S14 red gauge lights

[PabloHoney]

Well, after seeing you S13 guys do the red bulbs, I decided I might try it out..see how it goes. So I go down to O'Reiley and the only thing they have is damn APC bulbs....ick. I get them anyway, install them....and wow. Talk about BLOOD red. They aren't a lighter red like I hoped they would be. Here is a picture, but it really doesn't do them justice to how dark red they are. Sh*tty picture, but cameras don't like dark so much.



I went to Wal-Mart and bought some red bulbs there in hope that they are a little lighter, gonna try those out, along with some amber colored ones. I also looked at a lot of different places for the clock bulb, but I think I am just gonna paint the bulb and see if it works. Let me know what you think.

[fenrisx]

My Pontiac came with reddish/orange lights More red would be cool though..maybe when I buy a ..92 240sx hatch..le..

[gtd65]

How easy is it to remove the clocks etc to get in and do this mod - I like red gauges personally (at night).

But I'm not too sure what I'd end up snapping off etc before I removed the necessary parts.

I see there are two screws holding in part of the binnacle at the top.

Any tips for speedo n revcounter removal techniques?

[bruinbear714]

Yeah, I'd like to know how difficult/easy removing the cluster to change out the bulbs... and what kind of bulbs do they use? Are they the 168/194 bulbs?

[PabloHoney]

Yeah, I'd like to know how difficult/easy removing the cluster to change out the bulbs... and what kind of bulbs do they use? Are they the 168/194 bulbs?

Yes, they are the 168/194 bulbs. You can get them at Wal-Mart for like $3 for a pack of two.

How to do it:

Unscrew the two screws above the gauge cluster. Remove cover (circled in red) from under the steering wheel (two screws). Then remove the metal brace (circled in blue, two 10mm bolts). There is bracket that holds the steering wheel from falling that is held in by two 12mm bolts that you need to remove so that the steering wheel can fall out of the way and enable you to pull the bezel out, and then the gauge cluster.



Now, the lights that you need to replace easy to pick out. They are the bigger knobs =) Just turn them about a quarter turn and they pop out. The bulbs pull out easily..then you just replace them with whatever color you want.

[gtd65]

Excellent reply

[bruinbear714]

indeed. very helpful! thanks.

[UncleBen]

awesome. now i might try and change mine. maybe to blue? my car is blue, and i have blue corner lights, and headlights that kinda shine blue, so yea, i'm thinkin blue. if i ever have time to do this is the problem

[PabloHoney]

The stock bulbs are blueish all ready, that's why it is a white light behind the gauge, rather than the normal brownish-white color. If you get really blue ones, it should look pretty decent I would think.

My next project is changing out the bulbs in the heater control unit and the bulb behind the cigarette lighter so they all match. The ones in the control unit are basically just christmas lights. I bought some replacement christmas lights, I am gonna try it today and see how it goes.

[PabloHoney]

Well I ended up painting the clock light, the lights in the AC/Heater control, and the light behind the cigarette lighter. They all match perfectly (or as close as you can get). I used some nail polish I found at Hy-Vee (Jordana brand Ruby Red #152 if anyone is interested). So I did two coats on all the bulbs (three in the heater unit, one behind the clock, and one behind the cigarette lighter). I replaced the red bulbs (APC brand) in the gauge cluster with the ones I bought at Wal-Mart. They aren't as deep, so it looks a little brighter. Much better looking in my opinion. Check out the pics. The one of the heater sucks.

[UncleBen]

its lookin good.....that sucks about the bulbs already being blue. hmm....maybe i'll just paint them? we'll see

[PabloHoney]

They aren't blue, they just have blue covers on them so the light is whiter. If you get blue bulbs, they will make the light blue rather than just white.

[UncleBen]

ohhh, sweet

[JustinStrife]

I'm a blue freak. I'll probably end up getting a 95' SE 240sx and painting it blue, plus change the bulbs to blue on the dash, and get blue seats and paint some of the interior panelling blue..

To match my blue Oakleys, my blue Anchor blues... Hmm I see a pattern here..

Anybody see why my sign is Pisces? I.E. Fish?

[Dano]

I'm a blue freak. I'll probably end up getting a 95' SE 240sx and painting it blue, plus change the bulbs to blue on the dash, and get blue seats and paint some of the interior panelling blue..

To match my blue Oakleys, my blue Anchor blues... Hmm I see a pattern here..

Anybody see why my sign is Pisces? I.E. Fish?

not really. thanks for the offer tho.

-Dan:icon18

[PabloHoney]

I don't really see any offer given?????

[Dano]

Anybody see why my sign is Pisces? I.E. Fish?

theres ure offer.

-Dan

[UnderPressure]

wow this thread is old. but to stay on subject i see that import imtelligence sells hvac control stuff. http://www.importintelligence....-Edit check it

[PabloHoney]

theres ure offer.

-Dan

That's a question, not an offer =P I don't have to lecture you on english do I? J/K

[Dano]

should i bring u an apple before we start our lesson?:pface j/k

-Dan

[PabloHoney]

Oh god, this could turn into something dirty really really fast and I don't like it =) SICKO!!

[Holisticbeatz]

I found a great place to buy the blubs! They have 194/168 LED blubs. I'm gunna try those instead of the painted blubs. I heard the paint fades out after awhile. however, LED's don't fade. Check it outAutoDynamic

[PabloHoney]

LEDs are more of a focused light though, they don't tend to illuminate as well as an incandescent bulb. If you try them, let us know if they work well or not.

[jmillheiser]

yes the apc blubs are a real blood red. i have one in my aftermarket tach. it looks good in combination with the white faced tach.

the super whites also look real good with white face gauges. really makes the face stand out (at least with side lit aftermarket gauges).

ive tried the apc blue blub in my tach and it doesn't work very well. way to dark. a lighter/brighter blue would look cool.

[MainEvent212]

omg holistic, u just made my spring break...now i can do the LED conversion and make my RX7 tail lights!! WHOO HOOO!!!!

i think...what r the bulb codes for the tail lights?

[Holisticbeatz]

I'm not sure mainevent212. What year is your RX-7? I think they might be the twist in type blubs. But you should find out for sure, cuz I'm not. Good luck on your LED conversion though. I ordered my blubs last night after reading this post. I'm gunna do the dash and signal lights for my S14. I should be gettin them any week now so I'll let you guys know how it goes. Here's the link again if anyone who is reading this for the first time. Auto Dynamic

[wangless]

anybody know how many lights do i need for the dash of a '90 240sx ? i read somewhere like 8 of them... just want a confirmation, thanks

[wangless]

nm, i read somewhere you only need 3... answered my own question !

[ceniack]

*thread revival*

how do you get to the HVAC bulbs in an S13 (i know how to take the unit out, just not take it apart)