Opening up a DEFI gauge... Anyone tried it?
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Opening up a DEFI gauge... Anyone tried it?
Has anyone attempted to open up their defi gauge and changed the LED?
All my gauges but one light up great. On my EGT its really dim near top end of the scale and was thinking shall I open it up and see if I can replace the LED...
Has anyone tried this??
All my gauges but one light up great. On my EGT its really dim near top end of the scale and was thinking shall I open it up and see if I can replace the LED...
Has anyone tried this??
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I asked a similar question about 18 months back, with a view to painting the needle centres black, the better to match the classic dash.
At the time, the consensus was that it probably COULD be done, although no-one had done it that answered MY thread, but if you got it wrong it was a VERY expensive learning curve.
In the end, my needle centres are still white, but if I knew how to get into the gauges, would be black tomorrow
Out of interest, which LED are we on about, lighting, red warning or green?
At the time, the consensus was that it probably COULD be done, although no-one had done it that answered MY thread, but if you got it wrong it was a VERY expensive learning curve.
In the end, my needle centres are still white, but if I knew how to get into the gauges, would be black tomorrow
Out of interest, which LED are we on about, lighting, red warning or green?
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I've got a classic with white dash clocks so went for the matching defi's with white face and green illuminations.
I've only just fitted my gauges and if it doesnt bother me too much when driving at nite I'll probably leave it... but if it does bug me then I'll take the plung and open her up
If I do it, I'll put feedback on here so anyone else like urself can see how I did it... or how not to do it, lol
I've only just fitted my gauges and if it doesnt bother me too much when driving at nite I'll probably leave it... but if it does bug me then I'll take the plung and open her up
If I do it, I'll put feedback on here so anyone else like urself can see how I did it... or how not to do it, lol
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I think Daz Davies changed the LED's in his dash to match his gauges ... have a look at his project thread. Not what you were asking about, but another option at least.
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yes, I've opened a couple of Defi gauges now, if you are careful and take your time it can be done without damaging anything or leaving a mark
as for changing the LED, they are very small surface mount ones and you may struggle to find an exact replacement
there is a video guide on YouTube for opening them to change the illumination colour
as for changing the LED, they are very small surface mount ones and you may struggle to find an exact replacement
there is a video guide on YouTube for opening them to change the illumination colour
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yes, I've opened a couple of Defi gauges now, if you are careful and take your time it can be done without damaging anything or leaving a mark
as for changing the LED, they are very small surface mount ones and you may struggle to find an exact replacement
there is a video guide on YouTube for opening them to change the illumination colour
as for changing the LED, they are very small surface mount ones and you may struggle to find an exact replacement
there is a video guide on YouTube for opening them to change the illumination colour
What's it under?
Thanks.
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i tried once and to be honest i didnt like the way you had to do it so i stopped before i went too far. its not the case of undoing a few screws. you actually have to prise open the band that holds the face to the cover.
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Found it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax30tq_cu2U
Crazy yanks again
Doesn't look TOO bad though, I might have a go.
And here's how to put it back together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x53R...eature=related
Crazy yanks again
Doesn't look TOO bad though, I might have a go.
And here's how to put it back together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x53R...eature=related
Last edited by alcazar; 13 July 2010 at 02:59 PM.
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Thanks for the youtube vid... I think I'll pass on that tho.
Those LED's arnt too hard to come by and not very difficult to solder in, altho getting the exact right colour would be a mission and I gotta have everything matching.
Damn, I'm just gonna have to live with the dimness
If you try it alcazar post pics of it step by step and a b4 and after
Those LED's arnt too hard to come by and not very difficult to solder in, altho getting the exact right colour would be a mission and I gotta have everything matching.
Damn, I'm just gonna have to live with the dimness
If you try it alcazar post pics of it step by step and a b4 and after
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I can now open and re-close a Defi gauge without any evidence
the LED's are white though, the colouring of the display is done by filtering the light through (in this case green) coloured pigment on the back of the display face where the numbers are printed (if you get what I mean)
so you can only really change the colour on gauges that come white from the factory
the LED's are white though, the colouring of the display is done by filtering the light through (in this case green) coloured pigment on the back of the display face where the numbers are printed (if you get what I mean)
so you can only really change the colour on gauges that come white from the factory
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I see so its just a case of replacing with white LED's...
I was looking at my EGT gauge last nite and all my other gauges look bright and sexy, but that EGT one could do with more than 1 LED being changed...
How brave do I feel...
I was looking at my EGT gauge last nite and all my other gauges look bright and sexy, but that EGT one could do with more than 1 LED being changed...
How brave do I feel...
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I didnt realise that, this sounds like a good option.
sc_sjo - if Tein do the whole job then I'd prefer that option, but if not then I'll consider biting the builet and removing the board to send to you for the SMD rework
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