizes.

[ScottyBoy]

What size are the twist lock bases that you used because I went to pick some up and the parrts store had multiple sizes.

I just got some for a 194 bulb. I ordered mine off Ebay. Advance auto parts had them, but wanted $3 a piece for them. I found a guy selling a set of 6 on ebay for 3 bucks shipped. They were from China and took forever to get here, but I was in no rush.

[Z-56 Hoe]

I am so about to do this, what is the cost to do everthing?

[urnamehere]

looks good

[Tahoewhat]

I am so about to do this, what is the cost to do everthing?

DO IT... I love mine. I had scottyboy do mine and im glad i did. I did all of mine though, cluster, switches everything...

Going to post up thread when i get the chance for some pics.

[ScottyBoy]

DO IT... I love mine. I had scottyboy do mine and im glad i did. I did all of mine though, cluster, switches everything...

Going to post up thread when i get the chance for some pics.

Yeah, the 00-02 cluster have replaceable bulbs that you can change yourself if you want to. Thats what this thread showzs you how to do. But the 03-06 Clusters have the bulbs soldered to the board inside the cluster. The cluster has to be disassembled to unsolder the factory bulbs and solder in some LEDs. If anyone wants one done, PM me and I can hok you up like I did Mike. :Handshake: I can convert any switch on a NBS 00-06 to LEDs if you want.

[Tahoewhat]

Yeah, the 00-02 cluster have replaceable bulbs that you can change yourself if you want to. Thats what this thread showzs you how to do. But the 03-06 Clusters have the bulbs soldered to the board inside the cluster. The cluster has to be disassembled to unsolder the factory bulbs and solder in some LEDs. If anyone wants one done, PM me and I can hok you up like I did Mike. :Handshake: I can convert any switch on a NBS 00-06 to LEDs if you want.

And if you would like pics, i do have some saved, just not the best right now, just pm me. Or look forward to my thread about them all. Looks killer at nite.

[Z-56 Hoe]

Mike wanna help me? oh and what am I looking at cost wise to do it all? A/C door and window controls too?

[Tahoewhat]

Mike wanna help me? oh and what am I looking at cost wise to do it all? A/C door and window controls too?

Pm scotty boy about it, since you live here, they will be to him next day. Should be, but hit me up and i'll show you mine. MUCH better than pictures..

[PUNKYOU007]

Yea I had a few problems with some of the leds blinking and then eventually burning out. I put back in the factory ones and no problems ever since.

I am still having this issue. I have spent way too much money replacing fawking LEDs. As soon as I replace a couple 1 or 2 more start blinking. I am not sure if it may be due to my high voltage, up to 15.7 sometimes, or my bass....150dbs?

[ScottyBoy]

Perhaps the massive vibrations from your woofers is causing a problem?

[chauncey0337]

Thanks for the write up. Just ordered my supplies-
-20 white 5mm wide angle leds w/ resistors
-20 blue 5mm wide angle leds w/ resistors
-8 blue 194 5 smd bulbs
-6 194 bulb bases
All for under $23 AFTER shipping! All coming from China so it'll take at least two weeks but I'm stoked!:rockit:

[bolsas]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w233/cutdog504/DSC02181.jpg

where i can i buy this any links? i want them in white...

[ScottyBoy]

I got my bulbs from V-leds.com and the twist lock bases on ebay. V-LEDs does have them in white. But let me warn you, the cluster has a bluish tint on the guage face from the factory. So white LEDs make it appear a really light blue, like a sky blue. Not a pure white like you would expect.

[geddy2112]

Do you have to replace the bulb base in order to use the LEDs? Or i can just buy the LED bulbs and plug them back into the original bulb base?

[fubar]

Do you have to replace the bulb base in order to use the LEDs? Or i can just buy the LED bulbs and plug them back into the original bulb base?

You will need the bases no matter what

Sent with my rooted eVo using Tapatalk.

[S7A2G6]

I'm gonna start this project in a month or so. But before i do, can anyone tell me if ALL the dash lights are the same size? Meaning the door switch, AC, rear AC, 4x4 switch, I have an after market head unit sink don't need that.

But I'm needing the size and quantity. Thanks in advance!

