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How-to: Change The Color Of Your Gauge Lights

thecraft

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thecraft Senior Enthusiast

thecraft

Posted
Posted

I'm posting this here because it was removed from the Tech Wiki and I had someone ask me how to do this:

 

Want to make your gauges light up a different color? This guide will show you how to do it using SuperBrightLEDs.com's car bulbs to make your gauges light up either red, amber, green, blue, purple, or just plain white.

 

WARNING: This guide applies only to 1995 through 2002 GMT400 and GMT800 trucks! I will not hold any responsibility for this guide. This guide was written based on a 1995 GMT400 truck, other models may be different. Use this guide at your own risk!

 

UPDATE 7/25/08: SuperBrightLEDs.com now sells the sockets for the 194/168 bulbs! Look for part number T10S-TW. This will save you a trip to the auto parts store!

 

NOTICE: In 1999 through 2002 GMT800 trucks, the bulbs inside the HVAC controls are soldered directly to the circuit board(s). The Specialist has written a guide on how to replace them.

 

If anyone feels the need, please add some pics too!

  • You will need the following:
  • 7mm Nutdriver
  • Prying Tool (optional)
  • Small flathead screwdriver
  • Six 194/168 replacements (SuperBrightLEDs sells several different types of 194/168 replacements. I highly recommend you use their wide angle WLED-x5 replacements. WLED-x1 will be too dim while WLED-x4 and WLED-X6 tend to leave deadspots.)
    wledx5ly0.jpg
  • Six 194/168 bulb sockets (your vehicle may not need these, see below)
    bulbsocketci4.jpg
  • Four T1.5 replacements or Four #74 replacements (only for 1995-2000 GMT400 trucks, see below to determine which ones you need)
    • If you want to change the color of the indicators for the Recirculate and A/C buttons, order two additional T1.5 or #74 replacements. Again, this only applies to 1995-2000 GMT400 trucks.

     

    t152xf3.jpg742cl0.jpg

    [*]One NEO4 replacement

    neo4g.jpg

     

If you have a 1999-2002 GMT800 truck, don't order the four or six T1.5 or #74 replacements. Your lights are soldered directly into the HVAC controls' circuit boards. See The Specialist's how-to guide for more info.

 

 


  1. Before you begin, you might want to check whether the sockets in your gauge cluster can be reused and whether you need T1.5 or #74 bulbs for the HVAC controller. It's easy (only takes about ten minutes) and could save you from a huge headache later on.
  2. Remove the dash bezel by prying at or grasping the edges and gently pulling them back. Start at the top and work towards the bottom.
  3. Disconnect the switches (Fog lights, cargo light, etc.) on your dash bezel. Then remove the entire bezel, you may need to lower the steering wheel and shifter in order to get it out.
  4. Remove the four screws holding the cluster to the dash using a 7mm nutdriver, then gently pull the cluster out. Make sure the ignition and headlight switches are OFF before you do this!
  5. Look behind the cluster to find six sockets labeled ILL. Remove them by twisting them slightly counterclockwise.
  6. Determine whether or not the sockets can be reused. If the sockets can be reused, the bulbs should easily pull straight out from the sockets. If the sockets can't be reused, the bulbs will be soldered to the contacts on the narrow sides. Usually the words "REPLACE ENTIRE ASM" will be stamped across the sockets too.
  7. If the sockets can be reused, you're good to go! If the sockets aren't reusable, you need to buy six 194/168 bulb sockets. You can buy these from SuperBrightLEDs.com as well or you can find these at any auto store such as NAPA, CarQuest, AutoZone, etc.
  8. Remove the radio by pushing down on the tabs on the sides of the radio and pulling it out from dash. Disconnect the wire harness and antenna cable if you need too.
  9. Look behind the HVAC controller for four bulb sockets in a row. They should look similiar to the ones you saw earlier, just smaller. If they are daisy-chained together using thin (usually black and yellow) wires, order the four/six #74 replacements. If they have no wires running to them, use the four/six T1.5 replacements.

 


  1. Now that you have your LED replacements, follow these instructions:
  2. Remove the dash bezel by prying at or grasping the edges and gently pulling them back. Start at the top and work towards the bottom.
  3. Disconnect the switches (Fog lights, cargo light, etc.) on your dash bezel. Rather than disconnecting the headlight switch, pry at the tabs holding it to the bezel. You want the box to stay connected so you can easily test the lights later on. Finally remove the entire bezel, you may need to lower the steering wheel and shifter in order to get it out.
  4. Look on the bottom of the headlight switch for a very small bulb socket. Use a small flathead screwdriver to turn it slightly counterclockwise and remove it. Replace the bulb using the NEO4 replacement.
  5. Turn on your headlights and see if the switch lights up. Don't be fooled, it can be very hard to see in the daylight. If you are sure the LED is not working, simply take out the socket, rotate it halfway around, and put it back in. Since LEDs are diodes (the D in LED stands for diode), electricity can only flow through them in one direction.
  6. Remove the four screws holding the cluster to the dash using a 7mm nutdriver, then gently pull the cluster out. Make sure the ignition and headlight switches are OFF before you do this!
  7. Look behind the cluster to find six sockets labeled ILL. Remove them by twisting them slightly counterclockwise.
  8. If the sockets can be reused, simply pull out the old bulbs and push in the LED replacements. If the sockets aren't reusable, use your new sockets for the LED replacements. Reinstall all the sockets by twisting them slightly clockwise.
  9. Replace the cluster so it makes contact with the connector in the dash, but don't replace the four screws just yet. Turn on your headlights. Carefully check for dead spots in the cluster's lights. If you used SuperBrightLEDs.com's WLED-x5 replacements, you should not have ANY dead spots. If any of the LEDs are not working, simply take out the socket, rotate it halfway around, and put it back in.
  10. Once you've made sure all six LEDs are working, replace the four screws that hold the cluster to the dash. If you have a 1999-2002 GMT800 truck and want to change your HVAC bulbs, see The Specialist's guide on how to replace them. Skip to step 10, everything in the next two sections applies only to the 1995-2000 GMT400 trucks.

