hey guys, I was wondering if any one has attempted to change the color of the light in the gauges? I guess the stock orange glow is a nice color but I was looking to make it maybe more of an ice blue color. This would be for all the gauges, the RPM, MPH gauge cluster and the 3 gauges over the nav unit. Would this require complete new gauges? or just new bulbs? i'm not sure how they are put together by nissan. any info would help, thanks.

 

btw I was hoping to keep the stock gauge look as far as design goes, just change the light color.

 

I would assume that you could replace whatever Nissan used back there with the color of your choice wether it be bulbs or LED's.

 

your stuck when it comes to the 2 LCD gauges, trip gauge, and odometer. thats the problem... that and you cant really disassemble the cluster due to the needles.

 

I am in the process of working with a company to make custom gauge faces which would include changing the colors as well. Check out the link.

Custom Gauge Faces

 

some guys tryed this on their g35s with very little success.... g35's (not sure about z's) have plastic reflector faces along with ornage bulbs i believe. U have to rub the plastic with alcohol to get the color out and then find the right bulbs and solder them in place of the old ones. The one finished product that i saw had a lot of little hot spots where the bulbs were obviously behind the gauge right there and didnt spread its light that well. I want an ice blue gauge color as well... but i dont know how to get it done

 

I haven't seen the gauge cluster itself, but I already have an idea what lights up the AC controls, tri-pod cluster, and door switches.

They're all amber LED of the surface mount type.

In fact, one of the owners managed to take apart the tri-pod gauges by pulling out the needle (shaft still intact I believe). Underneath the LCD are 4 amber surface mount LEDs, and the other gauges have at least 2-3 from the picture I saw.

Once I get my exterior stuff done, I'll start modifying whatever I can. Soldering surface mount LEDs is quite a pain (not impossible). It's like working on cellphones.

The faces are all pre-printed, so modifying them is a pain (not worth it). The owner of http://www.blackcatcustom.com can print custom gauge faces of any color or design for about $200. He might charge less if we provide him with the faces and get a list of buyers. Last time he quoted assuming a group buy was about $150.

Once he gets the pattern from the gauge faces, he can print as many as he want.

Of course, the problem is with the needles.

-Phuong

 

check out ebay they got kits to change every single light inside (besides stereo HU) from orange to any color you want! Event the heated seat, power lock, power wndws, and all your gauge clusters! You gotta know how to use a souder iron! Its around 3-400 bucks for the kit! I even found a place that will do it for you! Ill post some links!!! Of course if youre not local you gotta send your gauge cluster in!!!!!! they even guarntee to recalibrate the needles!!

 

Of course we are in the future now!!!!! LMAO Damn im "that guy" now

 

Theres already a thread about this, its a DIY https://my350z.com/forum/exterior-an...onversion.html

 

+1 on the thread linked above. Covers everything including how to deal with the needles. The only thing I could not figure out is the LED at the top left corner of the dash for the alarm system. I replaced it but it would not blink after that.

 

 

I've wondered if it's possible to apply a thin layer of reddish tint to our gauges to give the gauges a red look (like Audis, BMS, and even Mazdas). I've thought about trying this on an inconspicuous area like the radio screen. If it looks bad I'd just rip it off, of course.

 

Behold.....the power of the search.

 

The stock gauge faces have a layer of amber film that, to my knowledge, cannot be removed so another layer of film would not work there.

For the radio, you might be able to get away with a film that covered the button LEDs but the LCD backlighting is inside a metal housing that is soldered to the board.

With the work required to get a piece of film in there, after removing the yellow coating from the stock diffuser, you might as well just change out the backlighting LEDs. It would not be all that much more work but the results would be far better.

 

IBZ, i have a 07 i had the the gauges a/c and window door lights changed out by acree over a year ago.i recently did the alarm light on the dash it blinks after a minute or two with without arming the alarm.i have also changed out the sterring wheel key light. on the 07 there are lights for the bottle holders in each door along with a light in the center cup holder. i have replaced the lights in the door bottle holders but hadnt got a chance to the center cup holder. my problem is now none of the 3 lights work i know its not a fuse because all other interior light are working fine, they seem to all use the same fuse. is it maybe because i havent yet done the center cupholder ?
they led's i have used for the door bottle holders are a different wattage then the center cup holder could that cause all 3 to not work ?
thanks for any help

 

I honestly don't know as I've not worked with those areas yet. You are in Anaheim? I'm up here in Long Beach and I'd like to take a look. In return for the chance to document the required parts and the process for the procedure I've posted, I'd be willing to help out with spare LED's and soldering and generally helping you get that completed and working.

PM me if intersted. I'd need you to come up my way as all my work bench stuff for soldering is here.