changing LED's on climate control

[Chiangstar]

hi all
ive noticed that a few of you have changed the LED's behind your climate control (CC) units and dash and i was wondering if there is a trick to the CC unit... i dont want to change the colours, i just want to replace a blown LED... if im not doing this incorrectly, you have to get the CC temperature knob off before the CC face comess of the unit itself - to reveal the LED's... last time i tried this, i snapped the temperature knob off and was stuck on 25 degrees all summer ive got another unit now but im too scared to try it again in case i make the same mistake...

am i just incompetent or is there a trick to removing that CC knob?

thanks

simon

[smorison]

it just pops straight off for me...

i'd stay do it carefully.

[Wraith]

Hi Guys.
I was wondering if there's anywhere that there's a discussion on how to do this anyway...
I wouldn't mind changing the color on mine but have no idea where to even start....
any thoughts on the process of removing it and replacing it?

cheers
Wraith.

[jeremywe]

Hi, I tried to do that before, and had the same problem as you.
I do not dare to use too much force, for fear of breaking anything.

Anyway, how much did it cost you to get the new Climate control?
Where did you get it from?

[ruchi]

I generally use a flat-head screw driver to gently prise off the temperature knob. I've done this at least a dozen times with no issue. Just do it slowly and gently.

There are no LEDs in the FTO anywhere as standard, so if something has blown, it will be a globe not a LED. If you wish to replace a blown globe, take the old one down to Autobarn and ask to have a look at their Narva sample kit (it looks a bit like a fishing tackle box but with globes instead of hooks). Try to match it up that way, as they won't sell these globes off the shelf.

If you want to replace your globes with coloured LEDs, I suggest you wait just a little bit as there'll be an instruction sheet on this soon. But to forewarn you, unless you use the right LEDs, you'll have problems

To help those who are eager to do this, I'll take a photo of my dash sometime over this weekend, and post the details of the LEDs and modifications required. I'll start a new thread as this is a topic in itself.

[Boris]

Thanks ruchi
I can't wait till you put it up and till I can pull my dash apart

[jeremywe]

Finally changed the colour of the lights on my dash, and climate control. Total cost, about $6. Using the rubber coloured bulb covers from Repco.

To change those bulbs on your CC, you done need to take them all part, just remove all the screws, and gently ply them apart. The white portion of it will not be able to fully detach itself from the black face plate. It will be held by 2 flat wire connecters. With this, you have enuff space to reach in and take out the existing bulbs.

[FTO338]

Hey great stuff jeremywe, it looks fantastic. So did u find the bulbs in Oz or oversea???

[jeremywe]

Those are done using my existing bulbs that came with the fto. I just purchased some rubber globe(bulb) covers and used them to cover the globes. Think of the rubber covers like a condom.

Same colour change effect as using LEDs, but not as bright. Tried sitting in my friends car using those super bright leds... a little distracting IMHO.

Oh yea, a little bit that came as part of my recent project was to spray the face plates of all the dials... It now has a brushed aluminium effect to it.


ps: one globe on my cig lighter blew... how do i replace them? Do i just use brute force and pull out the globe?

[FTO338]

hehehheeeeh "condom" well that mean your way is the "safest" & the cheapest way so far.

[thecook]

hey jeremywe your inside lighting looks mad. i wanna change my dash colour too now hahaha..... but i dunno what to do, just waiting for ruchis thread

[ruchi]

putting condoms over the globes will be both cheaper and easier, I think the biggest differences will probably be the brightness and range of colours.

Unlike the condoms / plastic covers over the gloves, LEDs emit a coloured light and maintain their brightness, whereas the globe will lose some of its brightness due to the coloured plastic cover put over the top of it.

In terms of colours, I'm not sure what the bulb condoms are available in, but with the LEDs you can get:
- Red
- Blue
- Amber
- Green
- Purple
- White
- UltraViolet

The topic is up, and it's been made sticky, I'll post photos in the next day or two.
http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... pic&t=1891