If you ordered the T1.5 replacements:
Remove the radio by pushing down on the tabs on the sides of the radio and pulling it out from dash. Disconnect the wire harness and antenna cable if you need too.
Remove the four bulb sockets behind the HVAC controls by twisting them slightly to your right. If you have to, you can also remove the entire HVAC controller by prying at the tabs on the sides, but I don't recommend you do because the plastic tabs tend to be extremely brittle. Replace the bulbs using the T1.5 replacements.
If you ordered the two additional T1.5 bulbs for the Recirculate and A/C indicators, the two bulb sockets are on the very bottom behind the HVAC controls. You will probably have to remove the entire HVAC controller to reach them.
Once again, turn on your headlights and check for deadspots. If you find any, simply turn the socket(s) halfway around. If you replaced the indicator bulbs, make sure they work as well. Now go to step 10.

 


  1. If you ordered the #74 replacements:
  2. Remove the radio by pushing down on the tabs on the sides of the radio and pulling it out from dash. Disconnect the wire harness and antenna cable if you need too.
  3. Remove the four bulb modules that are hardwired into your HVAC controls by twisting the modules slightly to your right. If you have to, you can also remove the entire HVAC controller by prying at the tabs on the sides, but I don't recommend you do because the plastic tabs tend to be extremely brittle. Once you removed all the modules, pull out the old bulbs and push in the new LEDs replacements.
  4. If you ordered the two additional #74 bulbs for the Recirculate and A/C indicators, the two bulb modules are on the very bottom behind the HVAC controls. You will probably have to remove the entire HVAC controller to reach them.
  5. Once again, turn on your headlights and check that all four bulbs are lit. If some aren't working, just pull out the bulb(s) from the module and turn it halfway around. If you replaced the indicator bulbs, make sure they work as well. Once all four are working, replace the modules by twisting them to your left.

 

[*]Once you're sure all LEDs are working, reconnect and replace the radio, reconnect all the bezel switches, and finally replace the dash bezel. You're done!

 

tn_gallery_26970_294_79341.jpgtn_gallery_26970_294_64555.jpg

(Click to enlarge these images.)

  • 9 months later...
t3kn0logix Enthusiast

t3kn0logix

Posted
Posted
Could someone post the specialist "How To Guide" for the soldered HVAC bulbs? Thanks

 

agreed, i tried to solder them in but i think i have some polarity issues or something... or i might need resistors.. i got the 3&5mm ones from super bright leds.com, but im not sure on what i did wrong... Advise?

700 sportsman Senior Enthusiast

700 sportsman

Posted
Posted

I'd help you, but mine were all twist bulbs, but you can't just solder in leds, first off, they'll only work one way, (proper + or -), and the led's will need resistors. I also did the factory radio, and I tried to get a resistor and led combo to work, and I thought, well I'll just modify the led peanut bulbs I used for the other 2

Here's some pics of what I did, I don't know if they'll fit, but they have resistors of the proper size, and they are much smaller than if you soldered regular ones to an led

 

Here's where I had to solder it

SolderLocation.jpg

 

Here's what I had to start with

DSCN0171.jpg

 

Here's the modified bulb, all I did was unwrap the wires from the bottom, cut some of the base plastic off, and trimmed the wires

DSCN0178.jpg

t3kn0logix Enthusiast

t3kn0logix

Posted
Posted
I'd help you, but mine were all twist bulbs, but you can't just solder in leds, first off, they'll only work one way, (proper + or -), and the led's will need resistors. I also did the factory radio, and I tried to get a resistor and led combo to work, and I thought, well I'll just modify the led peanut bulbs I used for the other 2

Here's some pics of what I did, I don't know if they'll fit, but they have resistors of the proper size, and they are much smaller than if you soldered regular ones to an led

 

Here's where I had to solder it

SolderLocation.jpg

 

Here's what I had to start with

DSCN0171.jpg

 

Here's the modified bulb, all I did was unwrap the wires from the bottom, cut some of the base plastic off, and trimmed the wires

DSCN0178.jpg

 

i'll have to pick up some resistors and try flipping the bulbs if i cant get them to work... im kind of confused as to where to place the resistors though.. any help would be greatly appreciated, and if someone has a copy of this guide, no need to be shy!! I want to fix the hvac, headlight, and cargo light ones, and eventually the window/door lock lights... Thanks.

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