[chauncey0337]

5mm should work for all the switches. I put 2 leds for the window lock switch and each lock/unlock switch and I believe ScottyBoy used 1 or 2 extra in each a/c control panel to prevent dead spots. I'm still working on mine but I think you'll need about 45 5mm leds. This is approximate so I would suggest at least 60 just in case you screw up or want to add more. You'll also need resistors in some of these applications unless you solder some leds in series and that would depend on the voltage drop of each led. Also depends on what color led you're
using because different color leds have different voltage draws. For example, a blue 5mm led has approx. 3.6v draw, and your truck voltage can go as high as 14v+. So, you can solder 4 leds in series without using a resistor. Using leds in series will also decrease the number of wires going to power supply, might be easier for some and less messy. You can google a resistor calculator for led circuits if I don't make sense.

[The 'ER]

I just did my gauges last night and with the back off nice and bright but with the bases barely twisted, If I twisted them all the way in nothing. So when I put my cluster in they would almost fall out. My stock bases twisted about 1/3rd as far as the new bases. So now they are twisted in barely and I taped them but I have bright and dim spots now. Any one dealt with this? I just don't want to lose my light when driving at night.

[chauncey0337]

I just did my gauges last night and with the back off nice and bright but with the bases barely twisted, If I twisted them all the way in nothing. So when I put my cluster in they would almost fall out. My stock bases twisted about 1/3rd as far as the new bases. So now they are twisted in barely and I taped them but I have bright and dim spots now. Any one dealt with this? I just don't want to lose my light when driving at night.

I notice this with mine too but not enough to cause a problem. I think the contacts are off just a bit. Maybe try to bend the contacts on the bases to the left or right(can't recall which way they twist) so they make better contact with the back of the cluster.
As far as the dim spots, not sure. Could be the type of leds you got. Got pics of them?

[The 'ER]

I got the exact same bulbs as scottyboy did. The bases contacts are just solder points. Ii could get out the solder iron and add to them but they need to be so straight. And now I am having issues with my vanity lights. I found the right leds but they wont light up at all. Factory bulbs work fine. Just want them done as guys at work want to do this to but wont unless I can get this done. I guess I am their guinea pig.

[DefendHawaii]

Just did mine. Had same issue with contacts. Took a little bit to get them seated right so they turned on right. But less then 20.00 total cost. Looks great now.

[macs02tahoe]

This is my first post on the forum, and I really hope someone can help. I just did the Incandescent to Blue LED (SMD T10) 194's. I got all of them to light up the guage cluster wonderfully, however, they will only come on when I turn up my dial all the way so my domes come on. If the domes aren't on, neither are the guage lights! This has been incredibly fristrating and I'm not certain what to try next.
I didn't change any wiring, was extremely careful when pulling the originals out, and I put everything back exactly the way it came apart. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

[ScottyBoy]

This is my first post on the forum, and I really hope someone can help. I just did the Incandescent to Blue LED (SMD T10) 194's. I got all of them to light up the guage cluster wonderfully, however, they will only come on when I turn up my dial all the way so my domes come on. If the domes aren't on, neither are the guage lights! This has been incredibly fristrating and I'm not certain what to try next.
I didn't change any wiring, was extremely careful when pulling the originals out, and I put everything back exactly the way it came apart. Any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

I have only heard of that happening if the headlight switch is bad. It happened to me actually. None of my dash lights would come on unless I had the dimmer knob ALL the way up, so far up that it clicked into position to turn the dome lights on.
After installing a new headlight switch, all was fine.

[DefendHawaii]

Do ya know what Bulbs to use in the HVAC controls? My fan speed lighting is dead now so might as well upgrade all three of those.

[chauncey0337]

5 mm round leds. I used the 5mm flat top leds because they seem to 'spread' the light better.

[DefendHawaii]

Thanks. I guess I will have to check out locally if they are available.

[chauncey0337]

Or you can get the round ones and cut the round part off to make them flat. It's been done before.

[ScottyBoy]

Do ya know what Bulbs to use in the HVAC controls? My fan speed lighting is dead now so might as well upgrade all three of those.

http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16839
Go check out that thread, it explains the AC controls in detail. :Handshake:

[DefendHawaii]

Thanks man. I am gonna maybe order bulbs or check if somewhere like RadioShack or Frys would have just simple LEDs and the stuff needed for this. The suburban is in WA and I am on TDY in Virginia now, had to drive the GFs G37 out here.