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

[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!

 

[bolsas]

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]

Anyone please help!!!

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.