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instrument panel bulbs

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:39 pm
by twilightprotege
has anyone changed the bulbs or covers (if they use that) in the instrument panel and dash to change the colour of the dash? ie so instead of the speedo showing up yellowish-white (probably originally orange but it's faded i guess), it's blue or green etc? if so, how did you do it? obviously there's the removal of the dash etc, but what bulbs/covers did you use?

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:37 am
by Fang
In an L Series, the green colour is achieved by small plastic coloured covers over the bulbs in behind the cluster. I think the easiest way to get a new colour is to buy some Xenon bulbs in the colour you want. I didnt mind the green but mine was dulll - so I got some replacement bulbs from eBay. It looks a hell of a lot better.

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:51 am
by AlpineRaven
Fang wrote:In an L Series, the green colour is achieved by small plastic coloured covers over the bulbs in behind the cluster. I think the easiest way to get a new colour is to buy some Xenon bulbs in the colour you want. I didnt mind the green but mine was dulll - so I got some replacement bulbs from eBay. It looks a hell of a lot better.
yeah i agree with Fang, Ive seen a few cars having a "sleeve" over the bulbs, other option is to convert them to led globes - they're widely available in auto stores and ebay..
Cheers
AP

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:42 am
by twilightprotege
what type bulbs do our cars use? any of idea of the number needed?

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:47 am
by T'subaru
I believe your most common bulb used is a 194( 3.4 watt) for dash lights, cel,chg,temp etc. I have not messed with my digi dash yet, owners man lists some 1.7 watt for the gl's per an '86 owners man, which is the same wattage listed for ash trays in the reg L's. Im more confident in wattage than bulb number.
http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProduct ... efault.htm
Would like a post install update
Cheers, Mark

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:16 pm
by twilightprotege
194 - i assume that's the same as T10's?

the smaller ones - are they T5's?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:48 am
by subarooster
T5's i believe they are, the only thing i was worried about with changing the colour of the bulb is that in my dash, the bulbs r clear but there is a green sleeve type thing in the middle of my dash cluster. so if i change the colour of my bulbs to say blue, i'd say it'll giv me an off, baby crap type of appearance?

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:59 am
by twilightprotege
i guess that's the advantage of the RX panel - not green to begin with

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 11:08 am
by El_Freddo
subarooster wrote:T5's i believe they are, the only thing i was worried about with changing the colour of the bulb is that in my dash, the bulbs r clear but there is a green sleeve type thing in the middle of my dash cluster. so if i change the colour of my bulbs to say blue, i'd say it'll giv me an off, baby crap type of appearance?
Don't put the sleeve back on ;)

I've thought about it but really cannot be bothered with changing the bulbs - I've had my dash apart so many times that I don't care to remember anymore. I could probabily do it in my sleep if needed!

Anyone got some inspirational pics of their new dash colour?

Cheers

Bennie