LED swap! color change green to blue (in progress)

well, after yanking out the standard (non-navi) headunit out of a Prius C... I figured I'd do what I usually do and start changing out the stock LEDs for different colored ones.

as all of you should know, the stock interior illumination is green.. and I want them to be blue.. it's estimated to be about 4 hrs worth of soldering.. but to start at the least, I've gotten the radio apart to the circuit board..

yes.. very small 0603 leds... and there's 62 of them total. omg. it's gonna be a long process.



*update 4/4*
changed HVAC to blue with white indicators


*update 4/10*
steering wheel controls swapped out

 

it does plug into the back of the stock headunit, but it's a proprietary connector.. it's something else completely different..

btw.. yeah.. in all honesty, i'm doing this for the fun of it.. it really is a waste of time and effort making a stock, not-so-great-performing headunit.. look better..

photos of the avic install are in the other speaker thread.

 

well, takes a very steady hand.. and a TON of patience to do this.. i have another project i'm doing right now with changing the leds on a G35 gauge cluster.. and until that's done.. i'm going to place this radio project on hold... the G35 takes precedence at this moment.

i think i might end up changing the temp/ac control area first, since it'll be faster and easier than dealing with this radio... and that's actually something i know that will stay in the car.. (vs.. a radio i might end up changing out in the future)..

 

finished HVAC. updated first post with photo.

 

sure! lol.. the HVAC perhaps..

the radio.. OMFG.. not worth the time.. better spent getting an aftermarket headunit.. (and i still haven't started the radio yet.. :dizzy

next on the list to change (that isn't the radio).. are the steering wheel controls.. then i'll decide from there.

 

disassembly:
1 - remove panel surrounding radio (unplug hazard button connector)
2 - remove passenger heat/air vent thingy
3 - remove upper large curvy piece
4- remove lower curvy piece
yank out HVAC unit (disconnect connector)



the leds used in the HVAC unit are 1206 sized leds.
I personally carry a stock of LEDs that I purchased awhile back thru a trusted supplier I've been using for years... I always have a few on hand because it's a hobby, as well as a side job I do for others looking to do the same thing.. and offer my services.

taking apart vehicles is like second nature to me... i figured it out all by myself just by visually analyzing the interior panels and how they fit together... as well as some random yanking here and there to confirm such assumptions.

 

well.. I've been doing this type of work for others in the past on other vehicles.
last week I had a guy from Florida send me parts from a G35 to switch out.. lol.

I can also provide whatever advice/help if you want to try to learn to do this yourself.

i still haven't touched the radio.. lol.. i think i'll leave it green and deal with it for now until i change it out... i'll start the steering wheel probably next week when i have more time.

 

if you want help in learning how to solder, how to take apart the car... or whatever else.. lemme know..

if you want to take apart your car and ship the stuff out for me to modify.. well.. like i mentioned, I do that often. lol..

as far as wrapping the front end of the vehicle to black out the center... I don't think I can really help you out much.

 

splicing and wiring up things is one thing... soldering small surface mount components on a circuit board is a whole new different level. lol.

in Houston, there should be a Fry's Electronics store located there (please, please... DO NOT go to the Shack..) there you should find everything you would need to help you solder.

if you're completely inexperienced in soldering, they have little kits and whatnot you can purchase so you an get the basics down. from there, we can move on to the slightly more advanced SMD rework which is what these LEDs are.

the LEDs can be sourced thru me, or thru other online/overseas suppliers.. just ask me if you have any questions... and as the internet is.. there's a plethora of learning resources out there.

 

*update 4/10* added photo of steering wheel controls to first post.

going to do window switches next.. along with.. other stuff.. whatever.