GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Cosmetic and bodywork matters => Topic started by: GolfChick24 on 14 August 2005, 19:51
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Well whilst on the search for some help in fitting some leds I came upon this forum and wow i'm impressed but anyways I'm new here and need some help so be gentle. I own a golf driver 1.6 that Im doing up and next on my agenda is to change the dials to red leds (to match the paint colour) and I also want to have lights behind the switches and the heater controls. I've seen gtijoes pic on another thread and I want it exactly the same as that! i've added him to my msn to try n get some tips however he obviously doesnt want to talk to a lovely lady!! so Ive resorted to posting to ask all you nice guys + minority gals out there to give me a guide or some huge hints on how to do it. Thanks hun :wink:
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ahh i did see that someone had added me but i didn't have a clue who you were!!! i'm always a bit creeped out by people who add me!!!
anyway the best thing to do is go to www.ultraleds.co.uk and look for 12v frosted led's. then its just a matter of pulling out the old bulbs and switching with the new led's. for the dash ones i used the original bulb holders and soldered the new led's in place as the fit is so much better of the original holders. as for the switches, you have to dismantle them tilll you can see the bulb, un-solder/pull out the old bulb and work out which is positive and which is negative. led's only work one way round so test it first. i had to cut down the holder to make the led fit as the 12v ones have a resistor attatched and are taller than the standard bulbs. each switch takes about 10 mins, once you've sussed it out. the dash bulbs take less time but you have to remove the clocks, and these can be a bit of a pain if you've never done them before!
good luck!
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Ahhh thanks very much for getting back so quickly, now you know who i am feel free to add me and chat to me, i dont bite.... unless invited :grin:
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to remove the clocks you need to remove the dash surround, its only about 7 screws so is easy, just don't loose any. fairly hassle free in itself, just disconnecting bits and remembering where they go back can be tricky, optional to remove the steering wheel but can if you like. then they tilt forward, unclip the speedo and rev cable, then yoink them out.
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You cant use the dimmer on the headlight switch with LED's. it can be a pain.
Wish i never touched mine :lipsrsealed:
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make sure to remove the filters on all the switchs and the clocks as they will seem very dim in comparrison
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ahh yes good point dean, also some switches have a painted on filter and some have a little plastic one. you need the plastic filter type. you'll also have to pull out the old green filter in the top of the clocks too, but this is pretty easy.
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Soz to hijack a bit but how did u get the heater panel to look blue?? Pulled mine apart today and I'm like 'How the feck do u change the bulb??'
Is it something simple like paint the bulb blue or get a blue cover like the green one that was on the bulb??
Cheers
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its something simple like pull out the old bulb and put an led in its place!!! helps if you push the holder from the back :wink:
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Righto; just looked a bit awkward to do and I didnt particulary want to break it!! Will give it a go!! Cheers Joe
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to be honest i just attacked it, just thought if it breaks i'll rob another one from a scrappy! its not the easiest one to do but is pretty obvious once you get it apart.
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did my clocks with the blue leds. my dimmer still works fine?? is this not the case with other people?  :undecided:
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I tried out red leds on the dash, on the switches it looks fine but I would recommend that after removing the small green translucent square that you cut out two or three squares of equal size from one of those frosted a4 folder thingys and stick them in to help diffuse the light,as I found the led was focused just on the centre of the foglight symbol and was distractingly bright. Didn't find that the leds worked well in the clocks..I used a small red neon light (fast and furious stylee!) and it works fantastic, the dimmer switch works with it also!!! Will post some pics if anyone wants to see..
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thats why you have to buy the frosted led's so the light gets dispersed. mine came out just how i wanted them!
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alternatively just sand the edges, as the edges are covered to intensify the beam straight on.
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ooo gti boy yes please, Id love to see some so I know just what it looks like in red :smiley: fankoooo :kiss:
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Took those pics but whats the story with the gallery? Wanted to upload them there?
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Galley has been off since the site went down a couple of months ago mate.
Setup an account here; its free!!
www.photobucket.com
I've noticed that my dimmer works too - at least for the switches and heater panel!! (not done my clocks yet :sad:)
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 Thanks Rhyso :smiley: Here's a few pics, sorry they're not very clear I lent out my camera so had to use my xda instead. Will throw up some better ones later!
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/gt1b0y/dialsswitches.jpg)
They're not pink by the way!!!
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/gt1b0y/switches.jpg)
(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a183/gt1b0y/dials.jpg)