LED Makeover (Several pics.)

[diffrnt]

Ok guys, here is my led makeover. Was it a pita, yes. Was it tedious, yes. Was it worth it, Hell Yes! I actually did the write up to complement a led install that is on gmfullsize. That's where I got my idea to change over to leds. I tried to show how I wired up the leds and the resistors (clicking on the pics, makes them huge). I made the dash light up blue and the window switches light up white. Even though some of the pics don't show this correctly. I used all super white 5mm leds with 470 ohm resistors. I made them show blue with either blue painters tape or blue model paint. If there are questions, just let me know and I’ll try to answer them as best as I can. Just wanted to give something back to this great forum!

This is the driver side window and lock switch. I added aluminum foil to the top of the light channels to focus more light through the channel.



Finished product.


Passenger side switch.



Finished product.


Rear window switch.



Finshed product.


4wd switch.



Rear window washer and fog light switch.



HVAC.


Rear HVAC.


Some finished pics.

 

[Effeckt]

Looks awesome! I so need to get around to doing this.

 

[Travieso]

can i ship you all my components ? lol so you could do this for me

 

[Cobra]

can i ship you all my components ? lol so you could do this for me

x2 lol. Looks good man.

 

[diffrnt]

x2 lol. Looks good man.

can i ship you all my components ? lol so you could do this for me

Thanks guys. But ummm...no. I have build back up my patience for now, lol!

 

[ecordell]

X-tremely nice work! I'm getting ready to purchase myself a soldering iron from Muller and get to purchasing some LEDs and Resistors and give this a shot. Been watching videos on soldering and think I'm ready to give it a shot. Was removing the old lights difficult?

 

[blueflamed03]

makes the interior look awesome man!

 

[diffrnt]

X-tremely nice work! I'm getting ready to purchase myself a soldering iron from Muller and get to purchasing some LEDs and Resistors and give this a shot. Been watching videos on soldering and think I'm ready to give it a shot. Was removing the old lights difficult?

I had to break the bulbs and pull out the wires that were left behind on most of the switches. The AC controls are able to be desoldered, which makes it easier to get the bulbs out. Do what I did and start with the window switches, in fact start with the rear window switches, they are the easiest. Don't rush and do one switch at a time, no matter how long it takes.

 

[THE YETI]

badass! We did all mine in Red LEDs. Came out really nice!

If anyone is looking for someone to do the swap, send TOOTALL on GMFS.com a PM. He did mine. Takes some time, but well worth the wait.

 

[NOPROBROBB]

blue leds for gauge lights

anyone use blue leds for their gauge lights? My needles are really dim now, i was wondering if my needles are just sun bleached or the blue lighting doesnt react to the orange? Any one have this problem or any recomendations on making the needles brighter orange while mainting the blue gauges. thanks

 

[RobertWYoung]

badass! We did all mine in Red LEDs. Came out really nice!

If anyone is looking for someone to do the swap, send TOOTALL on GMFS.com a PM. He did mine. Takes some time, but well worth the wait.

Where's the pics? I wanna see it all in red.

 

[vatahoelt]

i wonder if the bulbs i ordered from japan will ever get here?


dumb question, but does it matter what type of solder you use?

 

[titanium02]

Um. TAG!

Wow this is exactly what i'm about to do.. great post!


What EQ is that and how much it cost to get put in? That's also on the to-do list

 

[FERGHOE]

I want to do this. mabye when I get time off around christmas..

 

[diffrnt]

i wonder if the bulbs i ordered from japan will ever get here?


dumb question, but does it matter what type of solder you use?

Not really, I picked up a tube from Radio Shack.

Um. TAG!

Wow this is exactly what i'm about to do.. great post!


What EQ is that and how much it cost to get put in? That's also on the to-do list

It's a Clarion and I installed myself.

 

[vatahoelt]

just started this project last night in my 04 tahoe. got the two rear window switches, the headlight, 4x4, and rear wiper switches done.

working on the driver's side switch, didn't realize that it was screwed down in the front and broke off the front clip.

it's going pretty good. you just have to take your time and go slow, like diffrnt said.

 

[diffrnt]

just started this project last night in my 04 tahoe. got the two rear window switches, the headlight, 4x4, and rear wiper switches done.

working on the driver's side switch, didn't realize that it was screwed down in the front and broke off the front clip.

it's going pretty good. you just have to take your time and go slow, like diffrnt said.

Good deal, vata. Make sure you post up pics when you're done.

 

[vatahoelt]

Good deal, vata. Make sure you post up pics when you're done.

got the drivers window switch all done. actually did it twice, since the first time, i mounted the leds upwards on the board, like they had the stock lights and it wasn't bright enough. so i switched them around and mounted them downwards towards the buttons. way better, although i did have to drill out the mirror control and the 4 window switch light channels, to accept the leds.

one minor problem is that the window lock switch doesn't seem to work anymore. i'll worry about that when i go to replace the switch bezel.

for anyone wanting to do this, it's not that hard. just takes some patience, since it does take a long time, getting everything set just right.

i also just picked up a 7.99 solder iron starter kit from radio shack. working out perfect.

 

[NOPROBROBB]

Im having a problem getting the black box apart, im trying to be careful not to break any of the plastic pieces, is there a trick to it or am i just being too careful and not applying enough pressure.

After i got the d-pad light in my review mirror mirrors they wont move now, anyone know what im doing wrong?

 

[diffrnt]

I got the front armrest controls out just fine but im having a problem getting the black box apart, im trying to be careful not to break any of the plastic pieces, is there a trick to it or am i just being too careful and not applying enough pressure.

After i got the d-pad light in my review mirror mirrors they wont move now, anyone know what im doing wrong?

When it comes to getting the boxes apart, you have to pry at the tabs that hold them together. It takes a little a force but if you are careful enough you can get it apart. As for the mirror switch, I fixed the resistor where it was align straight in the air alongside the led. You then need to cut the blue cover so the led and resistor can come through. Here are some pics, hope this helps.