HOW-TO: 03-06 NBS Gauge cluster LED conversion

[1fatho]

Have my cluster on my kitchen table, about to rip it apart and do green LEDs. Will post pics....

 

[man n black]

Do the leds remain dimmable? I do alot of night driving and pretty much dim my dash lights as much as possible as it's less fatiguing on my eyes....Looks fantastic BTW....
Ch

Sent from my DROID RAZR

 

[1fatho]

Thanks Scotty. Great write-up! (Started pestering him about info on how to do this in August....before school.....when I had time...)

I saw on an SS forum, some guy who did his said he added two more to eliminate hot spots, but he didnt show where. When I add my speedo I am going to add two more off of the middle two. The bottom right corner looks blurry, but I believe its just the way the glare hit the camera, it looks the same as the others.



Lollllllllllllll with the ABSOLUTE benefit or hindsight....I would have done another color. But shittt, everyone has blue. I would have also gone with a 510ohm resistor so they worked better with the dimmer. Oil well.

edit* I am also going to add green plastic over the screens for both the DIC, park reverse, and my AC controls

 

[bigblue05]

LED Conversion

so are you taking on jobs to do this if so i'm in

 

[ScottyBoy]

so are you taking on jobs to do this if so i'm in

Yeah, I do them for members on here. I only charge $50 plus shipping. That $50 includes me supplying all the LEDs and resistors and all needed parts and supplies.

 

[BillBlatt18]

how much would radio, cluster, steering wheel controls and window switches be? Oh and a/c

 

[ornelasa35]

i need to get mine done i have like 1 or 2 that whent out on my cluster and 1 o my a/c controlls send me a message on how much u would od both for i could get shipping from my job just ship it to u and include a return label or whatever is easier for u

 

[1fatho]

lmfao, yeah go with Scottyboy. I've been telling everyone $150 hahaha

 

[ornelasa35]

Yeah, I do them for members on here. I only charge $50 plus shipping. That $50 includes me supplying all the LEDs and resistors and all needed parts and supplies.

so u think u could do my gauges a/c controll and steering wheel buttons and why not go ahead and do my radio and light switch

 

[ScottyBoy]

I do not do radios, or any airbag shutoff switches. I also do not do 00-02 clusters.
I can do a 03-06 cluster for $50
I charge $50 to do a dash AC control panel, and $40 for each overhead rear ac control
Headlight switch-$30
Rear wiper/foglight switch -$20
4x4 switch-$30
Traction control switch-$20
Sunroof switch-$20
Homelink buttons inbroof console-$35
Steering wheel controls -$40 for all 4
Drivers door master window/lock/mirror switch-$40
Power mirror switch -$20 (00-02 only) its part of the window switch on 03-06
Passenger door window/lock switch-$30
Rear door power window switches-$20 each

I only do blue. I tried red and white and they looked like crap so I ain't ******* with them anymore. Blue gives the best results.

 

[ornelasa35]

I do not do radios, or any airbag shutoff switches. I also do not do 00-02 clusters.
I can do a 03-06 cluster for $50
I charge $50 to do a dash AC control panel, and $40 for each overhead rear ac control
Headlight switch-$30
Rear wiper/foglight switch -$20
4x4 switch-$30
Traction control switch-$20
Sunroof switch-$20
Homelink buttons inbroof console-$35
Steering wheel controls -$40 for all 4
Drivers door master window/lock/mirror switch-$40
Power mirror switch -$20 (00-02 only) its part of the window switch on 03-06
Passenger door window/lock switch-$30
Rear door power window switches-$20 each

I only do blue. I tried red and white and they looked like crap so I ain't ******* with them anymore. Blue gives the best results.

would my truck run without a cluster and yeah my hoe is a 05 im prob gona be doing just my cluster and steering wheel controlls and blue is the color that i want

 

[ScottyBoy]

Yes, you can drive without a cluster.

 

[macs02tahoe]

Hi there, My name is Scot.
I noticed you are mentioned on a bunch of threads here as someone who knows a great deal about incandescant to LED (SMD) conversions. I have a 2002 Tahoe Z71. I did the gauge cluster conversion this morning and I have run into a problem. I replaced the 194's with T10 SMD's in blue. Once I installed the cluster back in the dash they lit up perfectly...unfortunately they ONLY light when I increase my dimmer all the way up to where the dome lights illuminate. This isn't only the guage lights, but all my dash lights. At this point I have no dash illumination unless the domes are on as well. I have been racking my brain trying to figure this out, and I am completely at a loss. Do you have any idea what could have caused this? I would really appreciate your input.
Thanks so much!

 

[BillBlatt18]

May i ask why you dont do radios? Is it something someone could still tackle on their own?

---------- Post added at 06:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Also, how do you remove the steering wheel controls?

 

[ScottyBoy]

May i ask why you dont do radios? Is it something someone could still tackle on their own?

---------- Post added at 06:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Also, how do you remove the steering wheel controls?

Honestly, its way too involved and way too time consuming . I would have to charge at least $100 to do it, and I don't feel comfortable doing that. Most people would rather put that $$ into a new radio instead. So I just tell people that I don't do them.
And the steering wheel buttons will pop right out if you just pry them out with a butterknife. Just be careful and work slow so you don't damage the steering wheel. Re-installing the buttons may be a bit harder due to almost no slack in the wiring. You may or may not have to pop off the airbag/horn button assembly to get at the wiring harness to give it some slack so you can plug the switches back in. The airbag comes off really easy, just push a piece of stiff wire into the tiny hole of each side of the back of the steering wheel to release the clip that holds the airbag on. When both clips are released, the airbag will come off. I wouldn't even unplug it, just lift it up to gain access to the steering button harness that runs behind the airbag.

 

[barhpr]

A led is no different than anyother led correct? Voltage wise? Im assuming this is where a resistor comes into play? Radioshack leds ok to use?

 

[Devs93]

Hi there, My name is Scot.
I noticed you are mentioned on a bunch of threads here as someone who knows a great deal about incandescant to LED (SMD) conversions. I have a 2002 Tahoe Z71. I did the gauge cluster conversion this morning and I have run into a problem. I replaced the 194's with T10 SMD's in blue. Once I installed the cluster back in the dash they lit up perfectly...unfortunately they ONLY light when I increase my dimmer all the way up to where the dome lights illuminate. This isn't only the guage lights, but all my dash lights. At this point I have no dash illumination unless the domes are on as well. I have been racking my brain trying to figure this out, and I am completely at a loss. Do you have any idea what could have caused this? I would really appreciate your input.
Thanks so much!

May i ask why you dont do radios? Is it something someone could still tackle on their own?

---------- Post added at 06:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Also, how do you remove the steering wheel controls?

why would change to t 10s from 194s? Your losing light output.




You still doing these Ive been getting a lot of request from led customers.Im not sure if I have the time to mess with them really. If so shoot me a pm if your interested in doing a couple. Great write up btw

 

[toddis32]

If anyone needs blue,green,red or white LED's that DO NOT require using a resistor, let me know. I can get them for 2003-2006 GM clusters and 1999-2002 GM Trucks and full size SUV's.

 

[05whitenali]

Scotty,

Is there anyway you could post a closeup picture of which sides you have marked for positive and negative? I would assume this would be the same on all of them? and would require a lot less time and hassle having to try to figure out a way to plug it back in and text all of them. If this is possible it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Larry

 

[mofle52]

hey im looking into getting those non resistor lights. PM me to talk more